Thor Motor Coach is recalling 528 model year 2014-2016 Tuscany motorhomes, models 40DX, 40KQ, 40RX, 42GX, 42WX, 44MT, 45AT and 45LT, manufactured April 11, 2013, to October 12, 2015. Water may leak into the keyless entry module and cause an electrical short in the affected vehicles. An electrical short can increase the risk of a fire.
TMC will notify owners, and dealers will seal the area around the keyless entry module, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin December 14, 2016. Owners may contact TMC customer service at 1-877-500-1020. TMC’s number for this recall is RC000123.
Walk in ancient footsteps. Soak in the silence. Marvel at a night sky overflowing with stars. Hear a lone coyote’s howl. Experience the past at Hovenweep National Monument near Cortez, Colorado.
Hovenweep preserves six villages once inhabited by the ancestors of today’s Pueblo people. Once home to more than 2,500 people, Hovenweep includes six prehistoric villages built between A.D. 1200 and 1300. The structures evoke an ancient time — one filled with the sights and sounds of a vibrant and dynamic culture.
Campsite at 31-space campground. NPS photo.
Family groups built their homes at the heads of canyons, surrounding life-giving seep springs that provided water, cooler temperatures, and shade from the cottonwood and hackberry trees that grew there. Perched on the canyon rims, these villages have weathered the centuries, owing to their solid foundations and careful construction. The towers and rooms of Hovenweep are unique in the style and quality of their masonry. Stones are carefully shaped and small rocks and mortar fill the gaps between, keeping out sun, cold, wind, and any small creatures.
The park has a primitive, 31-space campground that can accommodate RVs up to 36 feet. Sites include tent pads, fire rings and picnic tables with shade structures, however there are no hookups available. The fee is $10 a night on a first-come, first served basis.
(December 2, 2016) — Ford issues safety recall for certain 2013-16 Ford Fusion and 2013-15 Lincoln MKZ vehicles to insulate seat belt anchor pretensioner cables
Ford is issuing a safety recall for approximately 650,000 2013-16 Ford Fusion and 2013-15 Lincoln MKZ vehicles to insulate front driver and passenger seat belt anchor pretensioners to prevent cable separation in a crash. In the affected vehicles, increased temperatures generated during deployment of the seat belt anchor pretensioner could cause pretensioner cables to separate, which may inadequately restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing risk of injury.
Ford is aware of two accidents and two injuries associated with this issue.
Affected vehicles include:
2013-15 Fusion vehicles built at Hermosillo Assembly Plant, Nov. 2, 2012 to July 31, 2014
2013 Fusion vehicles built at Hermosillo Assembly Plant, Aug. 13, 2012 to Nov. 1, 2012
2015-16 Fusion vehicles built at Hermosillo Assembly Plant, Aug. 1, 2014 to April 2, 2016
2015-16 Fusion vehicles built at Flat Rock Assembly Plant, Aug. 1, 2014 to Feb. 22, 2016
2014-15 Fusion vehicles built at Flat Rock Assembly Plant, April 12, 2013 to July 31, 2014
2013-15 MKZ vehicles built at Hermosillo Assembly Plant, Nov. 14, 2012 to July 31, 2014
There are approximately 680,872 vehicles affected, including 602,739 in the United States, 35,614 in Canada, 8,665 in Mexico and 653 in federalized territories. The Ford reference number for this recall is 16S42.
Dealers will inject a conformal coating into the front driver and passenger seat belt anchor pretensioner to protect the cables from increased temperatures generated during deployment at no cost to the customer.
Learn about RV camping, RV travel, RV news and much more. This newsletter, now in its 16th year of continuous publication, is funded primarily through advertising and voluntary subscription contributions from our readers. Thank you!
Issue 771 • Week of Dec. 3–9, 2016
Editor’s corner With Chuck Woodbury Chuck (at) RVtravel.com
I am writing to you from Hollister, Calif., where the phrase “shake, rattle and roll” might be an appropriate slogan. In the last year, the town of 36,000 has experienced 578 earthquakes of 1.5 magnitude or greater.
Hollister rests near the San Andreas Fault, which is famous for its quakes. Big, damaging ones have included the San Francisco earthquake of 1906 and the Loma Prieta quake in 1989 that killed 63 people and toppled part of a Bay Area double-decker freeway. But with rare exception, the earthquakes in and around Hollister are so small they can’t be felt.
Oh, I must not forget to mention Parkfield, Calif., population 18, which is about 100 miles south of Hollister. It bills itself as the Earthquake Capital of the World with the motto “Be here when it happens.” On average for the last 150 years, Parkfield has experienced a magnitude 6 or greater earthquake (that’s big!) about every 22 years.
WOW! WHAT A DIFFERENCE 50 AMPS MAKES!
I am not an RV electricity expert but our contributor Mike Sokol is. I urge you to read his article this week about the difference between hooking up your RV to 20, 30 or 50 amps. What a HUGE difference 50 amps makes! At 20 amps, you have about 2,400 watts available. At 30 amps, you pick up another 1,200 for a total of 3,600 watts, enough extra power to run a space heater. But when you hook up to 50 amps, you almost triple your capacity from 30 amps to a total of 10,000 watts. I urge you to read Mike’s article: It’s a real eye-opener.
RV RECALLS
Have you noticed the frequency of RV recalls lately? If it seems they’re up from the past you’re right. My friend Greg Gerber, editor of RV Daily Report, got out his pencil and calculator to figure out exactly how many RVs had been recalled this year. Yes, they are definitely up, with Forest River responsible for more than one out of four. The number of recalls that Greg’s website has reported this year is already up 20 percent over all of 2015, and double those in 2014. And 2016 is not over yet! You can read Greg’s full article here. Our own comprehensive rundown of RV recalls is here.
I’m in Hollister to have Doug Swarts of Drainmaster install his company’s state-of-the-art waste management system in my motorhome. Now that Gail and I are living full-time in our RV, I feel it’s essential that we have an effective, dependable system for dumping our holding tanks. Doug’s Waste Master System is the best, hands down. Doug is an expert on just about anything to do with RV waste management, so I will sit him down for a series of educational videos for our popular YouTube Channel.
That’s all for now. See you here again next week.
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P.S. Are ads blocking some of the content of this newsletter? We’re trying to identify the source. If you are having problems with these ads, please let me know along with what type of device you are using: computer and browser, tablet (please let me know if it’s a new or older model), smartphone, etc. These ads are unacceptable. My email: chuck (at) RVtravel.com .
Is reading this newsletter worth 10 cents to you? Our staff works hard to bring you a valuable newsletter every Saturday. Readers help make it possible with their voluntary subscriptions. Even a pledge of $5 a year is appreciated — that’s less than 10 cents an issue! Many readers pledge more — $10 a year is less than 20 cents an issue! Your contributions make it possible for us to write about important matters, not just fluff to make advertisers and RV industry big shots happy. Enter a voluntary subscription.Use a credit card, PayPal or mail a check.
