America’s Original RV Newsletter. Since 2001
Issue 1251
Please help support our hard work with a donation of your choice and receive our ad-free edition as a thank you.
Remember: You don’t need to receive an email alert from us to read our newsletters. Just click any time of day directly to RVtravel.com. The latest issues will be right there for you.
Today’s thought
“The road goes on forever, and the party never ends.” —Robert Earl Keen
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Oregon Day! It’s also Daylight Saving Time, so make sure you set your clocks an hour ahead today. And yes, you lost an hour of sleep last night.
On this day in history: 1979 – Philips demonstrates the compact disc publicly for the first time.
Why is Buc-ee’s so hugely popular with RVers?
By Chuck Woodbury
I spend a lot of time examining the visitor statistics of the RVtravel.com website, trying to glean what subjects readers care most about. And what I consistently discover is that articles we write about Buc-ee’s are almost always exceptionally popular. What is it, I wonder, about these highway travel centers that our readers find so fascinating? Continue reading.
The true cost and hidden dangers of disposable propane cylinders; an alternative
How Americans love their propane-fired equipment. But sadly, those colorful little cylinders don’t love us back. They are, by their nature, disposable. Once used, now dead, they head to landfills. While some do refill them, they do so at their own physical and legal peril. Is there a way to have these great mini-tanks and avoid the problems? Find out here.
Every product RVtravel.com recommends on Amazon—all in one place
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 in our newsletters and across our website. We’ve been compiling this list for years, and we’re finally ready to share.
Today’s RV review…
2026 Forest River IBEX 20MDS—Best suspension system ever?
Today’s RV review looks at the Forest River IBEX 20MDS travel trailer with the Black Canyon “Beast Mode” option. In many ways, the trailer is a very different—er—beast depending on whether this option is included, and it makes a big difference in how I’d evaluate it. That said, I’d also bet that if you have an IBEX dealer nearby, you won’t see many units equipped this way. Check this beast out.
Last weekend to save BIG! Limited Time Campground Deals Up To 50%
Campgrounds don’t offer discounts often, but Campspot’s Biggest Booking Week does. March 2–8, save up to 50% at participating parks across the U.S. and Canada. Check if your favorite campground is on sale, or book an extra trip while dates are open. Use code BIGGEST26 for 50% off! Click here to learn more.
Yesterday’s top news for RVers
- Gas prices jump nearly 27 cents nationwide, largest weekly jump since 2022
- Oregon state parks may raise full-hookup RV sites to $80
- Environmental group targets RV manufacturers with billboard campaign
- Flaming motorhome veers off road, crashes into backyard
- Beyond the headlines with Tony Barthel: RV sales fall flat, a new way to order RV parts, and what’s up with state park reservation systems?
Read the rest of the news in yesterday’s newsletter here.
Tanner Toons
with Tanner Woods
Sign up for our RV Daily Tips Newsletter so you don’t miss a single Tanner Toon.
READER TIP: “Most people know about the Love’s discount, where you get $0.10 off per gallon on gas ($0.25 on diesel) by using their app. You can also get another $0.13 off gasoline and $0.20 off diesel on top of that by connecting your AAA membership if you have one. Pinching pennies adds up when you’re filling a big tank!” —Ken S.
Tony’s tips
Protecting your data: Why the 3-2-1 backup plan is best for RVers
What is the 3-2-1 backup scheme and why should every one of you use it? Last week, I proposed ditching campground WiFi, and you all went off the rails with the comments. It was fantastic. But those comments made me think that many of us have ineffective backup routines for our data. I learned the 3-2-1 backup plan years ago, and it has served me very, very well. Arguably, this is fireproof, theft-proof, and hard drive failure-proof. Learn more.
TODAY’S DEALS AT AMAZON.COM. Hurry. These deals come and go fast!
RVtravel.com readers reveal the special times in their lives
By Chuck Woodbury
Last Sunday, I asked you to write me about some of your special life moments or accomplishments of which few if anybody you know were aware. Here are a few of many responses from our readers. The irony is that the accomplishments may not be the fodder of headlines, but they are special to those persons who lived them. And we are happy to share their stories with you.
