Thursday, December 5, 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.
If you will do some of your holiday shopping at Amazon, please consider doing so through our affiliate program. The modest commissions from your purchases help us pay our bills (and you don’t pay any extra). Click here to browse or shop.
Today’s thought
“The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.” ―
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Bathtub Party Day! (We don’t know what this is but we think it sounds fun?)
Tip of the Day
Slideout marks on floor or carpet?
We received this slick tip from long-time RV Travel reader Tim Slack.
“We started getting wear marks in the living room carpet from our slideout. I didn’t want it to wear a groove in the carpet. While at an RV service center, I was offered two strips of Teflon about 5″ x 32″ x 1/4″ thick. Each has nonskid backing. Now before I bring in that slide, I place the strips on the carpet where the marks were beginning to show. The slide glides in along the Teflon strip and then rests on it while we travel. When we’re setting up again, push the button, the slide glides back out and I stash the thin strips until next time. No more marks. My Teflon strips cost about $25-$30 total. And they’re thin enough to not disturb the adjustment of the slide. Problem solved.” Thanks, Tim!
[Editor: After much searching, I think we’ve found a product similar to what Tim is referring to, here. We apologize for the confusion.]
Do you have a tip? Submit it here.
How to kill lingering RV refrigerator odors
Perhaps you’ve had the dubious honor of trying to clean up after finding rotten food in your RV fridge when the power was unknowingly out for awhile. Or (perish the thought) such a task may yet lie ahead in your RVing future. Clip and save this story — maybe under a refrigerator door magnet — just in case!
MAKES A GREAT GIFT!
Give your phone or tablet a full-sized keyboard
How neat is this? This tiny, collapsible Bluetooth keyboard connects to your phone and tablet so you can type comfortably. The 5-ounce palm-sized keyboard can be folded into your pocket or backpack to carry around. All you have to do is press “Connect” to quickly pair with your devices. Check it out here.
Reader poll
ANSWER TO QUESTION ABOUT FAKE WOMEN:
The one on the right is real. The one on the left is fake, created using artificial intelligence technology (see the photos near the bottom of this story).
Quick Tip
Roadside emergency equipment
From John and Kathy Huggins: I’m sure you’ve seen semi-trucks along the side of the road with three triangular reflectors spaced out behind it. They are there to alert people to move over a lane as the rig is disabled for some reason. These triangles are inexpensive and should be in your RV safety emergency kit along with several flashlights and road flares to signal a night breakdown. You might also want to have an orange vest with night vision strips on it. Obviously, the best piece of emergency equipment is a cell phone to call for help.
From So, you want to be an RVer? And Enjoy the RV Lifestyle? [Revised] Available on Amazon.com.
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.
Random RV Thought
At this very moment, as you read this, thousands of people across North America are daydreaming about their next RV trip. Some are at work, others at home, others just walking down the street. Daydreaming about an RV trip is not as good as taking the actual trip, but it’s better than daydreaming about things like mowing a lawn or ironing clothes.
Website of the day
The 20 most beautiful forests in America.
“Escape the daily grind with a trip to these lush, breathtaking landscapes.” Drop us off in one of these forests for the day (or a few nights) and we couldn’t be happier!
Say goodbye to back pain
As RVers, we spend a lot of time sitting while we drive from place to place. These orthopedic memory foam support back and bottom cushions will relieve you from any lower back pain and will instantly improve your posture. The washable covers can be removed, and a breathable mesh will keep the cushions from making you sweat. Look at all those amazing reviews! 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:
• 65 percent have a Facebook account.
• 16 percent have at least one solar panel mounted on their RV.
• 35 percent never wear a wristwatch.
Show your patriotism this holiday season!
Give a Presidential Chia Pet
When it comes to traditional holiday gifts, there’s one that just keeps on growing, and we mean that literally. Yes, we’re talking about a Presidential Chia Pet. This is the perfect gift for Americans who are passionate about their country and its Presidents!
