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Great RV Accessories Newsletter #87

Cheri Sicard
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Great RV Accessories Newsletter #87

Greetings, fellow RVers!

With RV life, sometimes you just need a little bit of help. That’s why, this issue, among other great stuff we are liking, we focus on gear that helps seniors and those with hand strength or mobility challenges navigate RV life. Read on!

Handy help for hands

Helpful gadgets for those with arthritis or weak hands

Maybe you, too, struggle a bit while RVing because of poor grip strength or arthritis. If so, you should know that many devices and gadgets can help! Check out the “handy” gadgets.

Magneticlight

Best magnetic RV gadgets

Forget fumbling fingers, magnetic gadgets pick up what fingers can’t. Gail Marsh has lots of handy uses for magnets around camp. Learn more about magnetic RV gadgets.

A gadget that helps with RV sewer connectionsGadgets help with sewer hose connection grip and hand strength issues

When it comes to RVing, one of the challenges we all face is when it is time to install or remove our sewer connections. Having enough hand grip and strength to twist can become a challenge. We all could use a little help. Dustin Simpson recommends two helpful tools that can make the job a little easier.

Spider Tool Holster BitGripper

This is a great RV gadget for your drill gun or impact gun. It comes as a two-pack and has a high-strength 3M adhesive bit holder. This add-on is for easy access to six driver bits on the side of your power drill or driver gun. Discover why Dustin Simpson loves this accessory.

Our highest-trending products on Amazon this month (so far):

  1. A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail
  2. Grabber Outdoors: The Original Space Brand Emergency Survival Blanket
  3. This hilarious How’s My Driving bumper sticker
  4. I Came, I Saw, I Forgot What I Was Doing Coffee Mug… 
  5. Bacon Air Freshener

Other stuff we’re liking:

retired couple standing outside RV AI generated image

Road-ready gadgets that make RV life easier, especially for seniors

Gail Marsh says that living the RV life should feel like freedom, but lately it’s been a bit of a struggle. Her husband awaits knee replacement surgery, and she’s been on the hunt for tips, tricks, and gadgets that can help restore his joy of RVing and also keep them comfortable (and safe) as they RV. Check out the senior-friendly RV gadgets.

Movable sun shades block window glare

The automatic shades in motorhomes are great for front-facing glare, but sometimes quartering slivers of bright sunlight affect vision comfort for both driver and passenger. These movable sunshades are more effective in reducing glare without impeding vision. Learn more about the movable sun shades here.

grab bars

Smart ways RVers use suction grab bars in their RVs

Besides helping you navigate RV steps, did you know that these handy bars can be used in other helpful ways as you RV? Take a look at this post and see for yourself.

Gadget quick takes

water heater flush wand

Water heater flush wand

The scale that condenses on the heat pipes gets thicker and thicker, affecting heating speed and power consumption. The flusher quickly removes lime deposits from the bottom of the water heater, extending the life of the water heater.

rv screen door closer

RV screen door closer with adjustable tension

Equipped with a spring mechanism, this essential RV accessory automatically closes your screen door, adding convenience and functionality.

Fix roof leaks and extend your RV roof another 18-20 years with the ONLY liquid butyl rubber in the world
RV Roof Magic’s unique solvent-based drying process allows for a chemical bond not found in other RV sealants. That is why it never needs a primer and only one coat. We offer a 10-year warranty. Apply RV Roof Magic to all roofs except silicone and PVC. Over 30 years of history of success. Visit our site for our monthly special!

Wild Game CookbookThe book nook
Wild Game Cooking: Over 100 Recipes for Venison, Elk, Moose, Rabbit, Duck, Fish and More

There is no food fresher than the food you get from the wild. No matter where you live or what you hunt, this cookbook has you covered. With delicious recipes for venison, moose, elk, boar, fish, duck, and more, this is a comprehensive guide for novices and experts alike. Learn to cook to perfection with a wide range of proteins and step-by-step preparations. Inside you’ll find: Over 100 recipes for all of your wild game, techniques for butchering, cleaning, cooking, and storing your game, tender and tough cuts, sausages, jerky, stews, ground meats, and more, and tips for curing and dehydrating your meat so nothing goes to waste

Whether you’re cooking at the grill, on the campfire, or in the kitchen, make the most of nature’s bounty with Wild Game Cooking. Learn more or order here.

More recent gadget articles and reviews:

grim steeper tea infuserGadget giggles
Grim steeper tea infuser

Steep into the afterlife! Simply fill with your favorite loose-leaf tea, suspend his mighty scythe on the rim of your mug, and enjoy some soul-soothing sips. Order here.

AmazonfindsrvtOur all-time favorite products at Amazon
Welcome to the wonderful world of RVtravel.com’s favorite Amazon finds! This is the first time EVER that we’re sharing this list with you. Yep, that’s right, this is our personal list that we use every day to recommend products to YOU. These are the products we actually use, talk about, recommend, and keep in our own rigs. And no, none of them are sponsored or paid for or anything like that. We’ve been compiling this list for years! Not to toot our own horn, but this is impressive!

FINISHED READING THIS ISSUE? Great! Now you can move on over to today’s brand-new RV Daily Tips newsletter.

RVtravel.com All-Star Team

Click here for information about our staff and how to contact us.

