Friday, November 22, 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
“Some people look for a beautiful place. Others make a place beautiful.” —Hazrat Inayat Khan
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Cranberry Relish Day! Mmm…that sounds delicious!
Tip of the Day
Hanging heavy TV on inside wall of RV
Want to hang a TV mount on an inner wall in the RV? Tap carefully, you may find there aren’t any “studs” to tie into. Now look on the other side of the wall. Is there yet another piece of thin paneling or laminate? If you’re dealing with a closet on the other side of your proposed TV hang-out, you may have a sweet setup.
Carefully remove the wall in the closet and measure the dead space between the two walls. Is there room enough for a 3/4″ piece of plywood? Cut one to fit inside the space, then reinstall the closet wall. Mark the spots for your TV mount screws, and drill through the wall. From the TV side, use BOLTS, not screws, long enough to go completely through into the closet side. Then use fender washers and cap nuts to make a finished, non-snagging way that will securely mount your TV. Note: Using wood screws as attaching hardware may pull out as the leveraged weight of the TV bounces down the road.
Do you have a tip? Submit it here.
Cold weather RV battery tips
Before you know it, the cold weather will be here (sorry). For RVers, when it’s cold out it can have a definite effect on our rig’s batteries. Cold batteries can result in more than just frustration – in some cases it can lead to a serious hit on the pocketbook. Read these great tips from Russ and Tiña De Maris on how to take care of your RV’s batteries during the cold weather.
The complete guide to all National Parks: Plan your visits to all 59 parks. Click.
California Camping: Moon Handbook guide profiles 1,400 campgrounds. Updated 2019.
Arizona and The Grand Canyon: Plan your perfect Arizona trip. Click here.
Southwest Road Trip: Explore the beauty of the Southwest with the 2019 Moon guide.
You may have missed these recent popular stories…
• The surprising uses of WD-40
• Camping World CEO Marcus Lemonis: The “Profit” or the “Destroyer?”
• Examples of horrible RV hookups
• Reader letter: Watch out RV Travel, you’re on a slippery slope!
Reader poll
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.
Quick Tip
A deduction about induction
In response to a tip on how to keep the inside of your RV cool when needing to cook in a pan or skillet, Rob Stewart puts in his two cents’ worth: “We have been using a portable induction cooktop. It is nearly 100% efficient at heating the pan and not the surrounding air. We also use it in the cooler temperatures because, unlike propane, it releases no extra water vapor into the coach.”
Random RV Thought
When you’re traveling in rural areas and want to use your cell phone or AirCard from your campsite, be sure to visit the actual campsite where you want to stay to test the signal – not just in the campground near the office. Service may be spotty. The same goes for using a park’s WiFi.
Affordable tire tool will save you tons of trouble
What gives when you think your tires are “good to go” but down on air again the next day? Your valve stem valve probably isn’t tight enough. A loose, leaking valve stem can cause a tire failure due to low pressure under load at highway speeds. So do yourself and your vehicles a favor – pick up one of these very inexpensive tools and make sure your valve cores are snugly seated in the valve stem. Click here to order.
Website of the day
PPL Motorhomes
Buy or sell your used motorhome, diesel pusher, fifth wheel or travel trailer hassle-free at PPL Motorhomes. And check their huge selection of parts! PPL is the largest RV consignment dealer in the USA, selling more than 24,000 consigned RVs since 1972.
Clubs and useful organizations
PLEASE NOTE: We may receive an affiliate commission if you join any of these.
• Harvest Hosts: Stay free at farms, wineries and other scenic and peaceful locations for free. Save 15% on membership.
• AllStays: The best website for RVers! Your membership will become your RV-bible.
• Overnight RV parking. Directory of more than 14,000 locations where you can stay for free or nearly free with your RV. Modest membership fee.
• Boondockers Welcome. Stay at homes of RVers who welcome you in their driveways, yards, farmland or other space on their private property. Modest membership fee.
• Escapees. Best Club for RVers: All RVers welcome, no matter what type of RV, make or model.
• No-park Walmarts. Best directory of stores that do not allow overnight stays with RVs.