Learn more or order: Trump Chia Pet • Obama Chia Pet
Trivia
Herbert Hoover was Stanford’s football team manager. At the first Stanford-Cal game in 1892, he forgot to bring the ball.
Keep stinky odors out of your RV (relied on by the RV Travel staff). Click.
Going full-time? Need a home base? This is the best.
Leave here with a laugh
We’re laughing pretty hard right now. This article is titled, “21 hilarious photos that prove kids are total savages.” You will certainly leave here with a laugh. Click here.
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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This newsletter is copyright 2019 by RVtravel.com
On one I-5 in north of Sacramento, CA and had a flat on our trailer. AAA never showed and stated they couldn’t find the exit we were on. Waited past the 30 minute time they stated they would show….changed the tire ourselves and were on the road in 15 minutes. Found out they tried to send out a truck from southern California (Buena Park).
I clicked the link looking for the 5″x32″x1/4″ Teflon strip suggested in the article. Went through 7 pages of products searching and never found the item. What page and specifically what item is the author referring?
Sorry for the confusion, Jim, and others who couldn’t find the product. I’ve updated the link from what the original poster included so that it goes to a product which I think is similar to what Tim Slack referred to. (I hope.) —Diane at RVtravel.com
Was 2 miles outside San Simon, AZ waited 2 1/2 hours for Good Sam to send a truck from Douglas, Az about 120 miles away! Would have been closer to Lordsburg, NM. Not Good Sam service.
I’ve been stuck by the roadside, but never MORE THAN an hour.
I think more importantly, today is International Volunteer Day (for Economic and Social Development), but that it is International and mostly for Sustainable Development Goals….
I did say a few hours but never while towing trailer- yay
I just noticed today’s issue number, 1226 – my oldest.son’s birthday. He would have turned 48 this year.
Sorry for your loss- ❤️
Your son left too soon. Sympathies to you and your family.
Several years ago we had endless trouble with our truck engine. We had to leave our 5th wheel on a mountainous highway in eastern Idaho heading over Lolo pass when the truck failed and we had no cell coverage. It was the most aggravating situation and very frightening on this narrow mountain road! We finally got the truck to run a couple of days later and retrieved the RV. That year we were grateful to be home!!
Re: the survey. We were not waiting on help, but my husband spent about 2 1/2 hrs making an emergency repair (that held up for 5000+ miles). We were on I84 in Idaho in a construction zone on a hill when we had to stop. Thankfully, the construction crew had a repair truck nearby that had a few materials (threaded rod, cut to fit; nuts, etc.) he could use. That saved a 13 mile trip (1 way) to the nearest hardware store.
We had a similar problem with our 5th Wheel Slide. Ended up taking it to Lippert in Indiana for repair, since our DEALER was totally clueless and could not fix the thing.
Come to find out the Slide Room was NOT installed properly by the manufacturer and needed to have the SQUARENESS adjusted! Lippert stepped up to the plate and fixed the problem!
We tried those teflon slider things and it didn’t solve the problem. Chances are, if you are having similar problems, YOUR SLIDE NEEDS TO BE ADJUSTED!
Oh my! That pic of the “colorful” MacBook. That was too funny. I’d be crying if it were mine but seeing that picture made me literally laugh out loud. Kids!
When our grandson was 1-1/2 or 2 he put a poptart in our daughters disk drive, wanted to see what it would do I guess! Yike!
The link in the Tip of the Day directs one to Teflon tapes, etc. Nothing resembling the floor/rug slide protectors described in the article.
My bad (I think) because it is more of a tape described in the article. Our slide rollers are wider than 5″ so this would not work.
Can you give us a further clue as to where you bought them and what specifically the teflon floor/rug protectors you described are called/named? Anything will help. I am very eager to find something that will work.
Susan, if you scroll down through the list of Teflon products you will find 5 inch wide Teflon tape. You may have to go to page two also.
And if your rollers are wider than 5 inches just use two sections.
Scroll down.
# item that appears to the right as you open the link, 3″ wide slick strip, says it comes 10.5 long, if read there comments the rv is in them (amazon)