Monday, December 16, 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 shop on Amazon this holiday season, please visit through our affiliate site (we get a little commission that way – and you don’t pay any extra). We appreciate it!
Today’s thought
“Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” —Mary Oliver
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Chocolate-Covered-Anything Day!
Did you see the news? Click here to read the latest issue of the Sunday news for RVers.
Tip of the Day
How to help avoid mold and mildew in your RV
When winter camping in a humid area, mold and mildew can creep in. Electric dehumidifiers are noisy and eat lots of power. Keeping the air moving in your rig can often chase off the mildew creatures, so try running a fan to keep the air circulating. And don’t let your furniture come up against an outside wall if you can help it.
We know our readers have some great tips on this topic. Please share them in the comments below.
Do you have a tip on another topic? Submit it here.
RV Electricity – This week’s J.A.M. (Just Ask Mike) Session:
Can I run a generator and shore power at the same time?
• Sign up for Mike’s monthly RV Electricity Newsletter.
• While you’re at it, be sure to join his popular Facebook group, RV Electricity.
• Read more of Mike’s articles here.
Is a motorhome over 40 feet too long?
David and Brenda Bott discuss the challenges of traveling with a 45-foot motorhome. Are there roads they cannot travel? How do they know if there are low bridges ahead that would prevent them from passing through? The Botts answer these questions and many more. Good stuff! Watch the six-minute video.
Reader poll
What did we learn about you from our reader polls last week? Find out here.
According to a recent poll, 39 percent of you carry a bicycle with you on your RV travels. If you, a family member or a friend is part of that percentage, the unbreakable handlebar phone holder for bicycles and motorcycles is the perfect gift! Learn more here.
Helpful resources
• NATIONAL TRAFFIC AND ROAD CLOSURE INFORMATION.
• ROAD AND TRAFFIC CONDITIONS ACROSS THE NATION.
• WEATHER ALERTS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.
• CURRENT WILDFIRE REPORT.
• LATEST RV RECALLS.
Thinking of buying a heated hose for your RV? Here’s a rundown of several for you to consider.
Quick Tip
Pet microchip registry information
Remember to keep your address and other information up to date with the registry for your pets’ microchips. Otherwise, how will your lost pets be able to find their way back to you? Thank you to Bob and Brenda Rogers for this important reminder!
Random RV Thought
Some motorhomes sleep five or even six people – that’s what the RV makers say. But, really, unless some of those people are kids, you’ll be packing along a heap of weight if that many people cram into a single RV with all their stuff. Too much weight is a very bad thing and sometimes even very dangerous.
USED BY RV TECHNICIANS!
Protect your RV parts from rust and corrosion
T-9 is the RV technician’s choice for attacking corrosion, loosening rusty parts & flushing out old lubricants. It permeates metal crevices & seeps deep inside assembled components to leave a durable protective coating, lubricating without dismantling equipment. It won’t wash off in rain or mud. T-9 will not harm paint, plastic, rubber, fiberglass or vinyl. It can be used on engines, wiring, belts & is safe on electronics. Boeshield T-9 was developed by Boeing for lubrication and protection of aircraft components. Learn more or order.
Website of the day
TED Talks
“Riveting talks by remarkable people, free to the world.” TED is a nonprofit devoted to spreading ideas, usually in the form of short, powerful talks (18 minutes or less). These are great to listen to while driving to your next destination.
Popular articles you may have missed at RVtravel.com
• Woman RVer learning the ropes annoyed with “over-helpful” men.
• Water heater works but only cold water comes from faucets.
• RV Electricity – Is it a leak or a noisy water heater element?
#877F
Temperature gun is ‘essential equipment’ for many RVers!
Just aim this non-contact IR temperature gun to measure the temperature of your refrigerator, tires, A/C output, or, heck, even your oven (and the list goes on). It turns on and begins reading the temperature in Celsius or Fahrenheit with one press of the trigger. A laser light aids in aiming, and can be turned on or off. Many RVers consider this essential equipment. Learn more or order.
Trivia
At 85 letters long, Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateaturipukakapikimaungahoronukupokaiwhenuakitn-atahu, New Zealand, holds the record for the longest place name in the world. However, Lake Chargoggagoggmanchauggagoggchaubunagungamaugg, in Massachusetts, and Tweebuffelsmeteenskootmorsdoodgeskietfontein, in South Africa, closely follow.
*If you can pronounce any of those names in one breath, we’ll buy you a brand-new RV! Wink.
Leave here with a laugh
A motorhome broke down on a busy highway, so the driver pulled to the shoulder. He jumped out his driver’s side door, walked around his rig and opened the door to the coach. Out popped two men in trench coats who then stood behind the RV and opened their coats, exposing themselves to the traffic, causing several fender benders. Later, when questioned by an angry state trooper why he pulled such a stunt, the RVer replied, “I was broken down, so I just used my emergency flashers!”
Today’s Daily Deals at Amazon.com
Best-selling RV products and Accessories at Amazon.com. UPDATED HOURLY!