Comprehensive list of RV-related recalls for November
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 Entegra, Forest River, Highland Ridge, Jayco, Newmar, Winnebago and others — plus cars and trucks commonly used by RVers. Is your RV or other vehicle on the list? Read more.
Happy Birthday! Happy Anniversary!
Wish your special someone a Happy Birthday or Happy Anniversary and we’ll post your well-wishes and your short comment right in this newsletter. It’s super easy to leave your greeting. Just click here. Remember to send them in prior to the Saturday before the big event.
See this week’s greetings near the bottom of this newsletter.
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 this week’s RV Travel Reader RVs.
Last Chance to Save on RV Warranty Coverage
Summer doesn’t last forever, and neither will our best RV protection rates! RV Warranty prices will increase on January 1st, 2017, and some vehicles will become ineligible for any type of coverage. Get your free quote from BBB A+ rated Wholesale Warranties before it’s too late, and roll into 2017 with peace of mind.
THIS WEEK’S CONTEST! UPDATE 12:20 Sunday: WE HAVE OUR WINNER (as picked by Random.org). Thank you for entering. Win the DVD of Irving Berlin’s White Christmas, starring Bing Crosby (hear Bing sing “White Christmas” by clicking here), Danny Kaye and Rosemary Clooney! The winner will be chosen randomly out of all correct entries received by noon (Pacific), Sunday. The question: If someone suffers with syngenesophobia, they have a persistent fear of what? Brushing their teeth? House flies? Their relatives? The answer is below in our Trivia section. Email your answer to RVcontests (at) gmail.com. We can only ship prizes to addresses with a U.S. Zip Code. Only one entry per household. Contest ends Sunday at noon (Pacific) at which time a winner will be selected using Random.org. We’ll let you know if you win. The winner will have 24 hours to respond or forfeit the prize. If that happens, we’ll hold the prize for another time.
October wholesale shipments of RVs continued as in a race. Comparing shipments to October 2015, overall movement was up nearly 14 percent. Making it possible: travel trailers up more than 19 percent, pop-ups popping up 37 percent, with fifth wheels tagging along, gaining a mere 0.2 percent. At the same time, truck campers slid more than 23 percent. Motorhomes were mixed, showing an 11 percent increase across the board, with Class C units racing ahead nearly 28 percent and Class A rigs bombing out, losing 6 percent. Source: Recreation Vehicle Industry Association.
The fires that have devastated Gatlinburg, Tenn., have taken another toll: As of November 29, Great Smoky Mountains National Park has closed indefinitely due to “extensive fire activity.” The park’s headquarters is without electricity and telephone service. No word on how much damage the fire has caused beyond this. America’s “most-visited” national park is now the least visited.
If you think the swallowing up of smaller RV operations by bigger ones looks like a B-grade horror movie, get out the popcorn – here’s another one. RV service and repair firm Camping Connection, with facilities in Kissimmee, Fla., and Myrtle Beach, S.C., is the latest to be consumed. Lippert – the RV component manufacturing giant – has “acquired” Camping Connection, giving it a total of five repair centers in the U.S.
Camping at Mammoth Cave National Park (Kentucky) has been reduced as Mammoth Cave Campground and Maple Springs Group Campground have closed for the season. Both will reopen March 1. Camping continues in the park at Houchin Ferry Campground.
Too much visitor love in Oregon parks could lead to limits on numbers allowed. Popular Willamette National Forest sites including Opal Creek Scenic Area, Oneonta Gorge and Blue Pool are suffering ecological damage, and Forest Service officials say they may need to put caps on visitation.
Zion National Park (Utah) shuttle buses have ended for the season, meaning private vehicles are now allowed on Zion Canyon Scenic Drive. Park officials warn that’s good until all 400 parking spaces at Zion Canyon fill up, at which point the drive closes. They advise to come early.
The RV industry’s shipments will top 438,000 units in 2017, a 4.4 percent increase above the projected 2016 total of 419,500 units, according to a new forecast from the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA). The market projection shows towable RVs ending 2016 at 366,000 units, then increasing to 383,000 units in 2017. Motorhome shipments will reach 53,000 units this year and 55,000 units next year.
Are the masses of RVers, weary of deplorable quality control and service issues rampant in the industry, in for some relief? Here’s the new “party line,” just handed down by the RV Industry Association and RV Dealers Association: “Over the past decade, the elected officers of RVDA and RVIA have met twice per year to discuss issues critical to the health of the RV industry. Over the last 12 months, this group has met several times to specifically address the most pressing issues around the end user experience, and all parties agreed that while significant investment and improvements have occurred in the areas of parts and service, there is still work to do … that leadership team, coupled with RVDA of Canada and a select group of representatives from the industry’s largest suppliers and distributors, agreed to invest in a third-party facilitated process to identify the primary actions needed to best improve our service-related issues.” Some RVers wonder if this is just talk or reality.
Wade Maid Holiday Sale! Use coupon code: HolidayRV
Save 5% on Beast Wash and all other products. Your RV’s large surface area makes it a beast that collects more bugs, grit, grime, soot and industrial pollution than your car does. And it may have different surfaces of paint, fiberglass, vinyl and aluminum. Click on the video to see Wade clean, shine and protect EVERYTHING with Beast Wash. Click here to buy. Offer expires 1/31/17.Cannot combine with other offers.
More News
Staying on the path apparently isn’t a high priority at Illinois’ Starved Rock State Park. Conservation police report they’re on track to hand out 1,568 tickets to folks walking on closed trails this year. That’s three times more tickets than in an average year. The tickets are meant to reduce the number of injuries related to falls.
In the 1960’s, Esso urged drivers to “Put a tiger in your tank!” Now an Australian firm wants you to put a tire in your tank. Green Distillation Technologies has worked out a way to recycle tires to produce a diesel substitute. The average car tire yields more than a gallon of oil, suitable for use in a diesel engine, yielding less pollution than “dino-diesel,” as well as steel and carbon.
RVers who favor Santa Maria Pines RV Park in Santa Maria, Calif., have lost out to a motel. Hampton Inn will soon be bulldozing the park to make way for a new complex.
Thousands of fans of the Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area near Coal Township, Pa., wanted a place to overnight while off-roading. Now county government has approved, and a private firm has leased 50 acres of the site to build an RV park. The initial phase will include primitive sites – a couple to open within two weeks. As the project progresses, full-hookup sites will go in.
The government of the village of Port Henry, N.Y., will dissolve at the end of March. That’s left some wondering what will happen to the village-owned Port Henry Champ RV Park. While the nearby town of Moriah will take over park operations, campground users won’t notice any change until at least 2018, as Moriah officials say they need time to determine the park’s future.