How to remove rusty bolts from your RV
By Gail Marsh
An RV exterior check revealed several rusty bolts. Rusty bolts can show up in all the places where your RV meets the weather: in undercarriage suspension and frame hardware, slide-out rails, awning brackets, roof mounts, jacks, and more. Rusty bolts are a bigger deal on RVs than on other vehicles because they affect safety, reliability, and repair costs. Here are why rusty bolts should be addressed, and how they can be removed and fixed.
Why are headlights so bright?
By Gail Marsh
Is it just me, or are headlights too bright? Some nights it feels like everyone else’s headlights are trying to blind me! Turns out, modern LED and HID lights are whiter and more intense than old halogens. When those beams hit your eyes at the wrong angle (or bounce off a dirty windshield), they don’t just annoy, they make night driving genuinely risky. Continue reading.
NEW TO THIS NEWSLETTER? If so, you can read all of our previous issues from the most recent to all those back to 2016 — more than 1,000 of them!
Reader poll
What are your top two main considerations when choosing a campsite?
POLLS FROM THIS PAST WEEK
- What are your two major sources of news?
- Do you like being near the campground bathhouse or far from it?
- Do you check the satellite view before booking a campsite?
- Do you bring a musical instrument with you on your RV trips?
- How much water do you drink in one day?
Sunday giveaway
How would you like to win this mug warmer?
How to win
We’ll select a winner at random out of all entries we receive today by 7 p.m. Pacific time. You can only enter once. Click here to enter or see last week’s winner.
Publishers’ Roadside Journal
Confession of a coffee addict: The trick that saves my day
By Chuck Woodbury
I have one significant addiction. It’s coffee. So far, in all the scientific articles I have ever read, nobody has said, flat out, that drinking a lot of coffee is bad. Or nobody has convinced me of it. My point: I like my coffee with milk. So, whenever I travel, whether in my RV, by plane or car, I must have milk. Here’s my little secret.
🔧 Dave Solberg’s toolbox pick
Protect your battery terminals
Battery terminals and cable ends should be cleaned using a mixture of baking soda and distilled water with a wire brush. A commercial battery cleaner, such as CRC Battery Cleaner with Acid Indicator, can also be used. This product changes color from yellow to pink when acid is present outside the cells, helping identify problem areas. You can find it on Amazon here or learn more about protecting your battery terminals here.
Travel destinations
Tecopa, CA: A tiny town with BIG surprises
By Cheri Sicard
You could easily miss the town of Tecopa, California: a tiny dot on the map in the middle of nowhere that makes you wonder who lives there and why. Not far from Death Valley, with Pahrump, NV, as the closest “big” town, Tecopa isn’t exactly on most travelers’ radar. What I found was a tiny town with some surprisingly big experiences. I spent a week there, and it was anything but boring.
Escondido’s special gem: Deer Park Winery and Auto Museum
By Gail Marsh
Nestled in the northern Escondido, California, hills, this special place is worth a stop. Deer Park Winery and Auto Museum combines a small family winery and tasting room with what’s often described as a world-class collection of convertible cars. Learn more.
Highlights from this week’s RV Daily Tips Newsletter
- Tips for removing that musty smell from towels
- Water pump noises could mean leaks in your RV’s water system
- Check out what hitting a pothole can do to a tire
- Unusual and helpful ways RVers can use old water hoses
- Genius charging cord trick that makes RV life easier
In the RV shop with Dustin
What I recommend you use to wash and wax your RV
A lot of people are always asking me: What do you use to wash or wax your RV? I’ve used Meguiar’s products for as long as I’ve been driving, and they’re always what I recommend to my fellow RVers and customers. I’ve tried just about every wax out there, and I can’t find anything as easy to apply, or that lasts as long and protects the way this does.
RV tire safety
When should you file a complaint about a tire failure?
By Roger Marble
I have previously strongly suggested that when people experience a tire failure, they should file a complaint with NHTSA. I recently received this question: “Thanks, Tireman. My next question is, when is it appropriate to report to NHTSA? After any flat? Or are there specific indicators?” Read Roger’s answer.
? MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY ?
There is little question that this is among the stupidest products ever created and sold. Why, you ask? Good question. And there’s even more of them—not just this one design! Oh, for cluck’s sake…
Ask Dave
This past week’s questions that Dave answered:
Does Magic Tank Emergency Fuel really work? Or is it “snake oil”? • “Is Winnebago going out of business?” Who can you trust? • What is causing green color in my toilet? How do I get rid of it? • What is “puffing”? Is it illegal? • Ford to discontinue F53 gas chassis. Are large Class A motorhomes doomed?
