Monday, January 20, 2020
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 shop on Amazon, please visit through our affiliate site (we get a little commission that way – and you don’t pay any extra). We appreciate it!
[activecampaign form=34]
Page Contents
Today’s thought
“A grove of giant redwood or sequoias should be kept just as we keep a great and beautiful cathedral.” —Theodore Roosevelt
Need an excuse to celebrate? Gouda news! Today is National Cheese-Lover’s Day!
Did you see the news? Click here to read the latest issue of the Sunday News for RVers.
Tip of the Day
Toilet water conservation and cleaning tips
“We have a Thetford Tecma macerating toilet in our class A. It has a large porcelain toilet bowl. The toilet flushes using either the large flush button or the small flush button. The large flush uses a lot of water. Well, I soon found out that I had to dump way more often than when we had a regular RV toilet like in the fivers we had. We decided that we should operate on the ‘when it’s yellow let it mellow, when it’s brown flush it down’ rule. It increased time between dumps by days. We also found that usually the small flush works fine even if it is brown.
“You can keep the urine smell down to a reasonable level by closing both toilet lids. But, we also noticed that the uric acid sitting in the bowl for hours would stain the toilet bowl, and eventually we couldn’t completely remove the stains with whatever product we tried to clean the bowl with. Remembering my high school chemistry that baking soda is a good acid neutralizing base, we tried putting in a half tablespoon of baking soda three or four times per bowl fill. No more stains and the bowl looks nice and shiny.” Thanks to Bill Newman!
Do you have a tip? Submit it here.
Firearms laws guide updated for 2020
The 2020 updated edition of the Traveler’s Guide to the Firearm Laws of the Fifty States has just been published. The book is always a best-seller among RVers, many of whom carry a firearm when they travel. The annual guidebook helps ensure they stay out of trouble when crossing state lines, where the laws may be different. Learn more in this article.
RV Electricity – This week’s J.A.M. (Just Ask Mike) Session:
Can I connect 6- and 12-volt batteries together? Almost everything you ever wanted to know about connecting batteries.
• 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.
If you solo RV, please do this
Are you a solo RVer? Here’s a “stop and ponder issue” for you. Every year thousands of RVers descend on the Desert Southwest, looking forward to a great time of exploration and relaxation. And every year a body is found in the desert, usually of someone who wandered off, got disoriented and never made it back to their RV. Here’s what to do so this doesn’t happen to you.
Reader poll
What did we learn about you from our reader polls last week? Find out here.
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.
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
Safety tips for new RVers
Before you hit the road for the first time, it is recommended that you purchase and understand how to use the following: (A) Any state- or provincial-mandated safety equipment that you are required by law to carry. (B) Two to four orange traffic cones – they are handy to have. Taller ones are easier to see. (C) Four emergency flares. (D) A 6-volt flashlight or any rechargeable light. Thanks to Ron Jones, AboutRVing.com.
Inflatable foot rest is comfortable for couch and passenger seat
Now that’s cool! Miss your favorite recliner no more! This inflatable foot rest is perfect for lounging on the couch, in the chair by the campfire, or in the passenger seat for long drives. Take it on a plane ride, or take it to the grandkids’ sports games (we know those can get long). It weighs less than 1 lb. and folds down small for travel. Learn more about this comfy foot rest here.
Random RV Thought
An angel is the first person out of bed in the RV on a very cold morning, who turns on the heater and makes the coffee.
Website of the day
50 survival tips and tricks for the outdoors
The title says it all! Visit this page (and explore the rest of the website while you’re at it) to learn the best tips about surviving in the wilderness. Lots of stuff here will come in handy!
For peace of mind, use a backflow preventer
Backflow happens when a fresh water system gets “cross-connected” with a source of bad water or other contaminants. You don’t want that! Prevent this from happening by using a backflow preventer. Here’s an affordable one. Use it and rest easier. (You can read more about backflow prevention here.)
Do you or does someone in your household smoke? If so, you may be harming your pets. Read more here.
Popular articles you may have missed at RVtravel.com
• RV Tire Safety: Tire ramps or blocks may damage your tires.
• RV Shrink: Pros and cons of having slides out with snow.
• RV Doctor: Why is there no pressure in RV fresh water plumbing system?
#884F
Trailer hitches galore. Click here.