Amarillo, Texas’ Palo Duro Canyon State Park is strutting about, showing off its freshened up Juniper camp loop boasting 20 renovated campsites, refreshed bathrooms and showers, and an indoor recreation hall.
A man who admitted to being high on heroin and meth crashed a stolen car into 13 new RVs at the Chisolm Trail RV dealership in Albuquerque, N.M. Charles Zigler roared into the lot, crashing into rig after rig until he finally got the car stuck between two units. Employees leaped into action, using a forklift to lift the car’s wheels off the ground to keep Zigler from creating more damage. Zigler jumped from the car and made a short hot-foot but was caught and arrested. About $100,000 in damage was left behind.
“Silly,” the missing motorhome dog, has been found. “Silly,” short for Silhouette, is a Schipperke that motorhomes with Sandi Anderson from Alaska. Sandi and her husband were on Washington state’s I-90 when their motorhome rolled on its side, and Silly, who’d been lap sitting, was tossed out the broken windshield. Volunteers heard of Silly’s plight and tried to find her, to no avail. One man even camped beside the freeway hoping to find the missing pooch. On the fifth day after the crash, a volunteer spotted Silly, and Sandi immediately came out to the site for a happy reunion.
Keep up with RV Industry news throughout the week at RVbusiness.com.
Simple on-board RV water safety
Water is one of the vital resources that we need to sustain life. For RVers, water sources change with every change in campground or every boondocking location. Frequently we have no way of knowing where the water is coming from or its quality. There are some simple, inexpensive precautions that we can take to swing the odds in our favor to avoid waterborne illnesses. Read morein this article from Bob Difley.
Why smokers can hurt the health of their pet
If you’re a smoker, you probably realize the dangers smoking may pose to your health. But have you ever thought about how the habit affects your pet? In the enclosed space of an RV, this can be a special concern. Learn more.
Does your insurance policy offer vacation liability coverage?
“Vacation liability” coverage, sometimes called “campsite liability” coverage, protects you if someone (other than a family member) is hurt at your campsite, or in your RV while it’s parked. You want to enjoy the RV lifestyle, so don’t let the wrong or inadequate coverage add stress to your life. Learn more.
Avoid “frying” appliances, electronics at RV parks
It’s not unusual for your RV to be exposed to faulty campground electrical wiring like open neutral, open ground and reverse polarity. If ignored when hooking up at a campground or RV park, such conditions can damage or destroy appliances and expensive electronics. In this short video, Mark Polk demonstrates how several inexpensive Surge Guard RV Power Protectors can help ensure you stay out of trouble. Watch the video.
Full-time RVing — If you solo RV, please do this
Are you a solo RVer? Here’s a “stop and ponder issue” for you. Every year thousands of RVers descend on the desert southwest, looking forward to a great time of exploration and relaxation. And every year a body is found in the desert, usually of someone who wandered off, got disoriented and never made it back to their RV. Here’s what to do so this doesn’t happen to you.
The readers write — Security for generators and RVers
While plenty of folks were out hitting the highways over the long Thanksgiving weekend, it seems our readers took their electronic devices along to keep up with the newsletter. Here’s a bit of the feedback we’ve received in the last couple of weeks regarding “Why so few boondockers?” as well as more suggestions on how to”Prevent thieves from stealing your generator.” Read more.
RV industry marketing efforts target three groups
A news release from the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA) states that with deliveries of RVs climbing toward an all-time high, the industry will accelerate its marketing efforts on three groups of consumers most likely to buy – active family adventurers, nature lovers and kid-dree adult adventurers. Recent research showed that consumers in these groups have favorable views towards RVs and the RV lifestyle. Read the interesting results of this research.
Beware of buying trailers stolen in Illinois
Crime investigators in Madison County, Ill., fear an unsuspecting RV buyer could end up getting ripped off. Three camper trailers were recently stolen in the area and police fear the thieves will try to sell them to unsuspecting buyers on a website such as Craigslist. Trailer descriptions here.
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.
No Shock Zone, Part Eleven
This is the 11th episode of a 12-part series about basic electricity for RV users and how to protect yourself and your family from shocks and possible electrocution. In this episode, we’ll cover extension cord connector wiring and testing. The information in this 12-part series has saved lives. It’s very important. Take the time to read. If you missed last week’s episode about GFCI troubleshooting and understanding and preventing RV electrical damage, read it here.
Mystery switches in the RV — Just what do they do?
Rich “The Wanderman” was checking his RV the other day to make sure everything was OK. (He does this every couple of weeks, even when it’s stored for the winter. Find out why this is a good idea.) In the process he noticed the “odd” switch by the bathroom vanity sink, which had taken him about a year to figure out! Do you have any mystery switches in your RV? Read more.
What you need to know about RV trailer tires Travel trailer tires — ST tires — have special characteristics that make them different from automotive tires. For one thing, most are only rated to travel at 65 miles per hour (some not even that). In this video, RVsafety.com’s Walter Cannon, of the Recreational Vehicle Safety Foundation, explains what a travel trailer owner should know about his or her RV’s tires. If you own a travel trailer, watching this should be essential viewing. Watch the video.
Dashboard accessories headed for a meltdown?
Chris Dougherty, certified RV technician, received a question from a reader regarding plugging in numerous 12-volt accessories, while he was serving as RVtravel.com’s technical editor. The reader wanted to know what is the best way to power all of his 12-volt accessories without overloading the outlet on the dashboard of his Class A motorhome. Read Chris’ response.
High altitude fuel-up — low altitude engine knock
We got a note from a reader who’d been on a road trip out West. Piloting his pickup with a V-10 engine, towing a travel trailer, he started to encounter severe engine knocking while in Arizona in the relatively low, 2,000-foot altitude area. However, his last fuel fill-up had been in Albuquerque, N.M., elevation nearly 6,000 feet. What was going on? Find out here.
Winegard debuts new gadgets at RV trade show
Winegard announced on Tuesday that it will display a host of new electronic gadgets at the National RV Trade Show. In the newly-designed booth this year, the company will showcase the Winegard ConnecT Wi-Fi range extender, both the Wi-Fi version that is available now and the WiFi + 4G LTE, which will be available the first quarter of 2017. Numerous other new products will also be on display. Read more.
Thor, Winnebago debut 2017 model changes
The 2016 RV Industry Trade Show began Tuesday in Louisville, Ky. Thor and Winnebago issued news releases about their 2017 RVs to be debuted at the once-a-year event. Read this overview of models and floor plans as supplied by the PR departments at each company.
New floor plans for Fleetwood, Holiday Rambler, others
REV Recreation Group is showcasing the Holiday Rambler Navigator, an all-new Class A diesel motorhome, as well as 14 new floor plans across REV’s four-brand lineup at RVIA National RV Trade Show in Louisville, Ky., this week. In addition to the Navigator model, Holiday Rambler will showcase five new floor plans and Fleetwood RV will debut six. Meanwhile, REV luxury brands American Coach and Monaco Coach will each roll to the show with a new floor plan. Read more.
