Tuesday, October 15, 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
To succeed in life you need three things: a wishbone, a backbone and a funny bone.
—Reba McEntire
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National I Love Lucy Day. (Psst: If you’ve never seen Lucy in The Long, Long Trailer, we highly recommend it.)
DID YOU MISS THE BRAND-NEW SUNDAY “NEWS EDITION” OF RVTRAVEL.COM? If so, it’s right here.
Tip of the Day
Is a “Campground Full” sign always correct?
When you’re looking for an overnight stop don’t routinely drive by campgrounds with “Campground Full” signs at the entrance.
Often, busy campground hosts don’t promptly update their campground’s status and may actually have a vacancy. And if not, they may know which local campgrounds do.
Also, some campgrounds — especially public campgrounds like state parks — have overflow parking available for a night or two, even though they don’t post that information. It never hurts to ask before moving on.
Do you have a tip? Submit it here.
RV holding tank care
Dear RV Doctor,
I think I’ve seen more words written about holding tank care and operation than any other single subject. You wrote a description of an all-natural, microbial-based holding tank additive that, at least according to the maker, allows the microbes to digest waste such as proteins, oils, grease and paper, all the while preventing odor. If this product does what it says, when I know my motorhome is going to be out of service for a couple of weeks, why wouldn’t I empty my black tank and then fill it up with water, dump in the appropriate amount of this product and let those microbes go to work? Read the rest of the question and the RV Doctor’s answer.
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RV Recalls
Daimler Vans USA is recalling 1,232 model year 2018-2019 Mercedes-Benz and Freightliner Sprinter vehicles. The airbag systems may not have been activated after vehicle production. An inactive airbag system can increase the risk of injury in the event of a crash. Read more.
Reader poll
Quick Tip
Going “formal” on the road
If you’re on the road often with your RV there may come a time when you need a suit and tie for a wedding, funeral or other occasion. Most RVers don’t carry such attire because it takes up valuable closet space for something they’ll probably never need. If you’re on the road and need to “get formal” for one occasion, you can probably find suitable attire at a used clothing store, or even Goodwill for a downright bargain price. It’s worth looking rather than spending a lot of money on new clothes or even renting for a day (if you can find a place to do that).
Stay warm this winter
- Space heater uses less than two amps! RVtravel.com has one, loves it! More.
- This 12-volt electric blanket will keep your cozy. Click.
- Camco’s insulated skylight cover keeps the heat in your RV from escaping. More.
Random RV Thought
On the last day of an RV trip, if you are hooked up to water and sewer it’s a good idea to wash your tables, counters, floor, fridge and other places inside your RV. If you wait until you get home, when you may not be hooked up, your water will likely be limited and you’ll end up draining water into a holding tank which you’d probably prefer stay empty.
Website of the day
A short history of the campsite
This article is fascinating. It explains the history of campgrounds, why they were created, how they are used, and what the idea of “camping” means to those who do it. It’s not “getting away to experience nature,” but existing in nature in a safe environment. But there is much, much more.
Best RVing books as recommended by our editors: Click here.
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:
• Twenty-four percent never listen to a broadcast radio station while driving.
• Eighty-one percent of their dogs are microchipped.
• Eleven percent have been shocked when touching an RV.
Trivia
Placed end to end, the trails in Florida State Parks would stretch from South Florida to New Hampshire. There are more than 1,500 miles of trails for hikers, bicyclists and equestrians.
Leave here with a laugh
Q: What do sunburn victims celebrate on October 31st?
A: Aloe-ween
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RV Daily Tips Staff
Editor and Publisher: Chuck Woodbury. Managing editor: Emily Woodbury. Senior 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
Newsletter was sent at 4:04 in the morning. Email notice received here in the Midwest at 12:00 pm. Must have came by snail mail.
That’s very odd, Dr. Willie. The records show that the email alert went out to the readers at 2:03 a.m. Yep, must have been snail mail. Sorry about that. —Diane at RVtravel.com
About the black tank article comment…using dawn which is anti microbial, will kill good enzymes.
One of my favorite snacks is cream cottage cheese with pancake syrup. Mmmmm good.
My family used to have cottage cheese with syrup sometimes for dessert when I was growing up. I haven’t eaten it since I went away to college, though (just not a big fan of sweets). I didn’t think the combination was unusual until I mentioned it to my husband and he’d never heard of it. (He still hasn’t tried it.) We both grew up in the Midwest.
