Issue 1012 • December 4, 2018
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Did you miss the latest RV Travel Newsletter? If so, read it here.
Did you miss last Sunday’s RV Electricity Newsletter? Click here to read it.
QUICK TIPS
A thing that does all things!
By Mike SokolÂ
My wife, Linda, wants to take credit for this one since she’s already bought six of them (one for us, and five for Christmas presents). This is a large silicon pad that can be used in your microwave under hot bowls to pick them up, or on top of a dish as a splatter guard, on your table as a hot plate, a drying rack, or even as a jar opener. When it gets messy just toss it in the sink for a wash, or even put it in the dishwasher. Just $10 on Amazon makes it a great deal. Talk about a great multi-tasking gadget for your RV (or home) kitchen.
Visiting Arizona? Here’s an RV do-it-yourselfer’s paradise
If you’re an RV “mod” sort of person, or are in need of repair parts, when in Arizona, here’s a “don’t miss” stop in Phoenix. Arizona RV Salvage takes in dead, dying, smashed and crashed RVs and “parts them out.” From Airstream to Xantrex (OK, we couldn’t find a manufacturer of RVs or parts that starts with “Z”), you’ll find it for your rig. Need a slide-out motor? They’ve got ’em. Windows? Doors? Furniture? Front cap? End cap? If it goes between those latter two (or includes them), this salvage outfit likely has what you need. They also have an extensive website listing some available parts with prices.
Something worth pondering:
“He that is good for making excuses is seldom good for anything else.” —Benjamin Franklin
Today’s brain teaser: Samuel was out for a walk when it started to rain. He did not have an umbrella and he wasn’t wearing a hat. His clothes got soaked but not a single hair on his head got wet. How could this happen?
MORE QUICK TIPS
How much water do you use when boondocking?
Track your water usage with Post-it Note markings on the side of your fresh water tank – it is a handy way to gauge how much water you are using and estimate how many days your water will last so you can make adjustments as needed, or simply relax about it a bit more!
—From rvlove.com
Awning hardware? Don’t get bent!
If you really do want to “get bent,” just leave your awning out in a rainstorm or a high wind. Bent roller tubes or bent awning arms can’t be straightened out again. That’s a tough price to pay for not keeping an eye on the weather.
Do you have a tip? Send it to Russ (at) rvtravel.com
Everything for your pets
Amazon must have the biggest selection of products for pets, whether dogs, birds, fish or even reptiles. From food to leashes to birdcages to beds to heating lamps for your cold-blooded friends, there’s just about anything any pet would ever need. There’s even a department with featured deals where the bargains are super-sized. So what are you waiting for? Click on over right now.
WEBSITE OF THE DAY
Fire Prevention: RV Fire Safety 101
This page on the National Park Service website is a good one to reference every few months. Did you know that 20,000 RV fires occur every year? Yup. Keep your RV up to date with frequent fire-safety checks and keep this site handy so you don’t forget.
Check out the long list of great RVing-related websites from RVtravel.com.
Answer to today’s brain teaser: Samuel is bald.
TRIVIA
The first episode of the cartoon series, “The Flintstones,” was broadcast on TV in 1960. It went on to become the longest running cartoon series until it was overtaken by “The Simpsons.” “The Simpsons” is now in its 30th season and has produced 646 episodes. Wow!
Today’s Daily Deals at Amazon.com
Best-selling RV products and Accessories at Amazon.com.
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RV Daily Tips Staff
Editor and Publisher: Chuck Woodbury. Managing editor: Diane McGovern. Staff writer: Emily Woodbury. Contributing writers: Russ De Maris, Bob Difley, Gary Bunzer, Roger Marble, Mike Sokol, Greg Illes, J.M. Montigel and Andrew Robinson. Advertising coordinator: Gail Meyring. Marketing director: Jessica Sarvis. IT wrangler: Kim Christiansen.
ADVERTISE on RVtravel.com and/or in this newsletter. Contact Gail Meyring at Gail(at)RVtravel.com .
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.
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This newsletter is copyright 2018 by RVtravel.com
You forgot about Zinger travel trailers when looking for Z.
They say to take off your shoes when you enter a house. Yours or others due to the fact that shoes are filthy and if if you want your house to stay clean. Take off your shoes at the backdoor. I wear slippers thru the house unless it is summer. I like keeping clean.
That RV salvage place’s prices seem awfully high.
Awning rollers absolutely can be straightened out… I’ve fixed half a dozen of them at this point. All you have to do is prop up the arc on two ladders and carefully press-release-press it back towards straight. 99% perfect beats $1000 replacement.
Samual pulled his coat over his head. Also, bald people still have fine hairs.
Your survey left off options for barefoot campers and nudists… plenty of folks want to “feel the ground” and feet wash easier than shoes.
Barefoot campers don’t wear shoes.
That would be my point… RVT asked whether we remove shoes we may not wear much of the time. I wear shoes because I have magnetic heels that find ANY dropped nail within a 10 foot radius, but the rest of my clothes are another story… no wonder people never go camping with me anymore!?
Sorry but I don’t understand how you use the ladders’
Glen
Place A-frame ladders supporting each end of your awning roller, and rotate the bent roller to arch upwards. Now hang any available teenager from the arched roller, bending it slightly downwards. Down a little, rebound, down a bit more, rebound… repeat until the roller is straightened. For some reason, repeated small corrections usually end up better than yanking it there in ONE pull.
To prevent your awning getting bent by rain in the first place, here are videos of a clever drain OEMs should have built in:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMfKqmcQp28
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ydKwAqjibg