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.
Newmar recalling some motorhomes
Newmar is recalling certain 2016-2017 Dutch Star and Ventana motorhomes manufactured January 22, 2016, to November 7, 2016, equipped with Cummins ISL engines. These vehicles have a power steering hose that may be routed incorrectly and the hose may rub against the power stud on the starter motor, possibly causing electrical arcing and a power steering fluid leak and increasing the risk of a fire. Learn more.
More than 17,500 older Sprinter vehicles recalled
Daimler Vans USA is recalling more than 17,500 model year 2003-2006 Dodge and Freightliner Sprinter 2500 and 3500 vans manufactured June 30, 2003, to August 31, 2006. The instrument cluster on the affected vehicles fails to illuminate the brake warning lamp in the instrument cluster during the vehicle start up bulb-function check. If the operator is unaware that the vehicle has low brake fluid, there would be an increased risk of a crash or damage to the vehicle. Read more.
Some 2017 Entegra Coach motorhomes recalled
Entegra Coach is recalling certain 2017 Aspire, Anthem, Cornerstone and Insignia motorhomes manufactured April 15, 2016, to October 25, 2016 and built on Spartan Motors chassis. The throttle circuit wires on the affected vehicles may not have been twisted to cancel out electromagnetic interference, and as a result, interference may cause the throttle signal to be higher or lower than intended. Unintended deceleration or acceleration can increase the risk of a crash. Learn more.
Keystone RV recalls more than 6,200 fifth wheels
Keystone RV Company is recalling 6,252 model year 2015-2016 Keystone Carbon, Fuzion, Impact, Raptor, and Dutchmen Voltage toy hauler fifth wheels equipped with aluminum black ladders manufactured by Christianson Industries. The affected ladders have retractable hinges, each with a welded “top hat” that can separate from the hinge. If the hinges separate from the ladder while in use, the ladder may fall from the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury. Read more.
Heartland recalls more than 2,000 trailers
Heartland Recreational Vehicles is recalling 2,045 model year 2015-2016 Cyclone travel trailers and 2015-2016 Road Warrior and 2016 Torque trailers. The affected trailers are equipped with aluminum black ladders that have retractable hinges, each with a welded “top hat” that can separate from the hinge. If the hinges separate from the ladder while in use, the ladder may fall from the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury. Learn more.
Ford recalls 650,000 Fusion and Lincoln MKZ vehicles
Ford is issuing a safety recall for approximately 650,000 2013-16 Ford Fusion and 2013-15 Lincoln MKZ vehicles to insulate front driver and passenger seat belt anchor pretensioners to prevent cable separation in a crash. In the affected vehicles, increased temperatures generated during deployment of the seat belt anchor pretensioner could cause pretensioner cables to separate, which may inadequately restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing risk of injury. 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 Dec. 3–9 Compiled by Dell Bert
1884 – Washington Monument is completed.
1933 – Prohibition ends.
1941 – Pearl Harbor is bombed.
1963 – The Singing Nun reaches #1 on U.S. pop charts with “Dominique.”
1967 – First human heart transplant.
1980 – John Lennon is murdered.
1981 – Warren Beatty writes, directs, stars in Oscar-winning “Reds.”
Perfect stocking stuffer! Lucy and Desi go RVing Now, here’s the perfect stocking stuffer — Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz go RVing! In this 1954 classic — in gorgeous Technicolor — the famous couple (as newlyweds) invest in a 40-foot travel trailer and hit the road. The result is hilarious! The scene in which Lucy tries to make beef stew, a Caesar salad and cake in the wobbling, moving trailer is a classic! This DVD is a great gift for your favorite RVer! Learn more or order for only $5.97.
RV Club of the Week Here is an RV club/resource we like. We hope you do, too!
Families On The Road
Not exactly a “club,” but a community site (in existence for 25 years) with general information about living full-time on the road and where the focus is on the unique issues that face families traveling with children.
Quick, easy way to change your trailer tire A flat tire on your trailer never comes at a good time. And when it happens, it can be a hassle getting the flat tire off the ground. Well, here’s a safe, quick and easy way to do it — without having to hassle with a jack! Learn more or order.
Bumper sticker of the week
If it weren’t for physics and law enforcement, I’d be unstoppable.
Funny/clever business slogan
Spotted on the side of a plumbing truck in Idaho Falls, Idaho: “If it weren’t for your plumber, you’d have no place to go.”
Have you seen a funny bumper sticker or business slogan? Send it to Diane(at)RVtravel.com
Lightweight vacuum perfect for RVs GREAT GIFT! 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.
Upcoming RV Shows See the list of upcoming RV shows for 2016 and 2017.
Pre-order now Locate services at Interstate exits The 2017 Next Exit is the most complete USA Interstate highway exit directory ever published for every exit of major and most minor routes. Find what’s located at upcoming exits on your route — gas, food, lodging, camping, shopping, hospitals, Walmarts and much more. A best-seller year after year. Learn more or order.
Websites of the Week Here are three we like:
These 12 U.S. national parks look even more beautiful under a blanket of snow
Some of these gorgeous parks offer year-round camping, and all have winter activities for outdoor enthusiasts. You’ll see sights unlike anything you would see in the warmer months, not to mention enjoying a fraction of the tourists. From easyvoyage.co.uk and msn.com
Fifty fulfilling, productive things to do in retirement
If you’re retired or soon-to-be retired and wondering what to do with all of your newly free time, here are 50 excellent suggestions — including traveling by RV, of course. But a lot of these great ideas will possibly present you with a new quandary: So much to do — how do I choose? From cheapism.com and msn.com.
Offbeat attractions in all 50 states
Here are free or cheap quirky attractions to enjoy in each state as you’re traveling around the country. “Offbeat” is an understatement when describing these natural or man-made places of interest. From cheapism.com and msn.com.
The Most Scenic Drives in America The newly updated trip planner & travel guide will steer you down the most scenic road every time. From Florida’s Road to Flamingo, to British Columbia’s Sea to Sky Highway, to Cape Cod’s Sandy Shores, each featured road trip is pictured in stunning full color and described in vivid text, keyed to an easy-to-follow map. Whether you choose a drive on a distant road or a back road in your own state, this book is your ticket to North America’s most beautiful byways. Learn more or order.
Good reading from RV123.com
• This very simple app can really come in handy for avid RVers.
• Raleigh Oaks RV Resort is one of the highest rated RV resorts in North Carolina!
• This new take on a timeless camping classic is pretty awesome!
Keep burglars away with fake TV The next time you leave your home or RV, turn on this fake TV to scare intruders away. At night, when burglars like to strike, from outside your home or RV the light mimics someone inside watching a 40-inch LCD TV, while using very little power. This is enough to scare most would-be intruders off. Learn more or order.