RV Daily Tips. Thursday, April 9, 2026

Newsletter Editor
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RV Daily Tips. Thursday, April 9, 2026

America’s Original RV Newsletter. Since 2001
Issue 2879 • New issue every weekday
If you find this newsletter helpful, please consider supporting our work with a donation of your choice. Thank you!

Today’s thought

“Find a place inside where there’s joy, and the joy will burn out the pain.” —Joseph Campbell

Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Name Yourself Day! If you could rename yourself, what name would you choose to go by? 

On this day in history: 1860 – On his phonautograph machine, Édouard-Léon Scott de Martinville makes the oldest known recording of an audible human voice.

Tip of the day
How to get rid of, and prevent, RV drain fly infestations

By Gail Marsh
Infestation? That’s putting it mildly! RVing friends called it an outright scourge. Their recently purchased “previously loved” RV was overrun with drain flies. Ugh!

If you’ve ever noticed tiny, fuzzy insects fluttering around your RV’s sinks or showers, you’re likely dealing with drain flies. Also known as sewer flies or moth flies, these pests thrive in the moist, organic buildup within drains and pipes. While drain flies don’t pose significant health risks, their presence can be a real nuisance. Let’s take a look at how to identify, eliminate, and prevent drain fly infestations in your RV.

Article and video
The weirdest national park sites in the United States

After years of researching the National Park System, National Park Diaries keeps running into places that break the usual rules, and they share them in the video at the end of this post. These are the parks that feel out of place, ignore neat categories, or make the map look a little absurd. That oddness is what makes them fun. From a site no one can step on to a park the federal government rents, these units show how strange national park administration can get. Here, they reveal them all.

RANDOM RV THOUGHT: You can spend hours researching the perfect campsite… and still end up liking the one you picked by accident more.

Featured article
Use self-fusing silicone tape for weatherproof connections

Standard vinyl electrical tape has been around for a long time—too long, some would say. The problem with this commonly used product is its adhesive. It doesn’t really stick very well and after awhile it starts to peel loose, leaving a gooey mess behind. But there’s a self-fusing silicone rubber tape for weatherproof connections which works great. Continue reading.

🔥 Reader favorite
Lodge cast iron scrapers: Small gadget, big results
Cheri Sicard writes, “Sometimes the smallest tools make the biggest difference, like these Lodge Cast Iron Scrapers. This simple plastic scraper lifts off stuck-on food with ease, no scratching or buildup. Now I use them all the time.” The two-pack includes a pan scraper and a grill scraper, both made of durable, dishwasher-safe polycarbonate with edges that fit different pan shapes. If you cook with cast iron, you’ll love how effortlessly these work. Learn more here.

Ask Dave
LED lights flicker in my RV. What should I look for?

Read Dave’s troubleshooting tips.

BackscratcherEvery solo RVer needs this, a back scratcher!
Yes, all solo RVers need this, but we think everyone needs this—solo or not! Tired of scratching your partner’s back? This would make the best gift… ever! Ahhh, that feels gooooood. 

Reader poll
How often do you go out to dinner?

Respond here.

Quick tip
Keeping your RV cool

alwaysonliberty.com

Regarding air conditioner vents, the folks at alwaysonliberty.com remind us, “These are a huge culprit in air conditioner malfunctions. You should clean your A/C output and intake vents AT LEAST MONTHLY! Make sure nothing is blocking the air flow in each.”

BUMPER SNICKER: “Camp more, fix less… in theory.”

“WHY DO I ALWAYS MISS OUT?” That’s what you’ll say if you miss a super-great bargain today only on something you really want! CHECK HERE!

On this day last year…

Website of the day

How To Choose The Right Onion For Every Recipe
Ever wonder if you should use a yellow onion, a white onion, or a sweet onion to caramelize? And why should pickled onions always be red? And what type of onion is best for soups? Can you use shallots instead? This guide tells you what onion to use for what. It’s helpful!

? MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY ?
Wow! This is exactly what we’ve been looking for our whole lives! How did we ever survive so long without it? You can’t survive another day without it! It’s extraordinary!

And the survey says…

We’ve polled RVtravel.com readers more than 5,000 times in recent years. Here are a few things we’ve learned about them:
• The highest percentage of voters, 49 percent, say driving five to six hours is the maximum amount they’ll drive in a day.
• When asked about the top reasons for stopping at rest areas, the main reasons RVers said, in order, were: resting and giving their eyes a break from driving, to grab a snack or a meal, or to get some exercise.
• 39 percent of fifth wheel owners have a Ford truck to tow their RV. The second most popular truck brand was Ram, followed by Chevrolet and GMC.

Recent poll: RV tire covers: Pros and cons—Do you use them?

Trivia

Which of these prolific authors is actually composed of a group of ghostwriters? Ursula Bloom? Nora Roberts? R.L. Stine? Carolyn Keene? If you guessed Carolyn Keene, the name behind the Nancy Drew mysteries, you’re right! Nancy Drew is not the work of a single author. In fact, it’s simply the name given to a cast of ghostwriters. Go back and reread a few Nancy Drew mysteries, and you’ll probably be able to see a difference in writing styles. Ditto for the Hardy Boys, where the fictitious author was called Franklin W. Dixon.