The last funeral I went to , I was one of 3 men that wore a suit with tie. The last wedding I went to I was 1 of 7. ( excluding wedding party)
I don’t think I’d invest in neither a suit or tie company.
Had my first cheese curds at the Tillamook Cheese Factory in Tillamook, OR a couple of years ago. Great stuff!
As an aside, I used to wear a necktie to work every day. I was the only truck driver that I know of to do that! After 20+ years of that, I tossed most of them out when I retired. But, I left a legacy behind when I left the company (good or bad, depending on who you ask, I’ll bet . . .). It all started as a joke, but it turned into my trademark.
Hey, Tommy. That reminds me of about 35 years ago when I took my two sons, about 5 and 8 then, down the Oregon Coast. We stopped at the Tillamook Cheese Factory, walked through it and watched cheese being made in the huge vats in the huge room, finished our self-guided tour, and arrived at the gift shop before leaving. My younger son (now a Marine combat veteran) asked me, “When does the tour begin?” 😆 —Diane at RVtravel.com
Unfortunately, they were doing some upgrading or fixing (or something) and there were no tours when we stopped in, which is why we stopped there in the first place. But they had the ‘taste line’ up and running and that’s where I had my introduction to cheese curds. We bought a large bag of them and gobbled the whole thing up by the end of the day (though we did have another couple along to help – ha).
Thanks, Tommy. When we went there I don’t think there were any guided tours by the Tillamook personnel — they were just self-guided. But apparently my young son didn’t think that qualified as a legitimate tour. I don’t remember them handing out cheese curds, or even a “taste line.” Bummer! So, I’ve never tried cheese curds. Guess I’ll have to one of these days, since so many folks really like them. (But, I still buy mostly Tillamook cheese — delicious!) —Diane at RV travel.com
The more I read and view these accident pics and physically witnessed some idiot with a Class A who almost missed a TPK exit then suddenly decided to run over the hill to get on the exit he missed almost hitting exiting cars I am a firm believer that there should be a mandatory permit for ALL people who tow or have an RV to have taken a tow and RV safety course that includes all types of images. Many people have no clue about towing. People just buy a trailer and a truck and just go on the road with zero knowledge. Oh…how bout those Class A’s that require NOTHING to get on the road. This is absolutely insane. The money from permitting can go to good use.
I read on one of my favorite blogs of a woman who bought a truck and trailer knowing zero even how to drive a truck. We all should know early braking is a must but she didn’t and jackknifed her rig. She is lucky but it could have easily been a disaster for her and for other innocent people.
I even heard that California has a separate lane for 55 man for ticks and RVrs. Wish we had that in Florida. That jerk I mentioned in the first sentence was speeding over 75 mph. There is no respect for the road and worse..for others.
I drive a class a and I am absolutely amazed at all the Rvs that are traveling in excess of the speed limit and in particular the 5th wheelers that think they have to pass everything. They could not possibly stop in time for any even minor problem. I find it best to go 5 or 10 miles below the speed limit.
It’s not just rv drivers that are idiots. This morning 3 mind you 3 vehicles went thru a red light long after it turned red. Lucky the cars entering the other way had good brakes. People pass on the right just to be in front of you at alight.
Sharon B is close but not exactly correct about California and a “55 mph” lane. There is no such “55 MPH Lane” on California highways. What California does have is a statewide speed limit of 55 MPH for any vehicle that’s towing anything. This would include semis, fifth-wheel RVs, travel trailers, motorhomes towing a car or trailer — even a motorcycle towing a small trailer is limited to 55 MPH under the California Motor Vehicle Code. As for how many trucks, RVs, etc. actually go 55 MPH — well, let’s just say that if you go 55 on a CA freeway, you’d better be in the far right lane, and don’t expect to pass anyone. (If CA could ticket every speeding driver in the state, the state budget surplus would be even bigger than it already is!)
The idiot in question is probably a weekend warrior, who has a limited amount of time to get where he’s going, and wants to get there as quickly as possible, so he can have a bit more time to relax. Not all weekend warriors drive like that, but many do….
Only on hills are there designated truck lanes and55mph for any vehicle towing, although you rarely see that!
Today is also National Cheese Curd Day. Being from Wisconsin, I’m required to let everyone know. BTW, a great snack for the road.