America’s Original RV Newsletter. Since 2001
Issue 1265
Today’s thought
“I always wonder why birds choose to stay in the same place when they can fly anywhere on the earth, then I ask myself the same question.” ―Harun Yahya
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Strawberry Shortcake Day!
On this day in history: 1959 – Disneyland Monorail System, the first daily operating monorail system in the Western Hemisphere, opens to the public in Anaheim, California.
REMINDER: You are reading the FREE EDITION of this newsletter. Our donor edition does not contain ads.
Why many RVers use free RV camping instead of paying for every night
Talk to RVers who have spent years on the road and you’ll notice something: Many use free RV camping options instead of paying for every overnight stay. That doesn’t mean they’re sneaking into campgrounds or ignoring the rules. Instead, they’re mixing paid campground nights with public-land camping, overnight travel stops and other legal, free options. A recent camping survey suggests they’re far from alone. Continue reading.
Ouch! Reader charged more than $400 on Virginia Express Lanes
Reader Nicole Jones recently learned an expensive lesson the hard way. After taking Virginia’s Express Lanes during rush hour, she was stunned to receive a toll bill for $402.85. As it turns out, Virginia’s Express Lanes can be especially costly for RVers, but it’s just one of many expensive toll systems with dynamic pricing. Read Nicole’s note and see her photo, and learn more about toll pricing across the U.S.
Would you pay $70 for a familiar RV site—or try a $27 alternative?
By Nanci Dixon
We are on the road again! Settling down after day one of travel, with the RV parked, hooked up, and just relaxing. No ongoing fixer-upper house chores to do, just figure out the route and where to stay. It has been about nine months since we have traveled, and I was in for a rude awakening when calling a KOA Journey RV park to check availability. Continue reading, then please leave your thoughts.
How RV dealers make money
We all know that an RV dealership has to make a profit, but do we really know how? Todd Nuttall, president of Bish’s RV, laid out the process in plain language here, with our friend, Josh the RV Nerd at Bish’s RV. Once we understand the moving parts, RV buying gets much easier to judge.
Tanner Toons
With Tanner Woods
Keep your Blackstone/griddle good-as-new
This 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. Learn more about cleaning your Blackstone in Gail’s article here, or buy this griddle kit here.
Today’s RV review…
Outdoors RV Backcountry 20MKS—Boondocking champ
Today’s RV review is of the 2027 Outdoors RV Backcountry Series MTN TRX 20MKS travel trailer. Outdoors RV is unusual in that it is located in La Grange, Oregon, and specializes in travel trailers and fifth wheels that are truly ready for more extreme climate conditions. The company also builds its own chassis and states that they are off-road ready. See what you think.
Tony’s tips
RVing still wins when it comes to travel—My Amtrak adventure to Indiana
Traveling stinks. Well, sort of. I had honestly forgotten how lousy traveling can be when you’re not traveling in your RV. What am I talking about? How good we have it as RVers. My favorite way to navigate any journey is simply to hop in the ol’ truck and just go. But that’s not what I’m going to do this time around. Continue reading.
What about you?
What did your father teach you?
Father’s Day is just a week away, and it got us thinking about the lessons that stay with us long after childhood. Some fathers taught us practical skills—how to change a tire, cast a fishing line, balance a checkbook, or work with our hands. Others taught us something less tangible but just as important: patience, kindness, perseverance, or how to treat people with respect. What did your father teach you? Please tell us here, and we’ll publish some of your responses in next Sunday’s edition.
Yesterday’s top news for RVers
- Thinking about Starlink? New pricing changes could affect your decision
- When RVers may start seeing the new power interrupter devices
- Love’s introduces mechanical services for RVers
- Iowa campers squeezed out as data center workers fill RV parks year-round
- A California county may let people live in RVs full time. Could others follow?
- Beyond the headlines with Tony Barthel: Go RVing, reservations down, service comes to you
Read the rest of the news in yesterday’s newsletter here.
IN CASE OF EMERGENCY… If you’re concerned about being involved in an emergency situation while away from your rig, you could do what reader Pat Mitchell does: “I usually just pick up a park brochure from the campground office to leave in our truck. It’s always handy and if we are in an accident, the location of our camper and other details are right there with us.”
RV mods: Nitrogen for your tires? Good or bad?
If you remember high school chemistry, you may remember our friend nitrogen, the gas that makes up about 78 percent of Earth’s atmosphere. While ordinary compressed air has been used for decades to inflate tires, the trend in recent years has been to use nitrogen in applications where tires experience high stress—think race cars, commercial trucks, aircraft, and even some RVs. Why nitrogen? And what about using it for RV tires?
5 cringe-worthy things you never want to experience in your RV
By Sandi Sturm
While I was looking for images of Wacky RVs, I saw these RV accidents, and they made me cringe! These are just five things of many that you never want to happen to your RV. They are listed in order of how loud I said “Oh, no!” when I saw the images. My heart goes out to anyone who has experienced these or other mishaps while traveling or parking your RV.
The slow down and move over law—Are you doing it right or breaking the law?
When you see a vehicle stopped on the shoulder with lights flashing, what do you do? A recent AAA Foundation study found lots of drivers know the phrase “slow down and move over” but are unsure what it actually requires. This helps explain why roadside workers and stranded motorists remain at risk. Every state has some form of the slow down, move over law.
Reader poll
What’s the biggest “sticker shock” in RVing today?
POLLS FROM THIS PAST WEEK
- How do you feel about your RVer neighbors hanging out wind chimes?
- What color is your car?
