Issue 1058 • February 27, 2019
Welcome to another fabulous edition of RV Travel’s Daily Tips newsletter. Here, you’ll find helpful RV-related, and small-space living, tips from the pros, travel advice, a handy website of the day, our favorite RVing-related products and, of course, a good laugh. Thanks for joining us. We appreciate your readership.
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QUICK TIPS
Tire treatment to ward off UV?
Reader Peter Almasi writes: “I don’t cover my tires at all, even during long periods in the sun. What I do, however, is every time I wash my RV instead of spreading that stuff that makes your sidewalls shiny, I spray them with 303 UV Protectant developed by NASA. I never get orange peel and have never had an RV tire failure. In fact, I used it on a new pair of windshield wipers four years ago and they are still like new. Just treat them, too, when you do a wash. By the way, I only give it two good washes a season, and maybe two more not so detailed washes, and that’s it. The stuff is worth its weight in gold and you can get it on Amazon and it won’t break the budget.” We ran Peter’s practice past our resident tire expert, Roger Marble, who responds, “I have no problem with 303 but it doesn’t protect from heat, which is a bigger problem.”
Store more in tiny galley cabinets
Nearly every RV has the little upper cabinets in the galley. You can put stuff up there, but open the door after travel and expect to have junk cascade down on your head. Megan, a military wife who’s changed homes more than her socks, has an idea for those small cabinets: Organize them with small, woven plastic baskets. In hers you might find a stack of “sippee cups.” OK, most of us are beyond that, but hey, how about Tupperware containers in one, and the lids in another? Or all those little jars of spices (write the contents on the lids, makes it easier). Kitchen gadgets? The list is endless. Here’s a link to a variety of baskets on Amazon. No, the baskets don’t come with the labels – she added those to help organize her husband.
ORGANIZE THAT
Have a hard time staying organized? It can be difficult, especially on camping trips. Look at that car’s trunk – can you believe it? Click here to spend some time on Pinterest admiring everyone’s organization tips for car trunks.
MORE QUICK TIPS
Windfinder is the weather app you need
Reader Joseph Bulger gave us a heads-up on an app for your Android or iPhone. “Great for finding what the weather will be the next day and our next destination. It will also show anticipated wave and surf heights.” He is referring to Windfinder. Get info on wind gusts, precipitation, waves, tides and wind speed. The standard wind and weather forecast is available globally in increments of three hours with a range of 10 days into the future. You can download the app here.
Safety first with that generator!
Always keep in mind when you use a generator that there is carbon monoxide present. You should always inspect the exhaust system on the generator set before using it. Do not operate a generator with a damaged exhaust system. If you’re using a portable generator set make sure the exhaust is directed away from the camping area. Test your carbon monoxide detector for proper operation prior to using the generator. Tip from Mark Polk, RV Education 101.
Do you have a tip? Send it to Russ (at) rvtravel.com
WEBSITE OF THE DAY
RV park & campground memberships for sale
Here’s a list of just about all the RV park and campground memberships you can buy. (Click on a different tab on that page and find entire RV parks and campgrounds for sale, if you’re in the market for more than a membership.)
Check out the long list of great RVing-related websites from RVtravel.com.
New & interesting finds on Amazon
See what really cool stuff Amazon is featuring today. It’s a whole lot of fun just browsing through all these great items. The selection changes every day, so check back often. You never know what you will find, which is part of the fun of visiting here. Check it out.
LEAVE HERE WITH A LAUGH
Q: How does the moon cut his hair?
A: Eclipse it!
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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.
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Combo washer dryer all in one unit
We have a washer and dryer in our MH. I didn’t think I would use it as much as I do. They are separate units. We are gone for months at a time so we are NOT camping. We are finding that many RV places do not allow you to hang your laundry outside so we use the dryer to almost dry the clothes completely. Then we hang them on hangers in the unit. We do go into the laundry facilities to wash the king size sheets.
People have such strong opinions one way or another. I will just say that we have a washer/dryer setup (240 volt) and we love it. No laundry room Nazis, no searching for change, no purchasing cards and no over paying. This works for us, maybe not for you. We started in our 1st MH (class C) w/o washer/dryer seemed silly to have one in a MH, until we started PT’ing, then keeping up w/laundry became a pain. Now we FT and do laundry in our coach (class A) while we are doing other things. It is both economic and convenient.
Laundry Nazis?? Tell that to the families of millions of murdered Jews.
We have a portable washer that lives in our shower. It IS a pain to take it out when we want to use the shower but the freedom it gives us to do laundry whenever we want is worth that trouble. It washes and spin dries beautifully and I just hang the clothes in the rv to dry.
Yea I have a washer/dryer…its me
If I take off for a few months or longer I will consider a small portable mini washing machine and use my clothes rack tree for drying.
Washer/Dryer
If I am going to be gone long enough to need to wash clothes I bring my portable washer…then I set up my clothes rack either in the shower over night or in front of the fireplace…and run a fan or the fireplace depending on the night air temp. Works great, came in handy when I pulled into a site after dark and slipped in a 2″ deep puddle of muddy water. Next morning I had clean jeans again, but had to detail the inside cab of the truck, and make ice for my ankle sprain. I have made it a point to arrive during daylight ever since.
It is plumbed for it, but we don’t want one.
Ditto for us. When we got our current 5er in 2010 we were often dry camping, so putting in a washer and dryer was pointless. We have never wanted them since, even with full hookups.
Washer and dryer. My wife and I
Aww, you beat me to that statement.
