Monday, December 30, 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
“I did then what I knew how to do. Now that I know better, I do better.” ―
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Bicarbonate of Soda Day!
Did you see the news? Click here to read the latest issue of the Sunday News for RVers.
Tip of the Day
An additional item to record with a new RV
In a recent RV Daily Tips Newsletter, we suggested when you get a new motorhome or tow vehicle to read the manuals, take pictures of the engine compartment, and write down “normal” operating temperatures. Roger Marble, RV tire expert, sent in this important additional suggestion:
“Write down the complete tire size (all the letters and numbers), i.e., LT235/85R16 E 120/115 L or 255/70R22.5 G 138/134 L. Also, be sure to include the full DOT serial number (including the last four numbers, that are the date code portion) for each tire. Collect this information when the tires are new. The dealer should have recorded the information when they sold you the RV. This information is supposed to be sent to the tire company so they can contact you if there is ever a tire recall.” Thanks, Roger!
Here’s a great article from Tire Industry Association on “Reading a Tire Sidewall.” [If you get a pop-up to sign up, just click the X in the upper right corner.]
Do you have a tip? Submit it here.
RV Electricity – This week’s J.A.M. (Just Ask Mike) Session:
Don’t just drop in a Lithium battery. A reader asks Mike if he can simply swap in a Lithium battery to replace the current lead-acid batteries, or does he need to change out the charger/inverter as well. Hmmm. Do you know?
• 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.
Handheld sewing machine is a must-have for RVers
This portable sewing machine is perfect for your RV. It fits in your hand for easy operation. Great for silks, denim, wool, leather, and to hem pants, jeans, hanging curtains and crafts, etc. It can repair drapes without taking them down, repair clothing without taking it off, and repair bedding without stripping the bed. It’s so neat you’ll want to buy one.
Full-time RV travels – Heat with gas or electricity?
For full-timers, keeping an eye on the budget can be critical to your lifestyle. When boondocking, your heating source choices are limited – gas prevails. But if you’re calling an RV park a temporary home – or any other place where you’re paying for electricity – the question is clearly which is cheaper, gas or electric. Here are a few statistics to help you make the call. Read more.
Reader poll
What did we learn about you from our reader polls last week? Find out here.
2020 books are here!
• Rand McNally Large-Scale Road Atlas. Click.
• American Casino Guide. Click.
• 2020 Wanderlust Calendar. Adventure photography. Click.
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.
Quick Tip
Get a step up with carpet samples
Use carpet samples (they have a finished edge on them) to put a temporary carpet on the inside steps of your RV. Cut the sample to step-size and use two-sided carpet tape to hold it down. Put the finished edge out (it looks better). Toss when dirty. Thanks to Ron Jones, AboutRVing.com.
Random RV Thought
If you travel by motorhome and don’t pull another vehicle for local trips, consider bringing along a bicycle or two. They can be easily stored, either on a rack or in a storage compartment if they fold up.
According to a recent poll, 39 percent of you already 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.
Website of the day
Everything you should know about spider bites
Most spider bites are harmless, but a few can do serious harm. Here’s how to recognize the black widow and brown recluse, two venomous spiders, and what to know and do in case of any spider bite.
Popular articles you may have missed at RVtravel.com
• Dog accidentally changes gears, sending motorhome rolling into lake. (with video)
• Carry a gun in your RV or plan to? Watch this! (with video)
• Couple have heated debate on adding catalytic heater.
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Trivia
How many feet of snow does Crater Lake in Oregon get every year? And how does that much snow measure in RVs? Find out here in Chuck’s roadside journal.
Leave here with a laugh
A guy in a taxi wanted to speak to the driver so he leaned forward and tapped him on the shoulder. The driver screamed in fright, jumped and yanked the steering wheel over. The car went over the curb, demolished a light pole and came to a stop inches from a shop window. The startled passenger said, “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to frighten you.” The taxi driver said “It’s OK. It’s not your fault. You see, this is my first day as a cab driver. I’ve been driving a hearse for the past 25 years.”
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. Advertising 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
Depends, if I’m in the middle of nowhere and spy an antique store I’ll probably go. But I avoid the ones in big cities and touristy places because you won’t find a bargain in one of those.
Don’t do antiques, as I am one, and have too many already
Once a year I take it to Camping World and let them do the roof tire and brake check. Looking good so far.
Cannot read the article on tire codes. Keep getting a flash up to sign up for TIA. I just want read the article w/o the need to sign up forTIA!
I just clicked on the Tire Assoc. tab and yes, there is a sign-up option that pops up. All you have to do is click on the “X” in the upper right hand corner of that sign-up box and then you can easily read the info on how to read the letters/numbers on a tire and what they mean to the consumer.
Once you have the email open go to the settings (upper right corner), choose “open in browser ” then that sign up pop-up has an X in the upper right corner that makes it disappear.