Ask the RV Shrink
Are unattended possessions less safe when boondocking?
Dear RV Shrink:
We have just started doing more remote camping or, as some of our friends call it, “boondocking.” My husband is much more comfortable with this arrangement than I am. We are not just parking on the side of the road somewhere. We are birders and we like wild, natural places.
I am very comfortable staying in most of these areas, I just don’t like heading out for the day and leaving our RV and all of our worldly possessions. We have never had a problem, but I think about it all day long while we are out hiking or driving around the area. Should I just “get over it”? Am I being too paranoid? Thoughts, please. —Unsecured in Utah
Beautiful National Parks 2017 wall calendar From the National Park Foundation, the official charity of America’s National Parks, comes this remarkable wall calendar filled with breathtaking images from America’s most beautiful national parks. Each month showcases two photos of National Park Foundation-supported sites, plus detailed information about each. Best-seller at Amazon.com. Learn more or order. GREAT GIFT!
Tire strength
Tires and load range designations on tires have changed over the years. It used to be a 6-ply or 8-ply tire, and you knew the higher the number the stronger the tire. Now they use a letter to designate load range and tire strength. To help simplify this you can take the letter for the load range on the tire, determine what number it represents in the alphabet, and multiply that by two, to determine the strength of the tire. It sounds much more difficult than it is. If your tire is a load range “D” that is the fourth letter in the alphabet. 4 X 2 equals 8 so a load range “D” tire is equivalent to an 8-ply tire in strength.
Mark Polk is the owner of RV Education 101, the premiere source of educational DVDs about buying, maintaining and using an RV. Learn more.
Good Sam Campground Guide JUST PUBLISHED. Be the first to get this guide by ordering through Amazon.com. 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 completed on site in the past 12 months. 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 pre-order. (Available Dec. 7)
Latest fuel prices Here are the latest U.S. average prices per gallon of gasoline and diesel fuel: Regular unleaded gasoline: $2.15 (on Nov. 28). Change from week before: Down 0.1 cent; Change from year before: Up 10 cents. Diesel: $2.42 (on Nov. 28). Change from week before: Down 0.1 cent; Change from year before: Down 0.1 cent.
Strengthen your hands, fingers and forearms Here’s a great, easy way to build up the strength in your hands, fingers or forearms. Perfect for RVers. If you suffer from arthritis, carpal tunnel, tendonitis or tennis elbow this is for you. It’s also great for simply building up the strength of your grip. This is a best-seller and costs about $8. GREAT GIFT! Learn more or order.
RV Travel Reader Pets
Do you travel with a pet? We’d love to introduce your pet(s) to fellow readers. Send a photo or two of Fido or Boots and a 150-200 word description of your furry friend(s), along with your name(s) and hometown to Diane(at)RVtravel.com .
Click here to see the last issue of RV Travel Reader Pets. New issue next week.
A GREAT GIFT 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 detect your hand fast. Uses 3 AAA batteries. Learn more or order.
The RV Kitchen with Janet Groene
Whole Lotta Cheese Sauce Let’s get into the sauce.
Make a big batch of sauce while you’re at it, keep it in the fridge and use it every day for up to a week on fish, burgers, pasta, vegetables, omelets. Get the recipe.
Cooking with Convection Don’t know how to cook with your RV’s convection oven? Then this book is for you. Beatrice Ojakangas, an authority on convection cooking, explains how to use your convection oven to achieve perfect results in dramatically less time than with a conventional oven – from meat to side dishes to dessert — all at the same time. GREAT GIFT!Learn more or order.
RV Fire Safety Tip
Prevent spontaneous combustion
Spontaneous combustion can occur in damp charcoal. Buy charcoal fresh, keep it dry, and store it in a covered metal container. Rags soiled with auto wax or cleaners that contain petroleum products or other oil-based cleaning materials can also spontaneously combust if disposed of in a combustible container. Put dirty cleaning rags in a metal container with a lid. Courtesy:MacTheFireGuy.com
Editor’s note: Choose from a wide selection of fire extinguishers at Amazon.
Great gift for a child! A Lego RV What a great gift for an RVer’s children or grandchildren! Check out the variety of Lego RVs at Amazon — motorhomes vans, trailers and more. The RVs include doors that open, roof compartments and lots of space inside for the little people to move around — just like in a for-real RV! Learn more or order.
RV Quick Tips
The world’s largest firecracker is in Amargosa Valley, Nevada. The nearby gift shop has great UFO stuff. Some cashiers also work next door at the brothel.
Handy bedside water glass holder Space tight in the bedroom? No room for a water glass? Your local auto parts store has a great selection of folding cup holders that can screw onto a nearby wall or bulkhead.
Turn off your water when away
It’s no fun to return to your RV after a day away to find it flooded because of a broken pipe or malfunctioning toilet. It’s a good idea to turn off your water at the faucet before heading off. Here’s a horror story (video) about a RVing couple who forget to turn their water off. And, oh … the result was ugly!
Easy way to clean your showerhead
Can’t get your RV showerhead off to clean it? Fill up a plastic storage bag with white vinegar, “bag” the shower head, and hold it in place with a rubber band or other tie. Leave it hanging overnight to dissolve mineral deposits.
Do you have a Quick Tip? Send it to Diane (at) RVtravel.com and you just might see it here!
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.
Ask the RV Doctor The RV Doctor, Gary Bunzer, answers your questions
Keeping water lines from freezing during cold winter RV use
Dear Gary,
We have a Class C motorhome. We have used it quite often this winter and have resisted winterizing it because we use the shower and toilet and such. I have heated it through the winter so far without any problems, but during a recent cold snap the bathroom plumbing froze. I believe the problem is where the water lines run under the floor to the opposite side of the cabin. Interior heat, I suspect, was not enough to keep the lines from freezing under the floor. … —David
Guide to America’s Classic Car Museums
If you love vintage cars, you’ll love theRoadster Guide to America’s Classic Car Museums & Attractions. Whether it’s Model Ts, the “tail fin” era, muscle cars, early race cars, and so much more, fans of classic cars will find all their favorites in one place in this comprehensive 340-page guide to more than 250 places, packed with more than 60 photos. Learn more or order.
Gizmos and Gadgets
Pure, tasty water in your RV with Remco’s WaterMaker Five
You may have noticed that the water you hook up to at some campgrounds and RV resorts is considerably taste-challenged. You can bet that most of the water sources are not filtering out things like arsenic and lead and other nasties you don’t want to put into your family’s bodies. The compact Remco WaterMaker Five reverse osmosis (RO) system from Nimbus Water Systems produces high-quality drinking water quickly, easily and on demand. Learn more.
Add warmth and ambiance
to your RV with an electric fireplace
If you miss having the warmth and ambiance of a fireplace in your RV, the Dimplex 25″ LED Electric Fireplace Insert may be the next best thing. The simulated fireplace looks like a real fire burning, and also will heat your interior, a pleasant plus for fall and winter camping. Read more.