Had a combo unit in our first 5th wheel. Took forever to dry clothes because it sprayed hot water into the drum to dry the clothes. Jeans never dried. Second 5th wheel had separate washer/dryer. Worked great. Now have a travel trailer with wheelchair accessibility so there’s no room for a washer or dryer. Wish we had them.
There are 2 kinds of combo units. Vented, and ventless. We have had both, and the vented is far superior
“Roger Marble, who responds, “I have no problem with 303 but it doesn’t protect from heat, which is a bigger problem.””
Roger, Is the heat you are referring to heat from the sun shining on the tires while static or heat from running down the road?
Personally, I do not see the purpose for using the 303 spray. Why keep buying a product, when you can buy covers one time. The other added benefit to covers, is no repeated dumping the plastic 303 bottles in the landfill and using chemicals. Just seems a waste. Additionally, I believe what Steve talks about…the heat. You can’t tell me that heat from the sun beating down on the tires is good for them. I have a laser heat gun and was shocked when I tested out the difference with the covers on and the covers off.
Karin, you are absolutely correct. I always keep my tires covered with cream colored vinyl covers. The black ones look good but will, of course, heat up much more. The silver fabric covers seem to be best, but a raccoon tore two of mine up while looking for a place to den.
Yes, we have a Washer and Dryer in our 5th Wheel! It has been a requirement in all our 5th Wheels we have owned. We had a COMBO Washer Dryer ONE TIME and would never have another one. The problem with COMBO Machines is they wash and dry in the same cycle and we found that most of them get too HOT and Shrink the clothing! At least with separate units you can control the DRYING HEAT!
Now there is the other factor concerning sanitary conditions in RV Park Laundry Rooms. In a busy Campground, the machines get used allot, so chances are the machines are mostly safe. But, the RV Parks that are very small and where the Machines get used little, are probably not very clean and have not been cleaned and all kinds of BACTERIA is growing in these machines. If you really have to use an RV Park Laundry, you should ALWAYS do a HOT WATER LOAD with a little bleach in it to help flush out the previous user and any bacteria that may be growing in there. The park owners or management usually won’t insure cleanliness of these Laundry Rooms.
Also, the cost of doing laundry in an RV park can be very expensive. Upwards of $3 dollars per load, plus the cost of Laundry Soap, if you don’t have any with you!
Unless you are going out for an extended trip (2 weeks or more), it is just better to keep your dirty laundry and do it once you get back home. The other alternative would be to find a local Laundromat to do your clothing.
Some of the very Large RV Parks always show you a SPECTACULAR looking Laundry Room, BUT, when is the last time these machines were really cleaned and sanitized? Now, I know I’m gonna get slammed for these comments, but Sanitation in RV Parks should always be considered when using RV Park Laundry Rooms.
You all take Care.
Good points,not to mention that the laundry machines are moving away from cash and going to a card system that your required to pay around $6.00 for their card.
We found that out too…but we just give the card after we are done to any lady washing clothes with kids running around knowing she can use it. Paying it forward a little
We don’t have a washer or dryer, nor do we use the campgrounds machines. After all isn’t camping all about roughing it? If we all rough it, we all smell the same and save the environment! Or we just throw out our dirty clothes and support the the campground by buying New branded clothing. Lol ?. No we are short timers and bring enough clothing to cover the time we are out. We don’t wash up either!? saves water…..
Remind me not to go camping with you, Buzz… 😀
Actually, there IS a campground in western NY with a single open bathhouse and a sign on the door saying “To conserve our limited water, please shower in groups of 6 or more.” It was a bit surprising at the time, but a good portion of the campers followed the recommendation. I used it when someone talked me into body painting and I didn’t want to stain up my RV’s white shower, but can’t see how it saved much water, though…
I know you’re joking as I am, but if you think about it, it keeps the rif raph away. ?
A five-gallon bucket and a lid with a hole in the top to fit the handle of a rubber toilet plunger for a washer; and a hank of parachute cord for a dryer. Agitate to wash, then rinse & wring, and hang to dry. Short hanks of cord to tie clothes on the line, Navy style. Works best when boon-docking after a week. KISS.
Good Comment Graybyrd.
The easy way to do laundry!
You can also consider putting your clothing in the Kitchen Sink and hand washing, wring it out and hang it in your bathroom to dry.
Like Buzz, I pack enough to just launder huge loads once home again 90% of the time. If you can afford to lose an entire closet for a washer dryer, you could pack a month of clothes in that same space!
On longer trips, I put a tote in my bathtub and fill it with water and detergent before driving. Closed up, it doesn’t slosh anywhere. When I arrive at the next stop, I just flip the tote to drain into the tub and rinse with the hand shower. I have a spring-bar to hang clothes to drip-dry over the tub. No one is the wiser that I’m doing laundry (no frilly dainties hanging in the yard), and clothes come out pretty clean.
OMG Graybyrd! I do remember those freaking square knots I had to tie on the close line in the SNOW in the Great Lakes Navy boot camp, that was like HMMM 50 something years ago!
Thanks for the memory
Dave
Our 1995 Prevost Marathon came with a combo washer/dryer when we got it two years ago. However, it was very inefficient so we took it out in favor of storage space for a large dirty clothes bin. (The newer models may work better.) We don’t mind using laundry facilities at campgrounds.
The combo units suck, we have the individual units that work great, the dryer is a little slow because it only has 120 volts versus the 240 volts at home but it doesn’t wrinkle as bad .