Our favorite tire pressure gauge. Used by the RV Travel staff. Click.
Trivia
According to a study done by the Archives of Surgery, doctors who played video games for more than three hours each week made 37 percent fewer surgical errors than those who didn’t. Those same doctors also performed 27 percent faster and scored 42 percent better on a test of surgical skills. Video games can improve fine motor skills, eye-hand coordination, attention span, depth perception and computer competency. Interesting!
Leave here with a laugh
A burglar enters a home. All of a sudden a voice pipes up, “I can see you, and so can Jesus!” Startled, the burglar looks around. No one is there, so he gets back to business. Soon, the voice repeats, “I can see you, and so can Jesus!” The burglar jumps and takes a longer look around the room. Over in a corner, partially obscured by curtains, is a caged parrot, which pipes up again, “I can see you, and so can Jesus!” “So what?” asks the annoyed burglar. “You’re only a parrot!” To which the parrot replies, “Maybe, but Jesus is a Rottweiler!”
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 2020 by RVtravel.com
Years ago I dieted for about a year. I lost the required weight, but I was hungry all the time. I have since regained the weight (no surprise), but I won’t diet again — it was too miserable of an experience.
Oh on the article re: keeping your water lines from freezing, they forgot to mention the obvious resolution. To keep your lines from freezing, go to an area of the country where the winter temps stay above freezing!!!!!!!!
I have observed that most people who diet regularly, pull a number (weight) out of thin air and decide that is the weight they want to be. Now that number in some cases although attainable may not be healthy for that specific individual. If exercising your weight goes down quite a bit (water weight and fat), but then when you start to build more muscle (which burns more calories), your weight starts to go back up somewhat. Many see this as a failure, but the fact is you lose size, but muscle mass weighs more than fat mass, so it is not a failure you are healthier, although you may not have hit and held that arbitrary number you picked. Now I was never a dieter, and at my age there is no way I’m about to change to a plant based diet. My hat is off to anyone who does make the change. But I’m too old to start depriving myself of the few pleasures I have left. I eat what I like in moderation and exercise. Sounds crazy but it works for me and that’s how I feel. Everyone have a great day, actually have a great year and see ya on down the road……
Last week is a reprint of last week
Pardon? 😕 —Diane at RVtravel.com
Re: Random RV thought: My angel is the one who shows up on moving day!
We have a small portable radiator heater with a timer..shuts off @ 10:00pm, comes on @ 5:00 am. Coffee can also be put on a timer, no angel needed..
‘Cept maybe a guardian Angel…
“Random RV Thought
An angel is the first person out of bed in the RV on a very cold morning, who turns on the heater and makes the coffee.”
I am fortunate that my thermostat is located by the bed so I can turn on the heat before I crawl out!
I believe diet is what we consume daily. So I diet daily
Instead of actively dieting I increase my exercise. I walk the dogs 3 times a day instead if two. Especially true when RVing and on the last 10 week trip I lost 15 lbs. Gained some back but not all so I’m down about 6-8 pounds.
One of the tips today recommends the use of a backflow preventer. I have worked at several campgrounds that were required to have them on all connections by either state or local health code. The problem was we could not find any that did not contain lead so theoretically could not be used for potable water. In short, backflow preventer good, lead in backflow preventer not so good if you drink the water.
Dieting to lose weight is a no win situation. Heres what works. Eat a whole foods plant based diet and exercise vigorously 3 to 4 times per week. Avoid alchohol, sugar, saturated fat. You will lose weight and it will stay off. You will be healthy and live longer and avoid many diseases.
Eating a whole foods plant based diet, no alcohol, no sugar and no saturated fat ..IS a diet. just sayin’…
I think of it as a lifestyle not a diet. But yes it’s a dietary lifestyle that works.
Want to lose weight? Men restrict to 2500 calories/day. Ladies 2000 calories/ day.
Eat and drink what you want. Exercise, but don’t kill yourself.
I rarely go over 2000 calories and the lady here rarely over 1500. I lost 16 lbs in 2019, and am down to what I weighted at 19, and feel and look 39.
I spend a grand total of about 5 minutes on the internet each day collecting calorie values for the things we eat.
Very easy no diet, no cost, in fact a savings because we no longer eat like its our last meal, yes and we still indulge at the A&W once in awhile. Win Win Win.