Thursday, October 10, 2019
Welcome to another edition of RV Travel’s Daily Tips newsletter. Here you’ll find helpful RV-related and living tips from the pros, travel advice, a handy website of the day, tips on our favorite RVing-related products and, of course, a good laugh. Thanks for joining us. We appreciate you. Please tell your friends about us.
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Today’s thought
How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world. —Anne Frank
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Angel Food Cake Day.
Tip of the Day
How to snag a campsite at popular parks
When heading to a national or state park where you can’t reserve a campsite and will arrive too late to get one, plan to spend the night before at a boondocking site or private campground for one night.
The next day drive into the park early and get on the waiting list or snag a spot as someone pulls out. Many national parks are surrounded by national forests where you can boondock or stay in a FS campground the night before entering the park.
If it is close enough, you might even decide to stay there and drive to the park each day and avoid the park’s congested campgrounds.
Do you have a tip? Submit it here.
The best mail forwarding service in America. Click here.
The Halloween Store: Everything you can imagine for Halloween is here.
Finding RV sewage leaks
Chris Dougherty is a certified RV technician. Here is a question he received from a reader while he was serving as RVtravel.com’s technical editor: “I suspect we have a leak in our black water system between the toilet and tank, which sits directly below the toilet. I can see the pipe that goes straight down to the tank … that is where I suspect the leak may be. …” He’s wondering how the system is built so he can attempt to fix it. Read Chris’ response.
Reader poll
Tiny LED button lamp perfect for RV’s small, dark spaces
This 6-pack of tiny, battery-powered LED “Button Lamps” is just what you need for your RV’s closets and storage spaces. The tiny lamp is ultra-bright and has all the power of a normal-sized lamp. Backed with a strong adhesive, these little lamps will stick to any surface. They’re waterproof and good to have in case of an emergency. Learn more or order.
Free state visitor guides
• LOUISIANA
• NORTH CAROLINA
• OREGON
Quick Tip
Easy and fun window coverings for privacy
Hate the curtains on some of your windows – like the one in the bathroom or the “relite” in the entry door? Ditch the curtains and simply pick up a chunk of privacy screen contact paper or static cling window film. Cut it to size, pull off the backing sheet (if applicable), and apply to a clean window. Amazon has lots of styles to choose from.
Get rid of your RV’s P-trap. Look here.
An honest RV dealer (and one of our sponsors). Click to learn more.
Random RV Thought
While in a campground, to avoid having annoying headlights beaming into your RV or onto your campsite, choose a spot on a straight stretch of the campground’s road or choose a site on the inside of a corner, not the outside.
Website of the day
RV Executive Today
Read the magazine that RV industry bigwigs read. Learn how they view the business of RVing, maybe gain some insights into how that affects RV owners.
Travels with Charley: A man and his dog off set off in the 1960s in a home-built RV to see America. A John Steinbeck classic that every RVer will love! Learn more or order.
And the Survey Says…
We’ve polled RVtravel.com readers more than 1,500 times in recent years. Here are a few things we’ve learned about them:
• 24 percent have three or more TVs.
• On their next RV purchase, 22 percent will buy a smaller RV than their present one.
• 51 percent never or hardly ever read a printed daily newspaper.
Trivia
In 1964, actress Yvette Mimieux was the first woman to show her navel on American television, on the show Dr. Kildare.
Save money with these reusable silicone bags
Never waste money on plastic bags again! This 4-pack of reusable silicone food bags have an airtight seal and are leak-proof, keeping food fresh for longer. Easily freeze the bags, and even run them through the dishwasher once you’re done using them. This plastic bag alternative won’t harm the environment, and instead provides a solution that you can wash, rinse, and reuse to your heart’s content! Learn more or order.
Leave here with a laugh
October 10th is such a great day. I’d recommend it 10/10.
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: Emily Woodbury. Assistant editor: Diane McGovern. Marketing director: Jessica Sarvis. Financial affairs director: Gail Meyring. 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
Reference your trivia question, actually the first woman to show her naval on TV was in a 1966 episode of Star Trek. The studio had to make her green in color and cast her as an alien woman to get passed the censorship regulations at that time.
And I think the year is wrong. Dr Kildare is a show from the 60s not the 80s
Yes, the year was 1964 on Dr. Kildare.
no….1964 is the year and their info on the show, Dr. Kildare is correct.