Readers’ pets of the day

Qt Uzgopsygvkzwdkssdfa 3180d0c73ffba5a13dcc7d8b1929ae65“Willie and Callie (Lab mix and Pyrenean Sheepdog) loved cats, other dogs (mostly), and all human beings. Loved the road. Here they are with Dad in the California desert. Both crossed the Rainbow Bridge in 2024.” —Bill Brogan

Send us a photo of your pet with a short description. No blurry photos and please do not submit your photo more than once. Thanks!

FREE IS GOOD! Through April 26, 2026, Fridays through Sundays, Buy One Get One Free sandwich at participating Arby’s, with your Rewards account. Details here.

LIVE: Mission to the Moon
As bandwidth allows, this stream will feature live views from Artemis II’s Orion spacecraft, without commentary, as it makes its journey around the Moon. You will see a blue screen if there is a loss of signal. You may see what appears to be a black screen when the vehicle is in darkness.

Leave here with a laugh

She just wants waffles!

Today’s weather forecast across the nation
THIS MAP UPDATES TWICE A DAY
Visit Current National Radar Weather Map

Did you miss the latest RV Travel Newsletter? If so, read it here.
Oh, and if you missed the Latest News for RVers, make sure to catch up here.

If you shop at Amazon.com we’d appreciate you using this link. We get an itty bitty commission if you buy something, but they add up and help us pay our bills (most importantly our hard-working writers!). 

RVtravel.com All-Star Team

Click here for information about our staff and how to contact us.

WHY WE ASK FOR DONATIONS INSTEAD OF SELLING SUBSCRIPTIONS.

Our policy on using artificial intelligence.

LED lights flicker in my RV. What should I look for?

Dave Solberg
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LED lights flicker in my RV. What should I look for?

Dear Dave,
The LED lights in my RV flicker randomly with no obvious power issue happening. Plus, it is more than just one light so I doubt it’s the bulb. —Jim, 2025 Grand Design

Dear Jim,
Since it is more than just one light fixture, I believe you are correct in the assumption that it is not the bulb.

First step to troubleshoot the issue

Most likely it is a 12-volt power issue, so the first step would be to make sure the unit has a good, steady 12-volt supply. If you are running off the house batteries, it could be that the batteries are weak. If you are still using flooded lead acid batteries, they could be sulfated.

Plug the shoreline cord into a known power source and if the flickering stops, then it is the battery. However, make sure all cables are tightly connected, as a loose cable or connection could also be the culprit.

Weak converter or battery charger

If your converter or battery charger is getting weak, you will also get a flickering. This can be verified by using a multi-meter to determine the voltage output. Any fluctuation of voltage would indicate erratic power and a faulty converter. Low voltage would also be an issue. There should be at least 13.2 volts coming from the converter.

Multimeter On Batt
Multimeter on battery

This battery shows 13.8-volts as it is receiving a charge from the solar panel while it is in storage and is not connected to shoreline power.

Shut off all appliances

Next, I would shut off all other appliances such as the 12-volt refrigerator, roof vents, water pump, etc. If another appliance “cycles” or starts, it may be drawing too much power and causing the lights to flicker. If the flickering stops, you can turn on appliances one at a time and see if you can identify the cause.

Check for a bad fixture

However, if the flickering continues, then you will need to trace the wires going to the fixtures. Ground wires are a common “gremlin” when it comes to wiring. I would run a new dedicated ground wire to one of the fixtures that is flickering and see if that helps.

There should be several lights that are connected together or “ganged,” and one bad fixture could cause the rest to flicker, as well. You can remove individual light fixtures and bench test them to see if they work with dedicated power and individually, which will help narrow the search to either a fixture or wiring.

Check for correct wiring polarity at the fixture

Good quality LED bulbs are not polarity sensitive, which means it doesn’t matter if the fixture is wired correctly. I know it sounds odd; however, we swapped out interior lights on a 1996 Itasca Suncruiser for the RV Lifestyle & Repair Club. We initially used a cheap set of bulbs and had a nightmare. I researched and found a company called M4 LED, which had high quality bulbs.

I talked with the owner, who is also an avid RVer. He indicated many of the cheap, overseas bulbs have hard paper casing rather than metal. They cannot stand up to road vibration, and they are also polarity specific.

We checked all the fixtures and found almost half were wired incorrectly, which I found odd. However, I remember doing factory tour videos for Winnebago. As the unit comes down the line, the wires coming out of the ceiling and under cabinets were green and purple, while the fixtures were black and white. The installer connected the wires and if the light worked, they did not verify if it was positive to positive, negative to negative.

The old incandescent and even halogen lights were not polarity specific. They just created resistance that made the coils “glow”, so it did not matter which way it was connected.

Fixtures may still work even if not wired correctly

It is possible that one or more of the fixtures is not wired correctly and would still work, but may create this issue and cause others to have the same flickering. You can check this by removing the lens cover and use a multimeter on the DC setting. With power to the fixture, touch the black probe to the ground and red to the positive. If it is wired properly, it will show a positive 12-volt reading; if not, you will see a negative (-) reading.

There are several types of fixtures and bulb connections, so you might have to experiment with what your fixture has for the connection and the actual ground and positive points.

 You might also enjoy these posts from Dave 

DAVE HAS ANSWERED MORE THAN 1,000 readers’ maintenance and repair questions. Read a directory here. There is so much to learn!

Dave Solberg is a leading expert in the RV industry and the author of the “RV Handbook.”

HAVE A QUESTION FOR DAVE?