Join us: Facebook • Twitter • YouTube • RVillage
Check out our Facebook Groups: RV Horror Stories • RV Advice • RV Electricity • RV Parks with Storm Shelters • RV Buying Advice • Northwest RV Camping • Southwest RV Camping • RV Crashes and Disasters • NEW Free Campgrounds
Did you miss the latest RV Travel Newsletter? If so, read it here.
Become a Member!
This newsletter is brought to you Monday through Friday by RVtravel.com and is funded primarily through voluntary subscription contributions from our readers. Thank you! IF YOU APPRECIATE THIS NEWSLETTER and others from RVtravel.com, will you please consider pledging your support? Learn more or contribute.
RV Daily Tips Staff
Editor and Publisher: Chuck Woodbury. Managing editor: Emily Woodbury. Senior editor: Diane McGovern. Advertising director: Jessica Sarvis. Financial affairs director: Gail Meyring. IT wrangler: Kim Christiansen.
This website utilizes some advertising services. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Regardless of this potential revenue, unless stated otherwise, we only recommend products or services we believe provide value to our readers.
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.
Mail us at 9792 Edmonds Way, #265, Edmonds, WA 98020.
This newsletter is copyright 2019 by RVtravel.com
All of our dogs are chipped. Especially one who is our escape artist. 4 of us heading west and one dog who just seemed to escape us. Our phones would explode when we realize she got loose again. We always put her in the outdoor kennel first. But how she gets out of it we think Houdini is reincarnate. It is helpful to have our babies returned home. Chips work.
When we were shopping for our 5ver, as soon as a salesman would say “This one sleeps XYZ” we’d say “move along, we want a rig that sleeps 2!” I have a tent for the grandkids 😉
Humor isn’t something you can fine tune to fit everyone’s tastes. Personally, I find the humor offered in this newsletter entertaining most of the time and today was no exception. But it’s like music or art. One joke won’t appeal to everyone. That should be okay. Since most folks like to smile or laugh a little, please keep the jokes coming. You’re doing a great job with the newsletter.
Boats are usually promoted on how many people they can sleep.
I always judged them on how many people they can feed.
I found myself chuckling at the Laugh of the day….. at how BAD it was!
;D
Much as I’d like a new RV (!!) …. I’m not even gonna try those names…. Nope.
It must be very difficult to address a Christmas card.
As in … writing those names on an envelope? You’d get maybe one or two done in a day! And then it’d probably be misspelled and returned by the postal service. 😯 😀 —Diane at RVtravel.com
We’ve decided to unsubscribe from your website. Your ‘Leave here with a Laugh’ has been increasingly offensive with its subject matter and suggestive connotations. What do those topics have to do with RVing anyway?
Hi, Richard. We’re sorry to see you go. It’s a silly joke, and we don’t put too much meaning behind it. We ran it in one of our issues years ago (in 2005), and it still made us chuckle so we brought it back. We’d hope that one joke wouldn’t send you away, but if it does, happy and safe travels. Thanks for reading us for the time you did. –Best, Emily with the RVtravel.com staff.
Anyone can find offense in anything if you look hard enough.
Geez, I wonder if Richard finds offense with the silly jokes ongoing in California getting dumber by the day.
North of 49 the silly joke in Ottawa Canada offends many folks too, except we in western Canada, I suspect like folks in Montana, Idaho, et al can’t unsubscribe.
Keep ’em coming Chuck, we need to laugh more!!!!
Make sure the step has extended on this RV(travel) as you exit the door, would not want to see you land on yer face.
Stay cool
Have your vet periodically verify that your pet’s chip is still there and working.
Ir temperature guns can find frozen spots in pipes
good Morning Chuck. The tip on TedTalks is a great one I hope readers pick up on..
I’ve got a basic rule in life. I generally do not participate if I suspect I won’t come out of a situation smarter than when I went in.
Happily, not one Ted Talk of the hundreds I’ve looked in on ever failed me in that regard even when I disagreed with the presenter.
Somewhat stressed because we have to drive 600 miles.
Chill Joe, check the weather network for conditions on your route, head out if it’s safe and enjoy. We’re embarking on a 1000 miler Wed Dec 18, – Alberta to Idaho – to visit family, and the sailing looks great all the way. Fingers crossed on the way back though. No worries here.
We are heading to Florida on Dec 30 (in our personal vehicle) to embark on a 7 day cruise…1,050 miles one way. Glad we are going to have 2 weeks before we head back home!
RE: an RV that “sleeps 6:” I read somewhere that when the salesman tells you that, he really means: seats 6 for cocktails, seats 4 for dinner, and sleeps 2 comfortably.:
Tomorrow is number1234.
Ah 1,2,3,4 – wasn’t that the way the Beatles started “I saw her standing there”. Maybe someone else, been a long time.
Really? That “joke” was pitiful.
I certainly didn’t laugh…
I suppose you would not laugh at the “Trunk Monkey” videos either. Oh well…
Stay cool