Trivia
The Procrastinators’ Club of America’s newsletter is called Last Month’s Newsletter.
It’s about time you cleaned those headlights
When was the last time you gave those headlights a good scrub? It’s been a while, huh? Get yourself this 4-piece headlight restorer kit from Turtle Wax for less than $7, and have your headlights looking as good as new in less than 5 minutes. It can be used on all lenses, plexiglass and plastic surfaces, and will restore all dull, yellowed headlights. Learn more or order here.
Leave here with a laugh
Q: How long does it take to make butter?
A: An echurnity!
Today’s Daily Deals at Amazon.com
Best-selling RV products and Accessories at Amazon.com. UPDATED HOURLY!
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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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I was bored in high school so just got by. When I found my calling in college, after almost flunking my freshman year, I graduated two years later having made the Dean’s list almost every term.
I didn’t put forth an effort in school. I could have been an honor student every grading period but didn’t care about grades. I just wanted to get by and graduate from High School. That was a huge mistake! I finally realized after getting out of the Army I need to change. Went to electronics school under the GI Bill and worked my way into a good 6 figure job. I basically lost 8 years being nonproductive and not working toward a means.
RE: Mounting a TV- Anyone have experience on replacing the built-in in TV high above the dashboard in an older model, 1998, Class A that is still in great shape. We bought in brand new in 1999 and have kept it up. With many RV parks cable systems no longer support older TV’s it’s time to update our screen.
Thanks
Yes I do have a solution and it works well for me. I can send you pictures etc., if I can get a contact. I have a 1994 Winnebago Vectra Class A. I need an email – it too much to cover here. Doug.
I’ve used headlight restoration products and they work really well. They tend to last about 2 years and then you’ll need to do a touch up. But WOW, what a difference that can make. My low beams went from dull yellow to a much brighter white (I use bulbs that are a little bit bluer/whiter than normal) and the distance they threw the light was easily doubled. Super important for those night drives down poorly lit roads. You can see debris or critters and avoid collisions. Takes a little elbow grease, but that just builds character!
Headlight cleaner option. Use flouride white toothpaste (not any blue). Dentist samples great. Rub on w fingers. Let semi dry and clean off w gentle rubbing paper towel . Similar technique to glass top stove cleaners. Toothpaste also great removing perm marker from white board. Also use on rv window water stains.
When it comes to cellular signal coverage we’ve found that the more forested an area is, the less signal we get. If the camp wifi goes down, you’re pretty much SOL.
When I was in grade school I got so-so grades. I did better in high school, and even better in college. I finished grad school with a 4.0 average. I did better as I got into more subjects that interested me.
i was definitely average. didn’t like school, did very well in classes i liked (math, US history) but not so well in others. poor study habits. graduated barely in the upper half of the class.
I was average, not above average, not below, but there was no answer representing average, so I did not answer the poll, which I usually look forward to answering.
I answered the reader poll I refuse to answer, I failed English 3 yrs in a row and quit HS at the end of 11th grade. Two yrs later I joined the Marines and 2yrs later found that I wouldn’t be promoted without my HS education. I immediately took my GED test and passed with flying colors. To this day at 76 years young, I have never used any of the thing’s connected to the things they were trying to teach me in English. I also could not get Algebra, mathematics I was a whiz at, always an A student, it was several years later as I was going through a 4 year apprenticeship for Machinist Maintenance for GM and attending required night school that a math teacher explained that Algebra was a language of mathematics, not a form of it. 30 years later as I retired, I looked back on my career and I thought real hard and nowhere could I remember using the proper use of verbs, nouns, pronouns adverbs etc. nor algebra. I did use geometry very often once in a while a little trigonometry but never algebra. I think the education system needs to re-evaluate the priorities, not every student is going to be a lawyer or doctor. That’s one of the biggest reasons why today’s generation has so much school debt because the education system thinks everyone has to go to college to be successful. I had a serious argument with the Dean of Boys where my youngest son went to HS. He was one of the ones I’m talking about here, when I showed him my W2 he was shocked because I was making much more than he was with his college degree. Not everyone is cut out to be a white collar worker, and this world will come to a halt without the mechanics, electricians, plumbers. and janitors. Just because someone doesn’t wear a suit and tie doesn’t mean they’re uneducated. That’s my vent thank you.
