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March 2, 2024
Issue 1146
Free, abbreviated edition
Check out our 60 Facebook groups.
Cover story
Hackers try to silence RVtravel.com!
By the amazing man who keeps us safe online and protects our website, Kim Christiansen!
UPDATE: We were hit again on Saturday morning with even more computers for another 90 million attacks. Our multiple layers of security kicked in and fought back the attackers. We went down for a short time but were able to return to full capacity within minutes. We fully expect them to try again on Sunday, but we’re ready.
O
n Wednesday, we ran an important story warning our readers of a scam targeting RV buyers. We guess we hit a nerve. Apparently, the hackers didn’t like the exposure because on Friday afternoon they tried to shut down that story. Attackers used what’s known as a DDOS (pronounced Dee-Doss) attack on our site. Basically, they hit us 30 million times from about 20 different countries around the world. They sent thousands of computers to that one story in hopes that no one else could get in to read it.
Luckily, this isn’t our first rodeo. We have multiple layers of security and one of our providers caught on to the attack and mitigated the effects after just a few minutes. We then turned on our “Are you human” challenge for a while to whittle down the number of attackers. All of this and our site still went offline for a few minutes Friday as it was overwhelmed by the noise of all of those attackers.
This is what it’s like to be a news site today. We try to bring you news that is important for our readers—like these scammers swindling good people out of their hard-earned money and ruining the reputation of an RV seller. The scammers try to silence us by taking our site offline. Who knows what they will try next? But we’re on alert here, and we won’t stop bringing you the news and information RVers need.
We’re in discussion with our security vendor and ISP to see if we should forward the information we have to the FBI. We’ll be sure to update you if this develops further.
Interesting, huh?
Keeping bad guys away from RVtravel.com does not come cheap. Please consider helping support us with a donation as a volunteer subscriber.
Big announcement!
WE’RE BACK! The RVtravel.com YouTube channel is better than ever!
We’ve had a YouTube site for more than a decade, as many of you may know. If you’ve been following the channel, however, you’ll also recognize that it’s been sort of hit-and-miss. There have been times of regular content creation when a lot of content has been pumped out. Other times, like recently, the channel has been quiet as a mime—no videos coming out for extended periods.
Those days are over. We’re back and better than ever. Visit the channel and hit the subscribe button, then watch us grow. [That’s a Phoenix rising up there, BTW.]
Yesterday’s top news for RVers
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT!
- Is an RV considered a “home” in a bankruptcy proceeding?
- Grand Design RV’s future hangs in the balance amid serious safety concerns
- Thieves steal RV dealer’s identity, sell non-existent RVs with phony website sales scam
- RV sales report: Motorhome prices still down, towables up first time in months
- Texas’ Smokehouse Creek Fire burns more than 1 million acres; largest wildfire in state history
Read the rest of the news in yesterday’s newsletter here.
Today’s RV review…
Keystone Alpine Avalanche Edition 390DS—Big, private spaces for multiple generations
By Tony Barthel
Today’s RV review is of the 2024 Keystone Alpine Avalanche Edition 390DS. I was tasked with looking at RVs that were going to be used as seasonal rigs, and one of the requests would offer the ability of two adult couples to camp together. One of the rigs I looked at was the Keystone Alpine Avalanche Edition 390DS. What you have here is a very large fifth wheel that has two complete bedrooms and a common or living area that would serve to keep those couples far enough apart and with their own space that they could hold very private conversations or…
Click here to read Tony’s review
Stop RV Repair Bills from Ruining Your 2026 Travels
Say goodbye to rising RV repair costs when you protect your RV and your travel budget with Wholesale Warranties this new year. With 20+ years of experience, personalized coverage options, and 5-star customer support, we help RVers stay on the road. Save on costly repairs, enjoy flexible coverage including mobile mechanics, and travel worry-free all year long. Get your FREE personalized RV warranty quote today and enjoy peace of mind for every mile.