Send your inquiries to him using the form below.

Name
Drag & Drop Files, Choose Files to Upload

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How to get rid of, and prevent, RV drain fly infestations

RV Travel
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How to get rid of, and prevent, RV drain fly infestations

By Gail Marsh
Infestation? That’s putting it mildly! RVing friends called it an outright scourge. Their recently purchased “previously loved” RV was overrun with drain flies. Ugh!

If you’ve ever noticed tiny, fuzzy insects fluttering around your RV’s sinks or showers, you’re likely dealing with drain flies. Also known as sewer flies or moth flies, these pests thrive in the moist, organic buildup within drains and pipes.

While drain flies don’t pose significant health risks, their presence can be a real nuisance. Let’s take a look at how to identify, eliminate, and prevent drain fly infestations in your RV.

Understanding drain flies

Drain flies belong to the family Psychodidae and are characterized by their small size and fuzzy appearance, resembling tiny moths. They breed in the organic sludge that accumulates in drains, feeding on bacteria and organic matter.

In RVs, infrequent use of sinks and showers can lead to stagnant water and organic buildup, creating an ideal environment for these pests.

Identifying the source

To effectively combat drain flies, pinpointing their breeding grounds is crucial. Here’s a simple method: Place clear tape over any suspected drain openings, leaving a small gap for airflow. After 24 hours, check the tape for trapped flies. This technique helps identify which drains are infested.

Eliminating drain flies

Once you’ve identified the problem areas, consider the following steps to eradicate drain flies:

• Mechanical cleaning: Use a stiff brush to scrub the inside of the affected drains, removing the slime layer where eggs and larvae live.

• Boiling water: Pour boiling water down the drain. This can help dislodge and kill larvae. Repeat this process several times to ensure effectiveness.

• Bleach treatment: Empty your black and gray water tanks as usual and close both drain valves. Fill the black tank about three-quarters full with water. Then use a 1-gallon pitcher or pail to mix 1/4 cup of bleach for every 15 gallons of tank capacity. Do the same for the gray tank. Pour the diluted bleach solution down the sink or shower drain, then flush it with plain water to ensure the mixture enters the tank.

Let the mixture sit in the tanks for 15–20 minutes. This gives the solution time to kill bacteria, dissolve organic buildup, and eliminate any remaining insects or larvae. Thoroughly flush tanks and rinse until the bleach smell is gone.

• Enzymatic cleaners: These cleaners break down organic material in drains without harming your RV’s plumbing. Regular use can prevent future buildups. Follow product instructions.

• Vinegar and baking soda: A mixture of vinegar and baking soda can create a foaming action that cleans drains and eliminates breeding sites. Pour half a cup of baking soda followed by half a cup of vinegar into the drain, let it sit for a few hours, then flush with hot water.

Preventing future infestations

Maintaining clean drains is key to preventing drain flies. Here are some preventive measures:

• Regular cleaning: Periodically flush your RV’s drains with hot water or enzymatic cleaners to prevent organic buildup.

• Proper waste tank management: Avoid leaving dump valves open. This can allow flies to move from the campground’s sewer lines into your rig. That’s where the drain flies breed and lay eggs. Regularly clean and sanitize both black and gray water tanks.

• Vent maintenance: Ensure that all vents are properly sealed and consider installing screens to prevent flies from entering.

By staying vigilant and maintaining proper hygiene in your RV’s plumbing system, you can keep RV drain flies at bay and enjoy a more comfortable living environment on the road.

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RVDT2879

The weirdest national park sites in the United States

Video Editor
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The weirdest national park sites in the United States

By Cheri Sicard
After years of researching the National Park System, National Park Diaries keeps running into places that break the usual rules, and they share them in the video at the end of this post. These are the parks that feel out of place, ignore neat categories, or make the map look a little absurd. That oddness is what makes them fun.

From a site no one can step on to a park the federal government rents, these units show how strange national park administration can get. In the video at the end of this post, they reveal them all.

St. Croix Island is the only international historic site

Maine is home to one of the strangest titles in the system, St. Croix Island International Historic Site. There are dozens of national historic sites, but this is the only international historic site in the entire system.

The park tells the story of early French settlement in North America. St. Croix Island sits in the St. Croix River on the U.S. side of the border, while Parks Canada manages a matching site across the water. Both countries work together to interpret the same history.

The odd part does not stop there. Visitors can go to viewing areas on both sides of the border, but the island itself is off-limits to protect its historic resources.

Washington, D.C., might be the capital of park weirdness

In Washington, D.C., many famous memorials are separate National Park System units on paper. The Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, and Jefferson Memorial each count on their own. Yet in day-to-day practice, they are managed together as the National Mall and Memorial Parks.

Then there are the tiny scraps of land created by D.C.’s diagonal street grid. Those odd triangles and slivers of grass at strange intersections often fall under National Park Service control, too. In other words, a small city park in an obscure corner of D.C. might also be a national park site.

Nearby, Catoctin Mountain Park adds another twist. It does not carry a “national” label at all, and Camp David sits inside it. So, when the president is there, parts of the park can close and security tightens. National Park Diaries also points to a deeper history in its video on why Camp David is located in a national park.

Some park units barely fit the map

Virgin Islands Coral Reef National Monument is the only unit in the system with no land at all inside its borders. Even water-heavy parks like Biscayne and Dry Tortugas include some land. This one is pure marine space, acting as a protective buffer around St. John.