- How often do you eat a meal at a picnic table?
- In honor of National Corn on the Cob Day… How do YOU eat corn on the cob?
- If given the choice between vanilla, chocolate or strawberry ice cream, which would you pick?
Sunday giveaway
How would you like to win this 3-in-1 puzzle book?
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.
Travel destinations
New musical roads added to Route 66: Hear the Mother Road sing
To mark Route 66’s centennial, new musical roads have been added along the historic route. Each stretch will play music inspired by the local culture and surroundings. When drivers keep to the posted speed, the road plays a melody, creating a fun, shareable way to celebrate Route 66 while encouraging safe, attentive driving. We love these!
Another quirky micronation stop for RVers
By Gail Marsh
Recently, I wrote about Slowjamastan, believing it to be the only micronation within the U.S. Turns out, I was wrong! Reader James Starling commented that another (older) spot also claimed to be its own micronation. It’s located near Dayton, Nevada. I just had to find out more.
Missed Connections
Did you find Sadie?
“July 2024. Ute Campground, near Pagosa Springs, Colorado. You were driving a Jeep Wrangler. Me, campground host. You were looking for Jeff and his dog, Sadie, from Lower Pierdra Campground. You were going to write a story about Sadie, the ghost dog. You were living in Lubbock, TX. I gave you my email, but neglected to get your phone number.”
Last week we asked you to submit your very own “Missed Connection”. Learn more here.
The best patriotic gear, gadgets and accessories for RVers
RVers, it’s almost time to celebrate our beloved United States of America on our favorite summer holiday, the 4th of July. What better way to show your patriotism than with the best gear, gadgets, and accessories? Here’s all our favorite patriotic gear for RVers—from shirts to flags to propane covers to picnic table covers to lighting to cooking gear and more!
Want to run your RV air conditioner with a small generator like a Honda 2200? SoftStartRV™ cuts startup power demand by up to 70%, making it easier to stay cool almost anywhere you camp. It can even help many RVers run two A/C units on 30-amp service. See why our publisher is a big fan of SoftStartRV.
Highlights from this week’s RV Daily Tips Newsletter
- How to contain and organize RV kitchen utensils
- What you’ve been told about your RV’s anode rod is wrong
- Easy ways to spruce up your RV campsite
- Trailer users – Here’s a front/rear leveling tip
- 13 tips to keep your RV’s refrigerator cool all summer
Quick tip
Don’t use non-skid pads on refrigerator shelves
Non-skid pads have their place, but not on refrigerator shelves. These can block air circulation and make it hard to cool food. Reserve their use in the fridge for door shelves only. To keep things from falling out of the fridge and onto your toe when you open the door after driving on bumpy roads, use some expandable refrigerator bars, available on Amazon.
NOW THAT’S COOL! Coolibar is the first clothing brand to receive the Skin Cancer Foundation’s Seal of Recommendation for its entire line, which means its UPF 50+ shirts, hats, and cover-ups are not just stylish summer travel staples but the kind your dermatologist would approve.
? MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY ?
Well, you’d surely get the attention of the campground if you walked around using this. Or the grocery store, or the park, and especially if you used it at a bowling alley. How do they think of these things?
In the RV shop with Dustin
Save thousands on RV slide-out maintenance with this
Did you know that proper slide-out maintenance can save you thousands of dollars in costly repairs? In this article and video, we’ll explain how the Camco RV rubber seal conditioner protects your RV slide-outs and keeps them in top working condition.
RV tire safety
Why do tires fail at 0 mph?
By Roger Marble
Sometimes people apparently think tires “fail” because of “magic.” Or, at least “magic” seems to be the only explanation if you do not understand tire design, materials and engineering. Roger explains one of the major causes of tire failure.
Ask Dave
This past week’s questions that Dave answered:
Another “race to the bottom” with “fast-install” outlets • Are pollen and dust harmful to an RV? What to do about it • What is a grounding monitor interrupter (GMI) that will be required on all new RVs? • My slide room floor is rotten from water damage. How can I fix and waterproof it? • What is New World screwworm (NWS) and what can I do to protect my pet?
FREE IS GOOD! Join Papa Johns Rewards program and get a free dessert during your birthday month, plus more benefits.
RV gadgets and gizmos
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 now there’s a self-fusing silicone rubber tape for weatherproof connections which works great.
Live cam
Downtown Telluride, CO
The best product for holding tank sensor maintenance
Dustin Simpson writes, “I’m sure at some point you’ve emptied your tanks only to find that your sensors are reading full. Over time, holding tank sensor probes build up with sludge/scum and this is what causes incorrect readings. Thetford’s Level Gauge Cleaner is specially formulated to dissolve tissue, waste, sludge and soap scum buildup and works with both black and gray water tanks on all RVs. Read more.
Readers’ pets of the day
“We are in a 40 ft. Super C with a total of 11 cats. These furry friends have been from Maine to Texas to South Dakota. We reside in South Florida and they make every trip in adventure. Also, they are YouTube stars @livingthedream2020! Keep up the great work with the newsletter.” —Jim/Margie Bottillo
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
The United States has the largest railroad system in the world, featuring more than 136,000 miles (220,000 kilometers) of track. While primarily dedicated to freight transport, it dwarfs all other nations in sheer size. (China is next, with 102,500 miles of track.)
Sunday funny
Did you miss last week’s RVtravel.com newsletter?
Today’s weather forecast across the nation
THIS MAP UPDATES TWICE A DAY
Visit Current National Radar Weather Map
And finally… A song from the past
RVtravel.com All Star Staff
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