RV Service Centers and Repairs Report
Reader says of “inferior plastic masquerading as leather”: “Every upholstered piece in all RVs sold in the last 5-6 years is going to have to be reupholstered”
In this column, we summarize some of your emails and comments regarding RV service centers and repairs. This week Nanci Dixon relates more of your horror stories, including one very, very unhappy camper who states, “To date, 18 months after delivery, I’ve had 71 separate issues of product repair or replacement…” Another RVer says: “There probably should be a class action lawsuit on the completely inferior plastic masquerading as leather that is used in almost every RV these days.” (Do you agree?) And another RVer reports about his camper: “Owned it for less than a year and with 2.5 days of use, took a $20,000 hit!” Yikes! But there are a couple more exemplary dealer and service centers which have been added to our ongoing list (linked below).
Click here to read those horror stories
UPDATED WEEKLY: A list of RV dealers, service centers, and mobile techs as recommended by our readers. Click here.
Gas station credit card scams on the rise across the U.S. Don’t fall victim!
By Emily Woodbury
RVers, beware! There’s a new threat lurking at one of the places you visit most… gas stations. Gas station credit card scams are on the rise and here’s what you should know about them.
Revolutionizing RV warranty repairs: Inside the game-changing BishFix solution
By Tony Barthel
Getting your RV serviced is a broken process, in many cases. If you have tried to get your RV repaired under warranty you know this may take a lot longer than you thought. Sometimes it can take an entire camping season. What’s the issue? Find out here, plus a possible solution.
Why are so many tourists stupid?
OPINION
By Andy Zipser
There’s an undeniably smug pleasure many of us take in observing others’ failings or stupid behavior, and indeed, it’s hard not to feel superior when reading about the latest winners of the Darwin Awards. Or when gaping at the pictures posted on the People of Walmart site. Who goes out in public like that? How do some people come up with such incredibly dumb ideas? And aren’t we special/smart/superior not to be like that? And yet … and yet, perhaps the line between smart and stupid is a lot fuzzier than we think. Continue reading.
Highlights from this week’s RV Daily Tips Newsletter
- Off-grid RV kitchen tips to extend boondocking time
- An RVing must: Follow RV dump station etiquette
- Your ice cube tray does a lot more than just make ice
- Water pump noises could mean leaks in your RV’s water system
- Pay attention to passing motorists’ warnings of trouble
NOT RECEIVING OUR DAILY TIPS NEWSLETTER YET? You’ll love it! It’s filled with RV tips and tricks, RV maintenance advice, cool gadgets, trivia, a poll question, a joke, websites we love, recipes, and much more. Read the latest issues here then sign up here. Easy unsubscribe if you don’t like it (but we know that won’t happen).
Am I out of propane? Or is it just too cold outside?
By Andrew Herrick
Anywhere outside the Arctic Circle, propane is under the impression that it’s warm and sunny outside. That’s because propane boils at -44 degrees Fahrenheit at standard atmospheric pressure. … Most of the year, we don’t give the propane tank a second thought until the regulator indicator light switches from green to red. But in the winter, you may run into a particularly vexing situation where your tank has propane, but it acts like it’s empty! What’s going on here?
Visiting the world’s largest tree in the U.S. could cost you jail time
By Gail Marsh
I love trees and the bigger, the better, in my opinion. Did you know that the world’s tallest tree is in the United States? It’s true. Read on to discover where this tree is located and why visitors are no longer welcome.
Get your teeth cleaned, a chiropractic adjustment, your hair cut, and your dog bathed at the world’s largest truck stop
By Emily Woodbury
Iowa 80, located off Hwy. 80 in Walcott, Iowa, is the world’s largest truck stop. How large are we talking? 220 acres large (which, by the way, is four times larger than the average truck stop). The site receives more than 5,000 visitors daily, which evens out to about one million cups of coffee and 90 tons of meat served annually. Holy cow! Learn more.
JUST PUBLISHED! 2024 EDITION!