I checked that I can easily make my rv payments, if I had any. I think you should have included an option if we didn’t have payments.
You were asked to reply to the survey only if you were making payments.
“I think you should have included an option if we didn’t have payments.”
I agree, I paid cash!
Do not forget the option “I inherited it” too. Don’t want to forget them. Or the “gifted” ones. Maybe a few that won their MH. My, what a silly poll if it cannot include ALL of us, I feel so left out. 🙁
😆 OK. So, here’s a possible poll: (1) Do you own an RV? (2) Have you ever owned an RV? (3) Do you ever plan on owning an RV? (4) Do you hope you can own an RV some day? (5) Do any of your relatives or friends own an RV? (6) Do you think your kids will own RVs in the future? (7) Will your friends or relatives let you borrow their RV? (8) If you own your RV, did you pay for it? (9) Is your RV paid off? (10) Are you still making payments on your RV? (11) How many more years will you be making payments on your RV? (12) Did you inherit your RV? (13) Did you win your RV in a contest, a casino, or a poker game, etc? (14) Did you steal your RV? (Kidding!) — I could go on and on so that I wouldn’t offend anyone by leaving them out. Wow! We could fill up an entire newsletter just with poll options! Get a grip, folks. 😀 —Diane (with tongue firmly in cheek, as is WEB, I’m sure) at RVtravel.com
Diane, you still left me out. I bought with a 20 year loan and one day my grandkids will own it free and clear.
Well, dang, KellyR. Sorry about that. 🙄 I’m sure I left lots of people out. I just needed to get back to work. 😆 Oh, gosh. And we’d have to include the option to click as many choices as they want. Wow! What a mess those results (and percentages) would be! Like 1% for each choice. OY! Have a good night! 😀 —Diane at RVtravel.com
Actually, the Tips stated very clearly to “ONLY RESPOND IF YOU ARE CURRENTLY MAKING PAYMENTS”. Even I, who tends to jump in first, saw that one. Sheesh. 😒
I could justify a house payment and possibly a vehicle payment if within my budget. Borrowing money for a RV is a very bad decision. Being debt free is much more satisfying than any RV.
I can attest to that.After years of fulltiming I gave up the RV and my old house is paid for…now enjoy life without hassles of worn out roads and bridges…or hordes of people.
So now you’re a ‘stay at home RV’er’ who just reads about RV’ing?
Not 1984!…..1964 is correct. Dr. Kildare was on in the 60’s…a great show, by the way. 🙂
Survey of the DAY? I am trying to figure out what would generate the question?
Maybe it is because allot of people who purchase RV’s today, mainly under age 50 or so, really cannot afford these RV’s we purchase! And I know circumstances dictate whether or not you may or may not be able to make payments. However, I maintain and have tried to explain to those individuals that RV’s are not investments (as many people think they are)!
Before going out to buy an RV, you should have sufficient funds on hand and in savings to cover payments for at least 3 payments! Some recommend, up to 6 months on hand! A recent article was published (nothing to do with RV’s) and stated that a LARGE percentage of Americans cannot even muster $1000 if they needed to!
I have purchased and owned 8 RVs to date! I have never been in a position to NOT make a payment or been late on any payments! Sufficient discretionary funds should always be available to make those payments!
Found the info on the Hepvo P-trap eliminator helpful, plus looked through the window film selection recommended. I didn’t know there were so many options for film available for we RV’ers. Thanks for all.
Regarding window film: if you prefer to “look before you buy”, both Home Depot and Lowes have large selections of the product also.
I looked at the RV Executive magazine! WOW! FLUFF and WARM Fuzzies! Promoting how great the RV industry is today! I’ll leave it at that, LOL!
Oh forgot to mention, that we have never made a payment on anything in our lives but our first home, which we retired the mortgage on in 10 years. If we couldn’t buy it we hadn’t earned it therefore had to wait until we could. That fiscal strategy got me retired in my 50’s. We estimate we saved hundreds of thousands of dollars in interest payments for which we got only things for which we had not earned. If you see the plate NO PMTS, that’s us.
I totally agree.