WOW, do I agree with you Bob p. I hated school. From as early as I remember all I wanted to do was get going and make some money, and I didn’t see a path through endless trigonometry ,or social engineering classes to get me there.
The only subjects I ever got above average in was Machine shop (honors) and automotive 10/20/30 (low honors) – the only subjects that helped me make a wonderful living in the automotive world from writer/ photographer to mechanic the path I was destined to travel from about 8th grade on.
The rest was a horrible waste of my time just like it is with todays professional students who come out not being able to converse, spell or add a column of numbers. – Blah Shakespeare ad infinitum.
I am not defending what is taught and how, but I disagree about the intellectual skills used by “blue collar” workers. I admire the higher math, physics and chemistry used in their daily work. A farmer rancher uses higher economics, mechanics, genetics, biology, chemistry and foreseeing the future. Quit looking at it as a means to get to college but more as what we all need to be smart in what we do.
My experiences are much like Bob and Alvin state. I hated HS and did poorly. I’m in my early 70’s now and reflect back on those years as being a very painful time. I had trouble focusing in classes, yet excelled at wood shop and auto shop. Mechanical things made sense to me. I was lucky enough to get a job as a machinist for North American and Douglas when I was 18. During training I had to take trig and calculus, but the way it was presented in practical applications, made sense to me …. I flunked algebra twice in HS. Soon I was making ‘grown up’ money and never looked back. After a few years of dealing with lay-offs, I decided to take a job in law enforcement. I worked and excelled at a 35 year career in one of the largest departments in the country. I simultaneously served on the executive board of our union and on the board of directors of a small government agency. I’m now retired and living life. Sorry for the long comment, but my point is that I agree with these two guys about our education system. Its designed to send every one to college, yet few do and often those who do, end up with tons of debt and no job. I learned there are other practical avenues to our vocations and for those kids who struggle with HS, don’t give up, just work hard and you will succeed.
Moving along.
Same thing with me, I learned more hands on than any book that I ever studied, could teach me. Ended up being proficient in a/c, plumbing, electric and Cabinet making, and automotive, because of this I was never out of work more than a few days, oh and I was a cook, butcher, baker and brig chaser in the Navy.
My experience is nearly total opposite but ends up supporting the same idea. I liked HS, did well and went on to earn a degree in English education. But realized I was not cut out to teach. So went into customer service for the telephone company. I’m sure my degree had something to do with being hired but didn’t figure much in my day to day working life. I can’t say that I loved the job but it was doable. But fast forward quite a few years and circumstances necessitated changing my job title. So I ended up retiring as a installation and repair technician. Even though it meant working in all kinds of weather and conditions, I can honestly say it was a much more enjoyable and satisfying job even as a female! My college education didn’t come into play with that job at all. And I doubt that few if any of my co-workers or bosses had a college degree. Plus the service tech job paid significantly better than the customer service rep. My only regret was not changing positions earlier in life. In retrospect, my college education was an experience but really wasn’t necessary to have a fulfilling career.
Bottom line is you don’t need a college degree to be successful! Work hard, learn a trade, and be the best you can be in that job. I ended my career as a VP of Engineering in a communications firm and that is with two years of trade school and two years of college without a degree.
You obviously learned the use of verbs, nouns , etc. because you wrote a very coherent vent. Someone having a lot of student debt indicates that going to college may have been a mistake, otherwise it would be easier to pay off the loans because of the job college prepared someone for. I quit college and joined an apprenticeship. They paid me.
If WiFi is a important part of your life, get your own hot spot, either from an independent device or your smart phone.
You cannot count on someone else providing you service.
Our hotspot, after purchasing, is only $20 monthly on our cellphone plan thru Verizon. We get unlimited data and are able to stream Netflix, Prime, Hulu…etc.
The article mainly mentions testing YOUR cell carrier signal strength, not just the campground wifi. A hot-spot won’t help if there’s no signal at your site (whether wifi or from your provider).