The definitive guide to services along the Interstate
Since 1991, the Next Exit has been THE “go-to” directory to locate what businesses and services are at every Interstate exit in America. In this brand-new 2024 edition, learn what’s ahead, not what’s behind you — fuel, food, campgrounds, rest areas, shopping, motels, hospitals, etc. Sometimes a GPS or smartphone isn’t best for this. Often, this is! Learn more or order.
Readers’ RVing Mistakes
A story of pressure dynamics and a high altitude porta-potty explosion
In this column, we are sharing some of the not-so-brilliant things we, the RVtravel.com staff, and you, our readers, have done while RVing. This week’s installment from Nanci Dixon includes a warning to watch for bump-stops when you’re backing in at a campsite, a tip to secure a faucet lever to prevent flooding, and tips regarding awnings, slides, steering wheels, and eggs, and a product recommendation. Oh, and one RVer teaches us an important lesson by relating his you-know-what-faced experience with high altitude and a porta-potty. (Ew!)
Reader Poll
How many bumper stickers are on your RV or tow vehicle?
Please let us know. After you click your response, you’ll see how others have responded. Feel free to leave a comment.
POPULAR POLL FROM THIS PAST WEEK
We asked: Do you smoke cigarettes or use a vape pen/e-cigarette? Guess: Are RVtravel.com readers smokers or not? Find out here.
Stop lugging that heavy gas generator you seldom use!: Are you dragging around a big, smelly generator and gas can all season but hardly ever use it? You need a CarGenerator.
Ask Dave
Dave Solberg is a leading expert in the RV industry and author of the “RV Handbook”.
This past week’s questions that Dave answered:
- What do group ratings mean for deep cycle batteries? And are Costco Interstate batteries the same as others?
- Why does RV’s rear furnace work but front one blows cold air?
- I clean my RV roof regularly but now it has black spots. Roof vendor wants $7,500!
- A follow-up to the “awning pulling away” post in December
- Read a good owner’s manual lately? I doubt it!
Click here to see more questions for Dave.
In the RV Shop with Dustin
How to replace your RV’s plumbing vent
By Dustin Simpson
Today, I want to share some tips on how to remove and replace an RV roof plumbing vent and reseal it properly.
DON’T MISS ANY RV REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE ARTICLES! Every Tuesday we issue a free weekly email digest of all our articles from the past week on the subject. Sign up here for RV Repair and Maintenance Tips (and check out all our other reports and newsletters).
?? MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY ??
If you own a dog or cat, there is no way you won’t laugh when you see these bathroom accessories for your home or RV. Who thinks of these things? These are so clever.
RV Gadgets and Gizmos
5 of the best grilling gadgets for the almost-here BBQ season
By Gail Marsh
I know it will come. Winter’s last blast will soon blow through, and daffodils will jump up and smile to greet the long-awaited springtime. Flowers aren’t the only thing I’m longing for as winter winds down. I can’t wait to dust off the grill and go full-on BBQ mode! As I await more acceptable temperatures for standing out on the deck, flipping burgers, I’ve discovered a few grilling gadgets I need for the next grilling season!
RV Tire Safety
The science behind tire failure
By Roger Marble
Ready for some science? Sometimes I fall into the trap of talking in “Engineer Speak” and forget that not everyone may understand some of the technical terms I use. I can direct you to a book published by the U.S. Department of Transportation called “The Pneumatic Tire”. In it you can learn all you’ve ever wanted to know about tire failure and then some.
Read more for one cause of tire failure
RVing with Pets
Cat-astrophic problem: Where to put the litter box in an RV?
By Gail Marsh
A gal on an RVing with Cats Facebook page recently inquired, “Where do you put the litter box? My 24’ RV is so small!” As always, RVing friends came through with several recommendations. Check them out below. But first… Here are some places NOT to put your cat’s litter box.
THE BEST WAY TO SUPPORT US? Tell other RVers about us! If you love us and our newsletters, chances are other RVers will too! Spread the word—help us out! THANK YOU!