Manhattan Project National Historical Park is one park split among Oak Ridge, Tennessee, Los Alamos, New Mexico, and Hanford, Washington. Oak Ridge enriched uranium, Hanford produced plutonium, and Los Alamos built the bombs. That is one park, spread across three states and three major pieces of atomic history.

Theodore Roosevelt National Park offers a different kind of weird. Its North Unit and South Unit are only about 50 miles apart in a straight line, but they sit in different time zones. So a fast enough drive could, at least on the clock, make someone arrive before leaving.

American Samoa has the strangest setup of all

The National Park of American Samoa may be the wildest case. The federal government does not own the land. Instead, it leases the park from Samoan villages, which makes it the only park in the system with that arrangement. The lease runs for 50 years from the park’s 1988 creation, so 2038 becomes an important date if renewals ever come up.

That is the bigger takeaway here. National parks are not only landscapes. They are also legal and administrative creations, and sometimes those rules get wonderfully strange.

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RVDT2879

How often do you go out to dinner?

RV Travel
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How often do you go out to dinner?

Mmm… dinner! We’re getting hungry just thinking about it.

How often do you go out to dinner? We’re talking about sit-down restaurants here—not take-out, not delivery, and not grabbing something quick at the drive-through (although sitting inside a fast-food place still counts).

So, what’s your routine? Do you eat out nearly every night? Maybe once a week? Once a month? Hardly ever? Never? And do your habits change when you’re out RVing compared to when you’re at home in your sticks-and-bricks house?

Some RVers say they go out more when they’re on the road—it’s part of the adventure, after all. Others say they cook when traveling more often than not, either to save money or because they just love grilling at the campsite.

We’d love to hear from you. After you vote, leave a comment to tell us why you eat out as often—or as rarely—as you do. And if you’ve had a standout meal lately, tell us where it was! We’re always up for a good recommendation.

Who knows? Your favorite little roadside café might just become someone else’s new favorite stop, too.

MORE POLLS YOU MIGHT LIKE:

RVDT2879

Health: Scientists turn plastic bottles into Parkinson’s drug

RV Travel
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Health: Scientists turn plastic bottles into Parkinson’s drug

Scientists have found a surprising new use for discarded plastic bottles: turning them into a key medication used to treat Parkinson’s disease.

Researchers at the University of Edinburgh developed a process that converts a common plastic used in water and food containers into L-DOPA, the most widely prescribed drug for managing Parkinson’s symptoms.

Parkinson’s disease affects movement, often causing tremors, stiffness and slowed motion. It occurs when brain cells that produce dopamine gradually die. L-DOPA helps restore dopamine levels, easing symptoms and improving quality of life.

How it works

The new method begins with polyethylene terephthalate, or PET, a plastic found in many beverage bottles. Scientists break it down into basic chemical components, then use genetically engineered bacteria to convert those materials into L-DOPA through a series of biological reactions.

Researchers say this is the first time a biological process has turned plastic waste into a medication for a neurological disease.

The discovery could also help address plastic pollution. PET is one of the most widely used plastics, yet much of it ends up in landfills or the environment. Traditional recycling can be inefficient and often produces lower-quality materials.

This approach, which is sometimes called “bio-upcycling,” turns waste into something more valuable. Scientists say it could reduce reliance on fossil fuels while giving new purpose to discarded plastics.

“This feels like just the beginning,” said Professor Stephen Wallace, who led the research. He said plastic waste can be viewed not just as a problem, but as a resource.

More research ahead

The research is still in early stages, and more work is needed before the process can be used widely. Scientists must ensure it is safe, reliable and cost-effective.

Still, the potential impact is significant. Parkinson’s disease is becoming more common as the population ages, increasing demand for treatment.

If successful, the method could offer a more sustainable way to produce an essential medication while helping reduce plastic waste.

MORE HEALTH-RELATED POSTS

RVT1256

That ‘pause’ on Starlink could cost you hundreds—or more

Russ and Tiña De Maris
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That ‘pause’ on Starlink could cost you hundreds—or more

For RVers using Starlink standby mode, the idea is simple: Pause your home internet while you’re on the road, then turn it back on when you return. On paper, it fits the RV lifestyle like a glove, especially for snowbirds or anyone splitting time between home base and the highway.

But there’s a catch—and it’s not the one most folks expect. You’re probably not going to lose your service slot when you go on standby. Instead, you may come back to a higher price than you left.

Standby doesn’t lock in what you were paying

When you put Starlink on standby, your account and service address stay active in the system. You’re not starting from scratch when you come back online, and you’re not reapplying as a brand-new customer. That part works pretty much the way people assume it does.

What doesn’t stay the same is pricing. Starlink has shifted to demand-based pricing in busier areas, and you may already be paying more back home—or come back to a higher price. If your home region fills up during that time, the cost of reactivating service may not look anything like what you were paying before you left.

The part that’s catching people off guard

Here’s where things get a little tricky—and where a PCMag report really shines a light. Earlier versions of Starlink’s terms of service led many users to believe that pausing service was a no-risk move. You could step away for a while, come back, and resume service under essentially the same conditions.

But newer terms spell out capacity limits and demand-based fees when you reactivate service. In some areas, Starlink already applies those fees—even if you haven’t had to pay them.