RV gadgets and gizmos
My new favorite small, folding camp table
By Cheri Sicard
I was gifted this folding camp table, and it has become one of my favorite and most used camping accessories. It adds HUGE functionality to life outside the RV and around the campfire. It keeps snacks nearby and drinks securely in place until needed. When not in use, it folds small and flat, making it perfect for RVers or even tent and car campers. Here’s my honest review.
Remember this?
From the archives: RV has rooftop swimming pool
It’s true, this travel trailer has a rooftop swimming pool. For those RVers who refuse to swim in lakes or rivers or, heaven forbid, public pools, here’s the solution. We assume the pool would be emptied before heading down the road. But wait… here’s the rest of the story.
RANDOM RV THOUGHT: “If an RVer really wanted to, he (or she) could park his RV one night by the ocean and listen to the surf. The next night he could camp by a mountain stream and fall asleep to the soothing sound of the rippling water. The next night he could hole up in the desert and enjoy the sounds of coyotes howling in the night. This type of experience is not possible with a regular house, but is easily accomplished with an RV.”
Vintage RVs
Interior designer beautifully restores a 1956 Spartan Imperial Mansion
If you’ve ever met Sondra Phillips, you know her passion for campers and her knack for restoration. When she stumbled upon a 1956 Spartan Imperial Mansion for sale, it was a moment of serendipity. Despite its dilapidated state, Sondra saw potential in this vintage gem and eagerly embarked on a transformative project. It’s beautiful—wow!
ESSENTIAL ITEM if you live or travel alone. Our publisher Chuck Woodbury travels with his anytime he’s off by himself. Click to see.
Live cam
Friends of Felines’ Rescue Center in Defiance, Ohio
Readers’ pets of the day
“Boomer and Diesel (Springer Spaniel and Mountain Cur, ages 4 and 16). After a hard day’s work!!!” —Michele Diggins
• RVing with Dogs group on Facebook. You’ll love it.
Want to see your pet in this newsletter? Please send us a photo of your pet with a short description. No blurry photos and please do not submit your photo more than once.
Trivia
Thank coffee for the world’s first webcam. Researchers at Cambridge University set up a camera to view their coffee pot from a distance so they’d know if it was empty before walking all the way over. When the camera was hooked up to the internet, it made history. SOURCE: Wall Street Journal
Sunday funny
Did you miss last week’s RVtravel.com newsletter?
FREE IS GOOD! Free 2026 North Dakota Vacation Guides, online or by mail, “giving you all the resources you need to explore the beauty and attractions of North Dakota.”
Today’s weather forecast across the nation
THIS MAP UPDATES TWICE A DAY
Visit Current National Radar Weather Map
Headed on an unfamiliar highway? Learn if it has low bridges you might not fit under.
And finally… A song from the past
RVtravel.com All Star Team
Click here for information about our staff and how to contact us.
Buckee’s and all gas stops
i wish everyone would learn to move from the gas pumps BEFORE shopping!
too many times I pull in behind someone at the gas pumps, only to wait for them to return from a shopping spree
People know, but are very selfish when they do this. It is never a “sorry, I forgot” moment.
RE: Buckees. I find them very hard to maneuver into and around with my rig. When the sign says “no room for semi’s” it also means “no room for RV’s” in my opinion.
I always stop at a Buc-ee’s if there is one on my route. I have always found a spot for my 35′ 5th wheel at a far corner of their massive parking lots.
I personally would rather stop at Loves rather than a Buc-ee’s. There are too many people to get around at Buc-ee’s and the parking is not really friendly.
I agree, I don’t like Buc-ees it’s like a madhouse,
Yep. Stopped once at a Buc-ees in Texas. Kind of like a visit to Manhattan in NYC…once was enough for us.
I agree go park your car/truck before you go into store. I also have to say I got the foldable table as a gift 2 yrs ago I love it packs nicely in its container, stores in. Little space but opens up to a great chair side table.
Boomer and Diesel look all tuckered out, and so does Dad, but they are all adorable. Glad to see they all enjoy camping that much. Keep on camping.