Recipe of the Day
Salmon Club Sandwich With Dill Caper Aioli
by Robin Lieneke from Chamois, MO
There is nothing ordinary about this sandwich. The salmon is lightly seasoned and cooked perfectly. A cool and tangy caper dill aioli is smeared onto a toasted bun. Then, tomato, lettuce, and bacon top off this amazingly delicious sandwich. With layers of fresh flavors, this is an impressive club sandwich that’s easy to prepare.
Readers’ Pets of the Day
“Piper and Mitzi (Pomeranians) are wonderful pets. So comforting to have them by our side. They rule the roost.” —Terry Gallman
• RVing with Dogs group on Facebook. You’ll love it.
Trivia
The Hubble Telescope is responsible for the deepest images of space and the universe ever taken. Photos from the telescopes contain more than 5,000 galaxies – some of which are as distant as 13.2 billion light-years away. The telescope is so strong that it could spot the light from a single firefly up to 7,000 miles away. See all recent photos from it here.
You love Uno, but have you played the Wilderness edition yet?
Take your favorite card game to a new level! It’s just like Uno (so you won’t have to learn any new rules), but this version should stay in the camper or car at all times for every outdoor adventure. And if someone you know needs a gift, this is it! Learn more or order here. Have fun playing!
Sunday funny
Did you miss last week’s RV Travel?
RVtravel.com All Star Team
Publisher: Chuck Woodbury. Editor: Emily Woodbury. Associate editor: Diane McGovern. Senior editors: Russ and Tiña De Maris. Senior writers: Nanci Dixon, Gail Marsh, Dave Solberg and Cheri Sicard. Contributors: Roger Marble, Dave Helgeson, J.R. Montigel, Randall Brink, Dustin Simpson, Dale Wade, and Tony Barthel. Financial affairs director: Gail Meyring. IT wrangler: Kim Christiansen. Director of Video: Keith Ward. Social Media staff: Gary Pratt. Mascots: Archie and Astor “the Disaster”
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.
RVtravel.com is a participant in many affiliate programs, including the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Regardless of the potential revenue, unless stated otherwise, we only recommend products or services we believe provide value to our readers.
CONTACT US
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Editorial (news): chuck@rvtravel.com
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It’s sad that most everything is attacked/hacked from something as simple as Robo calls to dirty politics involving our own Government. Nothing is safe from these cyber attacks.
These attacks are nothing compared to what will be coming. Enemy States will be shutting down power grids, disrupting and destroying communication channels, and eliminating access to and records of banking. The next WW will be a cyber war.
As Scotty so famously said in Star Trek Search for Spock: “The more complicated they make the plumbing the easier it is to stop up the drain.”
Information. Who controls it. This is exactly why we are in this current divisive condition as a nation and as a world. This is not a political diatribe; it is just a fact. It has nothing to do with just one man.
This hacker and phishing problem is one reason we keep our VPN turned on all the time.
Your enhanced security is prohibiting comments if the poster is using a VPN. Understandable giving the recent hacking events.
I have always believed that hacking should legally be classified as an act of terrorism, and as an act of war, and should be dealt with accordingly (with a drone “package” delivery down their chimney).
One of the potentially positive uses of AI would be to combat hacking vigorously, but instead it is being used to propagate it.
Kudos for keeping these scab hackers out…perhaps Orwell was right.
Sunday funny is so true! After a few unhappy tenting experiences when I was single I lost interest in being cold and wet. We never camped until we bought a used tent trailer. But we skipped the next step and jumped to a class A. No regrets! Many of our friends followed all four steps, though.
We did the tent thing for about 20 years. Got a pop up and that lasted 10 years. Then went small travel trailer and then last year got a slide out for my seasonal site. Still have the small travel trailer to travel with. But yay, I do see the progression. Too close to home. But then again we have to progress as we age.
I believe the Hubble Telescope WAS…