That means you can pause service at your current price, then come back and face the newer pricing rules. Nothing changed while you were gone—but you changed your status when you stepped out of the active billing cycle.

It’s not a penalty so much as how Starlink now handles reactivation—but if you weren’t expecting it, it can feel like one.

A real-world example that raised eyebrows

In the case highlighted by PCMag, a customer who paused service found that returning wasn’t as simple as flipping a switch. Their area already carried a high-demand designation, but as an active customer they hadn’t paid the surcharge.

Once they went on standby and later tried to reactivate, that changed. Getting service turned back on came with a hefty one-time fee—reportedly $1,500.

Same dish, same house, same account—but a very different price to come back online. It’s not something every user will run into, but it shows how quickly the ground can shift if demand in your area tightens up.

How this can happen—even if you were “grandfathered” in

Picture a scenario a lot of RVers will recognize. You signed up for Starlink in a place like Seattle a few years ago, before any demand surcharge existed, and you’ve been cruising along just fine at your regular monthly rate. Then Starlink rolls out congestion pricing in your area, but because you’re already an active customer, it doesn’t affect you. You’re essentially grandfathered in.

Now you head out on the road and put your service on standby for a couple of months. While you’re gone, nothing changes on your end—but your area remains a high-demand market under the newer pricing model. When you come back and reactivate service, you’re no longer that continuously active customer. You’re stepping back in under current conditions, and that’s when the surcharge can apply.

Why RVers are more exposed than most

This hits RVers a little differently than the average home user, simply because of how often service gets paused and restarted. A lot of folks use Starlink as their home base internet, then pause it while traveling for weeks or months at a time. That creates a window where local demand—and pricing—can shift without you ever seeing it happen.

If your home base sits in a seasonal hotspot—Arizona, Florida, the Pacific Northwest—capacity can tighten up while you’re gone. You leave under one set of conditions and come back under another, and the difference between those two can show up on your bill.

Bottom line

Starlink standby mode still does what it promises: It lets you stop paying when you’re not using the service, and for many RVers that flexibility is exactly what makes it appealing. But it no longer comes with the same assumptions it once did, especially as demand-based pricing becomes more common.

For RVers, the real caution isn’t losing your place in line—it’s discovering that “pause” didn’t freeze the deal you thought you had.

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Montana fifth wheel RVs recalled: underbelly may detach, cause crash

RV Travel
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Montana fifth wheel RVs recalled: underbelly may detach, cause crash

Keystone RV is recalling certain 2026 Montana fifth wheel trailers. Under certain conditions during travel, the underbelly may come loose or detach from the vehicle, leading to an increased risk of a vehicle crash.

The underbelly may not be secured sufficiently enough to prevent separation from the frame. An indication that the underbelly may detach may be that it appears loose or show signs of separation from the frame.

Remedy

Dealers will install C-channels and I-beams to secure the underbelly, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed May 28. Owners may contact Keystone customer service at 1-866-425-4369.

Keystone’s number for this recall is 26-482. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning May 28, 2026.

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RVT1256b

Ford recalls 422,613 vehicles including many F-series trucks

RV Travel
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Ford recalls 422,613 vehicles including many F-series trucks

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Lincoln Navigator, Expedition, and 2022-2023 F-250 SD, F-350 SD, F-450 SD, F-550 SD, and F-600 SD vehicles.  The windshield wiper arms may break, causing the wipers to fail. Windshield wiper failure can reduce visibility, increasing the risk of a crash and injury.

As many as 422,613 vehicles may be involved in the recall, which was issued March 31.

The windshield wiper arm’s latch retention plate may have been incorrectly staked at the supplier. The latch retention plate keeps the arm head properly seated to the wiper arm. Additionally, the engagement between the knurl and wiper arm head may be reduced due to dimensional variability. Proper knurl-to-arm head teeth engagement ensures robust wiper arm operation.

Identification of any warning that can occur:

Drivers may experience erratic wipe speed of the driver or passenger wiper arm.

Remedy

Dealers will inspect and replace the wiper arms, as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, are expected to be mailed April 13. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available.

Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford’s number for this recall is 26S24. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on April 1.

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RV Daily Tips. Wednesday, April 8, 2026

Newsletter Editor
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RV Daily Tips. Wednesday, April 8, 2026

America’s Original RV Newsletter. Since 2001
Issue 2878 • New issue every weekday
If you find this newsletter helpful, please consider supporting our work with a donation of your choice. Thank you!

Today’s thought

“I’m a big cockeyed optimist. I try to accentuate the positive as opposed to the negative.” —Betty White

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

On this day in history: 1918 – World War I: Actors Douglas Fairbanks and Charlie Chaplin sell war bonds on the streets of New York City’s financial district.

Tip of the day
10 smart ways to repurpose empty tissue boxes

By Gail Marsh
RVers are always on the lookout for clever storage solutions and creative hacks. Before you take your boxes to be recycled, consider these ten unique ideas to give your tissue boxes a second life. These are really smart!

Earth First Tagalong camperRV review
Earth First Campers Tag-Along—The $5,000 “Swiss Army Knife” of pop-up campers

Most budget campers cut out extra features to hit a low price, but Earth First Campers Tag-Along goes the other way. It stays small, light, and garage-friendly, yet still packs in a bathroom, hot water, storage, a sink, a cooler, and even a propane fire pit. That mix is why the Tag-Along gets called the “Swiss Army Knife” of campers. Check it out.