Give ‘keyboard waffles’ to your favorite writer/blogger
What a great gift for a writer or blogger — a waffle iron that makes waffles in the shape of a keyboard! Or get this for yourself and serve up a “waffle keyboard” to your favorite writer or anyone who works at a keyboard. A great conversation piece! Learn more or order.
RV Electricity with Mike Sokol
Huge difference between 30-amp and 50-amp hookups
Dear Mike,
So just how much more power does a 50-amp shore power plug have compared to a 20- or 30-amp plug? We like to bring a lot of our electronic toys with us, and have tripped the 30-amp circuit breaker a few times. Should we consider a 50-amp plug for our next RV? —Stan
Mike Sokol is an electrical and professional sound expert with 40 years in the industry. Visit NoShockZone.org for more electrical safety tips. His excellent book RV Electrical Safety is available at Amazon.com.
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.
Napa Valley, Julianne G. Crane
RV Short Stop
Meandering through Napa Valley Northern California
If you occasionally prefer the slow lane rather than speeding along on the interstates, consider State Hwy. 128/29 in iconic Napa-Sonoma Wine Country — “one of the world’s premier viticultural regions,” according to Napa Valley.com. Meander through the rolling hillsides and hundreds of historic vineyards and wineries, many of which are open to the public. For shopping and walking, there are also the picturesque towns of St. Helens, Rutherford, Yountville and, of course, Napa.
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.
Joke of the Week Actual computer tech support question:
Tech support: How may I help you? Customer: I’m writing my first e-mail.
Tech support: Okay, and what seems to be the problem? Customer: Well, I have the letter ‘a’ in the address, but how do I get the circle around it?
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 — perfect for RVers: It pops down flat for easy storage. Lid perforations allow steam to escape to keep food moist. Doubles as a strainer! Learn more or order.
Videos you’ll like
How RV refrigerators work and maintenance tips Gary Bunzer provides an overview of how an RV absorption refrigerator works, and explains what an RV owner can do to protect it and maintain its efficiency. Watch the video.
Futuristic tow car from yesteryear has a periscope
This old car and trailer “of the future” are like nothing you’ve seen and probably never will see. Watch the old movie newsreel.
Visit our YouTube Channel.
More than 500 great videos about RVing!
Random RV Thought Take along bicycles on your RV trips. They are excellent for short excursions, and the only fuel they burn is calories, which is a good thing for most people’s waistlines.
Trivia People with syngenesophobia have a persistent fear of all their living relatives. The symptoms typically include extreme anxiety, dread and anything associated with panic such as shortness of breath, rapid breathing, irregular heartbeat, excessive sweating, nausea, inability to articulate words or sentences, dry mouth and shaking.
Worth Pondering
When the power of love overcomes the love of power the world will know peace. —Jimi Hendrix
TODAY’S DEALS ON RV PARTS & ACCESSORIES AT AMAZON.COM. Click.
Readers’ Birthday and Anniversary Greetings
Happy Birthday! • December 9: To Rick from Poula. Happy birthday, rvchaplain! Hope this year brings tons of wonderful traveling joy.
Happy (belated) Birthday! • December 1: To Norm from Kathy. Happy birthday to the best hubby, travel companion and fixer of all things broken! Enjoy the six months you are smarter than me! Hugs!
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, 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.
Our offices are located at 610 5th Ave. S, Suite F, Edmonds, WA 98020.
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This newsletter is copyright 2016 by RVtravel.com.
Traveling south on Hwy 128, this two-lane country road winds its way
through hundreds of vineyards–many with tasting rooms including Meeker Wines in Geyserville.
For the Meekers, “wine means family.” They started
home winemaking in a basement in the early 1970s, and in 1977 they
bought their first vineyard in Dry Creek Valley. “And now we’re into the
second generation of Meekers focused on creating and sharing wines with
character. We’d love it if you tried our wines and got to know our
family.” Their downtown tasting room was closed when we drove past their
storefront, however, we did catch our reflection in their window.
The
23-mile stretch between Geyserville and Calistoga was a bit curvy in sections,
however we didn’t mind and simply pulled over whenever anyone was
bunching up behind us.
After Hwy 128 joins Hwy 29 in Calistoga, the road
straightens out some, but the remaining half of the journey is no less
scenic because of the rolling hillsides and hundreds of historic
vineyards and wineries, many of which are open to the public. For
shopping and walking, there are also the picturesque towns of St.
Helens, Rutherford, Yountville and, of course, Napa.
I found these calendars on a magazine rack in rural Oregon, in the mountains near Bend. You find a lot of hunting and fishing magazines (and in this case calendars) in rural areas of the West, especially places where fishing and hunting are popular. Even though these are mighty fine looking young ladies, I opted to not buy the calendars. —Chuck W
If you must have one of these calendars, they’re available at Amazon. Waders • Guns & Camo.
(December 1, 2016) — REV Recreation Group is showcasing the Holiday Rambler Navigator, an all-new Class A diesel motorhome, as well as 14 new floorplans across REV’s four-brand lineup at RVIA National RV Trade Show in Louisville, Ky., this week.
In addition to the Navigator model, Holiday Rambler will showcase five new floorplans and Fleetwood RV will debut six. Meanwhile, REV luxury brands American Coach and Monaco Coach will each roll to the show with a new floorplan.
Here’s a quick glance at the RVIA lineup, starting with REV’s newest model, the Navigator:
2017 Navigator
THE NAVIGATOR FILLS A VOID in the Holiday Rambler lineup for a midline Class A diesel motorhome on a 340 HP Cummins engine. Featuring a base-model $269,985 MSRP. The Navigator launches with two new floorplans, the 38F and the 38K. The 38F floorplan features an L-shaped sofa, expansive galley, double vanities and full-length rear closet, while the 38K creates a home-like feel with an L-shaped sofa, U-shaped dinette and a one-and-a-half bath floorplan. Among the Navigator’s many high-end standards, the Navigator includes Villa furniture, electric fireplace, LG electronics, a central vacuum and more.
In addition to the Navigator, Holiday Rambler will showcase five new floorplans. The Vesta 30F joins Holiday Rambler’s recently relaunched Class C motorhome lineup on the exclusive REV Control Ryde™ ride and handling system. This floorplan features a forward-facing L-shaped booth. The Vacationer adds the 35P to its lineup, perfect for couples, while the Vacationer and Vacationer XE will feature two new family-favorite bunk bed floorplans — the Vacationer XE 36D and the Vacationer XE 36F. Finally, the Holiday Rambler Endeavor introduces the 40D model with an L- shaped sofa, king-sized bed and two bathrooms.
