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Issue 1066 • March 13, 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.
If you shop at Amazon, would you use one of the links below to do your shopping? The link in the blue bar above also works. Thanks.
U.S. shoppers: Shop at Amazon.com
Canadian shoppers: Shop at Amazon.ca
QUICK TIPS
Why trailer weight distribution is so critical
In case you missed this in our RV Travel Newsletter recently, reader George Bliss flagged this YouTube video as a “must see” for RVtravel.com readers. It’s a truly graphic demonstration of what happens when you don’t keep enough weight over the trailer tongue. Click the image to play. Thanks, George, for a good steer!
New for 2019 – RV Camping in Corps of Engineers Parks
Many RVers consider Corps of Engineers campgrounds to be the best in the country. This guide is just for RVers — boat-in and tent-only sites are not included. Of all the public lands, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has some of the best parks and campgrounds available. In fact, it’s the largest federal provider of outdoor recreation in the nation. Learn more or order.
New edition of RVer’s Guide to Dump Stations published. Read more about it here.Â
MORE QUICK TIPS
Foam cushions need a cleaning?
Here’s advice to refresh smelly cushions, from Walnut Ridge Family RV Sales: “Simply take the cushion covers off of the foam and wash those according to the directions. Lay the foam cushions on the driveway or yard on top of an old sheet or blanket. Sprinkle baking soda liberally onto one side of the cushions and allow to sit for a few hours in the sun before flipping over and repeating. After a few more hours in the sun, you will want to get as much of the baking soda off as possible. The best way I’ve found is simply by shaking and beating the powder off. A vacuum is of little use on foam. Next, you will want to fill a spray bottle with half vinegar and half water and mist both sides of the cushions. Once again let sit in the sun until completely dry.”
Another use for RV leveling blocks
“When faced with puddles, mud or otherwise outside your RV exit just plop down a few blocks if available. If there’s storage room, buy a cheap set.” Thanks to Martine Flory for the idea!
Do you have a tip? Send it to Russ (at) rvtravel.com
WEBSITE OF THE DAY
Unique Camping Recipes
And there are more than 200 of them! Many times we see a lot of the same stuff around the campfire … I mean, how often do you really cook in foil? But this list has some unique recipes we think you might want to try.
Check out the long list of great RVing-related websites from RVtravel.com.
LEAVE HERE WITH A LAUGH
I ordered Chinese take-out food from a local place. On my way home after picking it up, I heard the bags rustling and moving and quickly became terrified as to what was in my food. I thought I could see a little pair of eyes peering out at me but wasn’t positive. I was driving so I leaned forward, picked up the bag, put it on the passenger seat and there it was again, more rustling and little eyes looking out behind the prawn crackers, I thought it was a rat or a mouse or something, so I carefully pulled the bag down to see… And there it was… A Peeking Duck!
Today’s Daily Deals at Amazon.com
Best-selling RV products and Accessories at Amazon.com. UPDATED HOURLY.
Did you miss the latest RV Travel Newsletter? If so, read it here.
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RV Daily Tips Staff
Editor and Publisher: Chuck Woodbury. Managing editor: Diane McGovern. Contributing writers: Russ De Maris, Bob Difley, Gary Bunzer, Roger Marble, Mike Sokol, Greg Illes, J.M. Montigel and Andrew Robinson. Advertising director: Emily Woodbury. Marketing director: Jessica Sarvis. IT wrangler: Kim Christiansen.
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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 2019 by RVtravel.com
The Army Corps of Engineers has a website where you can click on a state and find all their facilities in that state. https://corpslakes.erdc.dren.mil/visitors/visitors.cfm is the website. Your America the Beautiful pass for those 62+ works at the campgrounds they maintain.
We have just started posting YouTube videos. If you are interested you can see our channel at the following link
https://youtube.com/channel/UCxIPYlGux8ljo_CzmmxRgmA
Here’s another groaner for \your consideration:
Q: “What’s green and has four wheels?”
A: “Grass!” !!!! (I lied about the wheels!).
GROAN>>>>>
You know what I really hate? I hate popups on a web page. Especially when they ask me to subscribe to something that I am already subscribed to and used a link to get to that page. If you’re going to annoy people, why don’t you pick on the ones that haven’t subscribed yet and stop annoying those of us who have already done it.
P.s. I am a monthly subscriber.
Have I posted YouTube videos? I’m being baited to mention I have a whole channel on less expensive RV gadgets/DIY…
I’d try the foam cushion tip only as a last resort.
– first you put baking soda on it in the sun
– then you shake off the baking soda
– then you add dilute vinegar to neutralize any remaining baking soda
– that leaves a dilute sodium acetate solution
Sodium Acetate is listed as: May cause eye and skin irritation. May cause respiratory tract irritation. Hygroscopic (absorbs moisture from the air)
Probably not a big deal if you’re able to shake off most of the baking soda. But those with respiratory problems might not want to lay their head on it if the cushion’s cover is made from a breathable cloth.
I’d run water through the foam to rinse it out and then let it drain and dry in the shade for a few days. (Sun tends to quickly degrade foam.)
May be easier to just run dish-soapy water through the foam, rinse, drain, dry.
Irv: Thank you for chemistry lesson! My wife has COPD – so it could be very important for us.
Q.Whats green and happy?
A.A Glad garbage bag!
Figured one bad joke,deserves another.:-)
Love these St Patrick’s green jokes ;? )
That video was a clever demonstration how inadequate tongue weight can lead to out of control trailer sway but another problem with inadequate tongue weight (especially negative tongue weight), even with a small trailer, I’ve found out (the hard way) is it makes accurately backing a trailer pretty much impossible. The darned thing will go pretty much anywhere except where you point it.
We watch plenty of You Tube videos but have never posted any.
LOVED yesterday’s joke!! AbuDhabi doooooooo! Today’s, yes, it’s cute, too. But yesterday’s was the best 🙂
Peeking duck …. baaaaad.
You know, I love this Newsletter! But, they really need to find some better Jokes!
Unfortunately, all the really GOOD jokes I know would most likely be deemed unsuitable for a “family” website. . . . Just sayin’.
How do people think they got those families?