BUMPER SNICKER: “If it’s not broke, we haven’t used it enough yet.”

In the RV shop with Dustin
How an RV suspension works, plus upgrade tips

In this “What’s In The Shop?” video, Zach takes you along to inspect a typical fifth wheel RV suspension system. He explains the typical suspension system and gives examples of suspension upgrades and the benefits of having them. During this inspection, he found a worn shackle link that was almost broken. If this were to come loose during travel, it could cause serious damage to the unit and those behind you. You do not want this to happen to your RV!

81rmoxoupps Ac Sl1500
This is our favorite campsite flag. It makes us laugh every time! You can order it here. 

Article and video
How to safely connect an RV at home—power, water, and sewer

An RV gets a lot more useful when it has full hookups at home. Here, Jared Gillis from All About RVs shows how power, sewer, and water can turn a parked rig into a guest space, a trip-prep station, or an easy place for extra living or office space. Jared’s at-home RV setup looks a lot like a small RV site, but he also points out lower-cost options that still cover the basics. This is a great hookup “starter kit”.

Featured article
Has your RV refrigerator cooling unit gone bad?

High on the list of RVer nightmares is this one: Opening the refrigerator door to grab a “cool one,” and coming back with something warm. An RV refrigerator that’s lost its cool just isn’t funny. While some fridge problems aren’t too difficult to fix, a bad cooling unit is decidedly a “bad news” situation. How do you know if your cooling unit is shot? Read all about fridge cooling units here.

THE MORE YOU KNOW… Lobsters can still die from disease or predators, but aging itself doesn’t increase their risk of death. That’s because they produce an enzyme called telomerase, which helps protect their DNA from damage as their cells divide—allowing them to keep growing and potentially live indefinitely.

Ask Dave
What tools are still made in America?

Find out here.

Reader poll
When RVing, do you collect souvenirs?

Respond here.

GriddlekitKeep your Blackstone/griddle good-as-new
This simple griddle cleaning kit helps RVers keep their flat-top grills in great shape trip after trip. With scrapers, scouring pads, and a pumice grill stone, it quickly removes grease, burnt bits, and buildup without scratching the surface. Clean before and after cooking, and your griddle will last longer—and be ready for the next campsite breakfast. Learn more about cleaning your Blackstone in Gail Marsh’s article here, or buy this griddle kit here.

Quick tip
Check the wiring behind your refrigerator

Linda posted this in our Comments: “I just want to give everyone a heads up on a safety issue. Our fridge died after 11 years in our 2011 Bighorn. We decided to replace it with a residential fridge. When we pulled it out, we found two electrical lines, one for the microwave and the other for the kitchen counter outlet, running behind the fridge. Both lines had been leaning on something hot at the back of the fridge, as they were both burnt through to the copper. The fridge had never been run on propane. Given that fridge fires seem to be a concern in RVs, maybe it’s not the fridge, per se, but the electrical wiring. It would be worth it to check out what’s going on back there.” Thank you, Linda!

On this day last year…

EVER WONDER… what would happen if you got into an accident, needed medical help, or both while on the road? Here’s a tough look at that reality when you’re far from “help”.

Website of the day

50 Best Motorcycle Roads in America
Did you know that about 22 percent of our readers own a motorcycle? That’s quite a few of you! If you own one, check out these incredible drives to take with yours.

Trivia

In pioneer times, if an arm or leg was seriously wounded or badly broken, it would have to be cut off. There were no serious painkillers for the operation, so patients were given a bullet to bite on so they wouldn’t scream. Today, “bite the bullet” means to accept an unpleasant situation with courage.

? MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY ?
We couldn’t pick just one (you’ll see why), but these will really come in handy! Ooooh, boy. These things really make us excited to hit the road! And there are so many to choose from!

Readers’ pet of the day

Plum 9cb55e485c4de97cc83adfe19eb07300“This is Plum (Jack Russell Terrier Mix, age 5), my daughter’s dog. Plum is always dressed for the occasion. This is at a ‘Pup Crawl’ in Boston leading up to this year’s St. Patrick’s Day.” —David Plummer

Send us a photo of your pet with a short description. No blurry photos, and please do not submit your photo more than once. Thanks!

LIVE: Mission to the Moon
As bandwidth allows, this stream will feature live views from Artemis II’s Orion spacecraft, without commentary, as it makes its journey around the Moon. You will see a blue screen if there is a loss of signal, or if the bandwidth is needed for mission activities. You may see what appears to be a black screen when the vehicle is in darkness.

Leave here with a laugh

Screenshot

Today’s weather forecast across the nation
THIS MAP UPDATES TWICE A DAY

Visit Current National Radar Weather Map

Did you miss the latest RV Travel Newsletter? If so, read it here.
Oh, and if you missed the Latest News for RVers, make sure to catch up here.

If you shop at Amazon.com we’d appreciate you using this link. We get an itty bitty commission if you buy something, but they add up and help us pay our bills (most importantly our hard-working writers!). 

RVtravel.com All-Star Team

Click here for information about our staff and how to contact us.

What tools are still made in America?

Dave Solberg
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What tools are still made in America?

With all the recent press and publicity surrounding tariffs on imported goods, it raises an important question: What is actually made in America?