Inside the Pace Arrow LXE
Six new Fleetwood floor plans debut Fleetwood RV will debut six new floorplans at RVIA, and like Holiday Rambler, Fleetwood is introducing a Class C floorplan, the Fleetwood Jamboree 30F. This floorplan offers a number of sleeping configurations, including king bed, jackknife sofa, convertible booth and cab-over bunk. The Storm adds two new bunk bed floorplans, the 36D and 36F, while the new Bounder 35P features a king-sized Eurotop bed. Pace Arrow LXE adds the 38F to its lineup, featuring a spacious bathroom with dual access from the hall and master suite. Last, the 40D floorplan joins the Discovery LXE lineup, featuring a host of residential amenities.
REV’S newest luxury motorhome additions
Finally, American Coach and Monaco Coach will showcase two new floorplans at RVIA — the American Revolution 39B and the Monaco Diplomat 43P. (Dealers will also be able to order the all-new American Coach 42P floorplan at the show; however, this new floorplan will not be on display.) While scoping out the new American Revolution 39B floorplan, dealers can also learn about two 360 camera systems REV RV Group is displaying at the show for dealer feedback. Meanwhile, Monaco Coach will display its all-new 43P floorplan, featuring residential refrigerator, dual vanities and a master suite walk-in closet.
Gary Bunzer, the RV Doctor, provides an overview of how an RV absorption refrigerator works, and explains what an RV owner can do to protect it and maintain its efficiency. Find out what can damage a cooling unit and learn preventive maintenance tasks to keep an RV fridge running efficiently.
If you’re a smoker, you probably realize the dangers smoking may pose to your health. But have you ever thought about how the habit affects your pet? In the enclosed space of an RV, this can be a special concern. According to Food and Drug Administration (FDA) veterinarian Carmela Stamper, D.V. M., the news is not good.
“Smoking’s not only harmful to people; it’s harmful to pets, too,” Stamper says. “If 58 million non-smoking adults and children are exposed to tobacco smoke, imagine how many pets are exposed at the same time.”
What’s Lingering on Your Rug, Furniture, and Clothes?
Both secondhand smoke (which lingers in the air your animal breathes in) and third-hand smoke hurt pets. What’s third-hand smoke? It’s residue (harmful compounds that are left behind, such as nicotine) that can get on skin and clothes, as well as furniture, carpets, and other things where a smoker lives.
“Like children, dogs and cats spend a lot of time on or near the floor, where tobacco smoke residue concentrates in house dust, carpets and rugs. Then, it gets on their fur,” Stamper explains. “Dogs, cats and children not only breathe these harmful substances in, but pets can also ingest them by licking their owner’s hair, skin, and clothes.”
And of course, if your dog or cat grooms itself or another animal, he’s ingesting the residues as well, Stamper says.
Facts That May Surprise You About Pets and Smoking
Did you know …
How tobacco smoke affects a dog depends on the length of the dog’s nose.
Certain dog breeds are at increased risk of nose or lung cancer.
Cats that live with people who smoke more than a pack of cigarettes a day have three times the risk of developing lymphoma, a cancer of the immune system.
Your smoking can endanger your pet bird, guinea pig, and even your fish.
Gail and I were just talking and she said something that jarred a memory.
It was from high school. For some reason I attended summer school one year. I have no idea why. Maybe I flunked a class. I know I did terrible in trigonometry.
The big thing back then was a new cream you could rub on yourself, usually your face, that would provide an instant tan. It was a way of turning yourself into a bronze god or goddess without wasting time sunbathing. Sitting in the sun hour after hour was boring to me so this seemed a good way to help make me irresistible to women.
I bought some of the creme and rubbed it on my face. Wow! Wow! Wow! Within an hour or two (I can’t remember) I had a light tan. It was amazing, almost beyond belief! But I was not yet bronze enough, so I applied more. And more. Finally, my tan had reached perfection (my opinion). Keep in mind that I lived in Southern California, where a tan was pretty much required for even entry-level sex appeal.
One day at summer school, I noticed an attractive girl in my class staring at me. I caught her staring more than once. Was it possible, I wondered, that she was interested in me, now that I was so incredibly sexy with my magnificent tan? I don’t remember exactly how long it was until she said something, yet she did. But the fact that she was very good looking and stared at me so long was enough to set my heart a pitter-patter. This was back when I had perhaps 50 million male hormones as opposed to maybe 60 or 70 now that I am old and no longer need to reproduce. When a young guy has that many hormones and thinks a girl likes him, it can drive him into a mad frenzy. If you are a guy, you know.
Anyway, back to the girl. Finally, she spoke. “Chuck, do you know you have green eyebrows?”
That’s what she said. Oh, that hurt! Really hurt! She didn’t desire me at all! It was just a case of green eyebrows!
That was the end of my life as a bronze god and my green eyebrows.
Here are a few brands of hot sauce I found at the Casa de Fruita near Hollister, California. As the old Brylcreem jingle used to say, “A little dab’ll do ya.”
Don’t take a swig of any of these out of the bottle or you’ll be a fire-breathing dragon!
By the way, watch the Brylcreem TV commercial below for a trip back in time. —Chuck Woodbury
Send a photo of your RV and a 150- to 200-word description of it, how and where you use it, and what you like or don’t like about it, to Diane (at) RVtravel.com . Be sure to include your name(s) and hometown, or if you’re a full-timer. (These are posted in the order received.)
The RVs of RVtravel.com readers and how they use them
Issue 67; Posted Dec. 3, 2016
Dave and Clara Inscoe, North Carolina
We drive a 2012 Tiffin Phaeton 40 QBH and tow a 2009 Honda CRV. The Phaeton is our third motorhome, having started with a 2008 34-foot Fleetwood Class C in 2010, then a 2006 33-foot National Tropi-Cal, and now what will probably be our last upgrade.
We greatly enjoy the roominess of our 40-foot coach, with its built-in washer and dryer (which Clara never thought she wanted – until she got it). We’ve found our Tiffin to be a good motorhome, but as we always said about the B-52 bomber that I flew when in the Air Force, it’s a “loose formation of nuts and bolts.” A motorhome is the same, and as can be expected with the loose formation of parts, there’s always the opportunity to fix something.
We purchased our first motorhome primarily as a way to take our two grandchildren on a winter adventure to Florida for two weeks in 2010. After looking at the costs to rent, we decided to buy instead. This also coincided with our upcoming retirement, and we thought that the RVing lifestyle might be something we would enjoy in retirement. And we’ve found the RVing lifestyle to be the ultimate way to enjoy retirement.
We travel 4-8 months each year. Our first great adventure was a trip from our home on the coast of North Carolina to the Western U.S. We loved it so much that we stored our motorhome in Albuquerque for two summers and traveled back home in our dinghy, returning to the Western part of our great country for three winters. Our travels have taken us as far west as California, as well as to Nova Scotia and Florida. So far we’ve taken our motorhomes into 42 states. We now spend our winters at the Naval Base in Key West.