About navels on TV. Barbara Eden showed her navel on I dream of Jeannie. That show started in 1965
Yep, you’re correct, Shannon. There was a typo in the article. It should have read 1964. Sorry. Dawn Wells and Tina Louise showed their navels in Gilligan’s Island also in 1964, and Barbara Eden showed hers in 1965. —Diane at RVtravel.com
https://www.metv.com/lists/navel-gazing-the-first-female-belly-buttons-ever-seen-on-tv
That’s where I got the info for my reply, Monty. I very clearly remember seeing those belly buttons on TV. 😀 —Diane at RVtravel.com
Greetings,
Regarding today’s poll, I suggest you need one more response for the readers to choose. Something like ‘We do not have payments as we own our RV’.
Cheers,
Ralph Pinney
On today’s poll there needed to be a choice of “I paid cash” or “rv already paid for”. Not everyone will finance an rv even if they aren’t wealthy but will save and plan for this expense.
At the top it said only Respond if you are making payments
We have no problem with payment on the RV because it is paid for. We didn’t buy an expensive RV I’m 2009 and it was paid for in 2016 when we bought a new and slightly better model which we were able to pay off in 2018. IMO pleople get “under water” by only looking at and makinrg the minimum payment.
My car will be paid for in December. I owe nothing on my truck or travel trailer…..but I do have other commitments I wish were paid for….my home equity loan, a credit card and my medicare supplement plan. If I sell the house I can make a nice bundle , but where do I invest that money? Don’t want a bank involved, risky investments, and never annuities at this age. Any suggestions??
Talk to major investment firms (Fidelity, Schwab, etc..) for advice and to discuss your future goals.
We wrote a check for our ’01 travel trailer when we bought it in ’16; for our ’11 Chrysler T&C when we bought it in ’12; and for our ’15 Ram 2500 when we bought it in ’18. Our secret — live within our means and pay ‘cash’ when we can.
Since “don’t have any payments” isn’t a survey choice, I can’t see how everyone else voted (unless I dummy up an answer just to see the results – which I did not do).
Actually, Eric, you can see the poll answers by tapping the “Review Results” button at the bottom of the poll insert. I too thought I had to phony up an answer but saw the button before I hit one of the other answers. We bought an older 2004 Class A and paid cash and now are getting it in pristine shape, slowly!
Needed an extra box on survey that said. Don’t have any payments because I paid cash!!
Just got view results
Yep reason I watch tv is to see navels.
Dr Kildare ended in 1966. FAKE NEWS
More like a typo — it should have said 1964. It’s been fixed. Thanks, Ken. 😀 —Diane at RVtravel.com
Sometimes it is a typo. 1964 is the correct date.
Yep. We don’t do “Fake News” — but we occasionally do typos. 😆 —Diane at RVtravel.com
Dr. Kildare ended in 1966.
Recently read travels with charley. Kinda disappointed in general and very little about the dog. Had expected more. Got it at the library,free.
RV Payment poll: You left out “It’s paid for”
When CA home prices skyrocketed a few years back, we re-financed the house at a lower rate & took enough extra money out to pay off the RV.
Hi, James. The poll was specifically regarding making payments on an RV. That’s why it stated at the top: ONLY RESPOND IF YOU ARE CURRENTLY MAKING PAYMENTS. 😉 —Diane at RVtravel.com
re: todays tip. This also applies to private campgrounds. Last January we booked a campsite for 2 weeks in August. We arrived and stayed for the two weeks ( no issues ). This campground was big and fully packed pretty much every night. But I met two other campers that didn’t have reservations. They showed up early every morning ( 8:00 a.m. ) and lucked out with lakeside ( premium ) sites. Cancellations happen, but are seldom made available due to walkins. Great tip fyi.
Its real easy to make the payments on our RV… we don’t have any (payments, that is)! We have paid off every one of the RVs we have owned (4 so far)
Under the question in the reader poll it says only respond if you are currently making payments. So there is no need to add an option that your RV is paid off. Since mine is paid for (2017 Minnie Winnie) I tapped on view results to see what the responses were.
I bought an old motorhome five years ago for $400. Fixed the few problems it had and have been running the wheels off it. It’s a lot more fun spending the money doing things than on payments.
re: making the monthly RV payment…. I guess I was one of the lucky ones I sold my 1st house which has been a rental property since I purchased my current sticks and bricks, which allowed me to pay for my rig in full. So I have no monthly payments…..