Several companies I’ve worked with manufacture certain components in the United States, but ship them overseas for assembly and painting because—even with shipping costs—it can be significantly less expensive. Others manufacture parts overseas, ship them to the U.S. for final assembly, and market their products as “Assembled in America.”

Rules governing labeling

So what are the actual rules governing “Made in America” labeling?

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) addressed this with a Made in USA (MUSA) Labeling Rule proposed in June 2020. According to the FTC, an unqualified “Made in USA” claim is only allowed if:

  • Final assembly or processing occurs in the United States;
  • All significant processing takes place in the United States; and
  • All, or virtually all, components and ingredients are sourced in the United States.

In short, some components can be outsourced and still qualify.

Some tools Made in America

Here is a brief list of some common tools that are MUSA.

Southwire

Southwire began producing wire and cable in the late 1950s and later expanded into tools and electrical testing equipment. While many of their products were once made in the U.S., their website now features a “Proudly Made in America” section covering categories like wire, cable, and some hand tools (pliers, screwdrivers, wire cutters). However, electronic testing equipment—such as multimeters and voltage testers—is not included, suggesting those products do not meet MUSA standards.

Klein

This company has been manufacturing tools and test equipment in the United States since 1857 and now has fifth- and sixth-generation family members running the company. According to their history section of the website, a vast majority of products are manufactured here in the U.S., but states the following:

The vast majority of the products we sell are made in the USA. The exact percentage changes frequently as we insource some products to our USA plants and add new products to our lineup. Klein has introduced many new US-manufactured products in recent years (hole-making, screwdrivers, fish tapes, utility wrenches, buckets, bags, etc.). We have invested in four new US manufacturing facilities in the past decade, and have invested heavily in new equipment and tooling in our plants to expand our capacity and quality.

Klein also states that it has never shut down an American plant and sent jobs overseas. It manufactures 14 times more products here in the United States than in any other country. Also, it plans to invest more than $100 million in U.S. facilities.

I like the Klein tools, especially this kit which contains the multi-meter, non-contact voltage tester, and GFCI tester. You can find it on Amazon here.

Klein Kit
Klein kit

I did notice the description states it is an American company and makes products as close to home as possible, but does not say anything about the meters being MUSA.

Stanley Black & Decker

Stanley Black & Decker (SBD) is headquartered in New Britain, CT, and was founded in 1843 by Fredrick T Stanley. It generates more than 1,000 new products each year through brands you may not know are part of SBD, such as Craftsman, DeWalt, Bostitch, and many others.

Their website claims to have more than 100 manufacturing facilities, 50 of which are located in the US. However, their website lists “Select Products Are ‘Made In The USA’ With Global Products”, so it is hard to tell what is actually MUSA compliant. Most Craftsman tools are made in China or Taiwan, while Bostitch, which was founded in Rhode Island, is manufactured primarily in China.

Snap-on

Known as the “Cadillac” of wrenches and other tools, Snap-on was founded in 1920 in Wisconsin and pioneered the first detachable ratchet. Most of its hand tools are still made in the U.S. in ten factories, including the one in Algona, IA, just 30 miles from my home. However, most of its power tools and gauges are made overseas. The president does claim that more than 80% of their tools are MUSA. Snap-on lists the country of origin on the individual product catalog page. Here is an example of a 10 mm wrench

Snap-on MUSA
Snap-on MUSA (click to enlarge)

Crescent

Yes, the generic name for every adjustable wrench known to handymen is an MUSA company based in South Carolina. It was the first to invent and patent the adjustable wrench for Henry Ford and the Model T. It is now owned by Apex Tool Group and advertises “Designed and Engineered” right here in America, but are not MUSA.

Ideal

Started in Syracuse, IL, in 1916, Ideal now has more than 6,000 SKUs. Its MUSA products include Wire-Nut Wire Connectors, Yellow 77 Wire Pulling Lubricant, and T-Stripper Wire Strippers, which are all still made in Syracuse. Other MUSA products are made in Colorado, including pliers, wrenches and a heavy duty screwdriver, as well with other locations in Illinois and Pennsylvania.

Leatherman

I like to call this the “Swiss Army Knife” of the tool world. It all started with an order from Cabela’s for 500 units back in 1983. While a few components are sourced overseas such as sheaths and accessories, the majority of production is in Portland, OR. Leatherman won a legal battle as the court ruled 83% of the steel used in their product was sourced in the U.S.

Other manufacturers

According to the website www.allamerican.org, there are more than 100 companies listed that make tools in America, including these well-known brand names:

  • Briggs & Stratton
  • Snap-on
  • DeWalt
  • Generac
  • Klein
  • Leatherman
  • Purdy
  • Red Line Tools
  • Rigid
  • SK Tools

Final thoughts

“Made in America” is not always as straightforward as it sounds. While many companies maintain some level of domestic manufacturing, relatively few products are completely manufactured in the United States.

As with most things in the RV and tool industries, pricing ultimately drives the market—and manufacturers tend to follow that trend.

 You might also enjoy these posts from Dave 

DAVE HAS ANSWERED MORE THAN 1,000 readers’ maintenance and repair questions. Read a directory here. There is so much to learn!

Dave Solberg is a leading expert in the RV industry and the author of the “RV Handbook.”

HAVE A QUESTION FOR DAVE?

Send your inquiries to him using the form below.

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