Our most recent adventure, from which the picture was taken, was a 7,000-mile, two-month journey in the Western U.S. This picture was taken between Monument Valley and the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. We were joined again by our two grandchildren for a three-week tour of the magnificent National Parks in Colorado/Arizona/Utah. Their parents joined us for the middle week, so we were doubly blessed. I could write a book on what it meant to have the family together on such a great adventure and, in fact, we did a book from our blog as a Christmas present for them. It was truly an adventure of a lifetime, and one none of us will ever forget.
Pat and Cindy Greise, Omaha, Nebraska
In July of 2015, we upgraded from a 1998 28-foot Jayco bunkhouse with no slides to our 2016 33-foot Jayco bunkhouse with one slide in the living space. This would require fortifying our tow vehicle as well, so we purchased our 2011 Silverado 2500 HD used with 90,000 miles on it. With retirement one year away we needed something a little more spacious for extended camping.
Well, the retirement didn’t happen quite yet but the epic adventure did. With our foster son, Kirayle, looking for colleges between junior and senior year, we decided to check out the West Coast options via the highway. We traveled from the flatlands of Nebraska through Wyoming, Utah, Idaho, and into Oregon. We crossed Oregon to Eugene where the college visits started. Kirayle is the greatest kid, and after looking at five colleges on the West Coast, he has chosen to go to college in Missouri. It was a great adventure anyway. Five colleges and 5,775 miles later, the thrill of extended RV life is in our blood!
The Jayco pulled like a dream over the mountain ranges and provided spacious living at each stop. With reservations made over six months in advance, we camped down the coastline, in the redwoods, and even on the cliff of Jalama Beach, California!
Being new to owning a trailer with a slide, I would like to pass on some wisdom to any newbies: get a power cord extension, as your distance from your power source can affect opening your slide! Fortunately, we had an extension cord. I love to cook and we love to hunt and fish, so I packed 23 days’ worth of deer and fish into the freezer. The freezer and fridge remained in harmony with no frost buildup for the whole trip.
The return from this adventure took us the southern route thru Los Angeles, California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Colorado. What a big test drive for this Jayco! I have always had a strong allegiance to Jayco and for good reason. We didn’t have even one “what the heck!” from this bunkhouse right off the line. Maybe we didn’t pull it far enough … Alaska here we come!
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Thor Motor Coach is recalling 528 model year 2014-2016 Tuscany motorhomes, models 40DX, 40KQ, 40RX, 42GX, 42WX, 44MT, 45AT and 45LT, manufactured April 11, 2013, to October 12, 2015. Water may leak into the keyless entry module and cause an electrical short in the affected vehicles. An electrical short can increase the risk of a fire.
I am writing to you from Hollister, Calif., where the phrase “shake, rattle and roll” might be an appropriate slogan. In the last year, the town of 36,000 has experienced 578 earthquakes of 1.5 magnitude or greater. 
WOW! WHAT A DIFFERENCE 50 AMPS MAKES!
RV RECALLS
•Did you miss last week’s RV Travel? 
October wholesale shipments of RVs continued as in a race. Comparing shipments to October 2015, overall movement was up nearly 14 percent. Making it possible: travel trailers up more than 19 percent, pop-ups popping up 37 percent, with fifth wheels tagging along, gaining a mere 0.2 percent. At the same time, truck campers slid more than 23 percent. Motorhomes were mixed, showing an 11 percent increase across the board, with Class C units racing ahead nearly 28 percent and Class A rigs bombing out, losing 6 percent. Source: Recreation Vehicle Industry Association.
Are the masses of RVers, weary of deplorable quality control and service issues rampant in the industry, in for some relief? Here’s the new “party line,” just handed down by the RV Industry Association and RV Dealers Association: “Over the past decade, the elected officers of RVDA and RVIA have met twice per year to discuss issues critical to the health of the RV industry. Over the last 12 months, this group has met several times to specifically address the most pressing issues around the end user experience, and all parties agreed that while significant investment and improvements have occurred in the areas of parts and service, there is still work to do … that leadership team, coupled with RVDA of Canada and a select group of representatives from the industry’s largest suppliers and distributors, agreed to invest in a third-party facilitated process to identify the primary actions needed to best improve our service-related issues.” Some RVers wonder if this is just talk or reality.
Your RV’s large surface area makes it a beast that collects more bugs, grit, grime, soot and industrial pollution than your car does. And it may have different surfaces of paint, fiberglass, vinyl and aluminum. Click on the video to see Wade clean, shine and protect EVERYTHING with Beast Wash. 
Keep up with RV Industry news
RV industry marketing efforts target three groups
Unique RV overnight stops at wineries and farms
No Shock Zone, Part Eleven
Now, here’s the perfect stocking stuffer — Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz go RVing! In this 1954 classic — in gorgeous Technicolor — the famous couple (as newlyweds) invest in a 40-foot travel trailer and hit the road. The result is hilarious! The scene in which Lucy tries to make beef stew, a Caesar salad and cake in the wobbling, moving trailer is a classic! This DVD is a great gift for your favorite RVer! 
A flat tire on your trailer never comes at a good time. And when it happens, it can be a hassle getting the flat tire off the ground. Well, here’s a safe, quick and easy way to do it — without having to hassle with a jack! 
The Most Scenic Drives in America
Beautiful National Parks 2017 wall calendar
Good Sam Campground Guide
Strengthen your hands, fingers and forearms
Cooking with Convection
Great gift for a child! 
Give ‘keyboard waffles’ to your favorite writer/blogger
RV Electricity
Mike Sokol is an electrical and professional sound expert with 40 years in the industry. Visit 
Avoid moisture damage to your RV
Keep your food cool with this RV fridge fan
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 — perfect for RVers: It pops down flat for easy storage. Lid perforations allow steam to escape to keep food moist. Doubles as a strainer! 
Give gift cards to your
If you’re a smoker, you probably realize the dangers smoking may pose to your health. But have you ever thought about how the habit affects your pet? In the enclosed space of an RV, this can be a special concern. According to Food and Drug Administration (FDA) veterinarian Carmela Stamper, D.V. M., the news is not good.
The big thing back then was a new cream you could rub on yourself, usually your face, that would provide an instant tan. It was a way of turning yourself into a bronze god or goddess without wasting time sunbathing. Sitting in the sun hour after hour was boring to me so this seemed a good way to help make me irresistible to women.
In July of 2015, we upgraded from a 1998 28-foot Jayco bunkhouse with no slides to our 2016 33-foot Jayco bunkhouse with one slide in the living space. This would require fortifying our tow vehicle as well, so we purchased our 2011 Silverado 2500 HD used with 90,000 miles on it. With retirement one year away we needed something a little more spacious for extended camping.
The Jayco pulled like a dream over the mountain ranges and provided spacious living at each stop. With reservations made over six months in advance, we camped down the coastline, in the redwoods, and even on the cliff of Jalama Beach, California!