Wednesday, January 22, 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.
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Today’s thought
“We have forgotten how to be good guests, how to walk lightly on the earth as its other creatures do.” —Barbara Ward
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Blonde Brownie Day!
Tip of the Day
Fire extinguisher placement tips
We travel in a motorhome which is typical in that the bedroom is in the rear and the exit door is in the front. The fire extinguisher is mounted by the exit door. I bought another fire extinguisher that I mounted next to the bed. If a fire is severe, then we will bail out of a bedroom window but for anything else, I would rather fight the fire on the way to the exit door. The prospect of climbing out the window and dropping six feet to the ground is something that I would rather avoid. I also keep a fire extinguisher in one of my storage bays. Thanks to Bill Olsen.
Do you have a tip? Submit it here.
RV moisture misery
Chris Dougherty, certified RV technician, received a question from a reader while he was serving as RVtravel.com’s technical editor, as follows: “Condensation forms inside both the wardrobe and the cabinets on my slide-outs only, not in any other storage compartment in my travel trailer when the temperature gets down to the lower 40s. Why is this and what can I do about it?” Read Chris’ response.
Yesterday’s featured article: High altitude fuel-up – low altitude engine knock
Keep road flares in the RV for emergency
You should always have road flares in your RV in case of an emergency. This pack of three bright, waterproof and shatterproof LED disks are perfect to keep tucked away. These bright lights can be seen from a mile away and can be used for traffic control, as a warning light or as a rescue beacon, and they can also be used for recreational activities such as camping and hiking. Learn more or order here.
Reader poll
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.
Did you buy a lemon RV? Here’s more about RV lemons and lawyers who will represent you if you need help.
Yikes. These were the most stolen vehicles of the year, and the states they were stolen in. Is your vehicle on the list?
Traveler’s Guide to the Firearm Laws of the 50 states – brand-new for 2020. Essential reference.
California Camping: Moon Handbook guide profiles 1,400 campgrounds.
Best-selling printed directory of free and inexpensive campgrounds. Click.
Best RVing books as recommended by our editors: Click here.
Quick Tip
Fresher-smelling dirty laundry
Dirty laundry smell running you out of the rig between washings? Stick a laundry softener sheet in the pile to counter the odor. You can use the dryer sheet in the dryer when it comes time to dry the newly cleaned clothes.
Random RV Thought
‘Tis the season for RV shows from now through March. Here’s a money-saving tip for anyone who plans to attend a show. Using your favorite search engine, find the show’s website. Many offer a money-saving coupon on an admission ticket and offer lower prices certain days of the week. For a list of upcoming shows, click here.
Microwave cover collapses for easy storage
When heating your food you don’t want to spend 10 minutes later cleaning the splatters inside the microwave. Here’s the solution — and perfect for RVers: It pops down flat for easy storage. Lid perforations allow steam to escape to keep food moist. Doubles as a strainer, too! Learn more or order here.
Website of the day
Fix My Blinds
Just when you think there isn’t a website for everything…. If or when you have a problem with the RV’s blinds, check here for ideas about how to repair them.
Popular articles you may have missed at RVtravel.com
• RV delivery driver tells workmanship horror stories.
• Couple confesses their RV buying mistakes. This video will make you mad.
• RV Shrink: RVing: Is it a magical mystery tour?
#885-1
Protect yourself and others from sharp edges of RV slideouts!
Cut your head just once on the corner of a sharp RV slideout and you’ll race out to buy a set of these so it never happens again! Camco’s Slide-Out Corner Guards offer a simple solution to the danger posed by sharp corners on RV slideouts. Simply place them on each exterior corner of the slide to provide a cushion zone. They’re made of advanced UV-stabilized resin for long life. Easy to install, no tools required. Learn more or order.
Trivia
The Earth weighs about 13,170,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 pounds. Since Earth is too big to be placed on a scale, scientists use mathematics and the laws of gravity to figure out Earth’s weight. —From Cool Cosmos, an IPAC website, and based on Government Sponsored Research.
What insect can only be found on two streets in New York City? This is fascinating! You’d know if you read yesterday’s issue.
Leave here with a laugh
Two pirates, Morty and Sol, meet
in a bar. Sol has a patch over one eye,
a hook for a hand, and a wooden peg leg. “Ye gads, matey,” says Morty. “What happened to ya?”
Sol says, “Me pirate ship was attacked, and a lucky shot lopped off me leg. So now I got me a wooden peg.”
“And yer hand?” asks Marty.
“When me ship sank, a shark bit me hand off. So now I got me a hook.”
“OK, but what’s with the eye patch?”
“I was standin’ on a dock, and the biggest seagull I ever saw poops right in me eye.”
“But ya don’t go blind from no seagull poop.”
“True,” says Sol. “But it was me first day with the hook.”
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 2020 by RVtravel.com
Our 2002 Monaco Windsor PBT is licensed in Alaska with a plate that reads R HOME. Our vehicle, 2006 Saturn Vue, that we drive daily and tow behind our coach is also licensed in Alaska with a plate that reads R TOWD.
car BARELY, truck GETNBY
RV Shows in the USA and Canada for 2020:
I always make it a point to advise consumers and potential RV wanna be’s, NOT to purchase an RV at an RV SHOW!
RV Shows are great events to go look at new RV’s! Unfortunately, they are also events where dealers try to sell off their OLD JUNK inventory that did not sell last year. And you will see HUGE DISCOUNTS too. RV Shows should be looked at as “BUYER BEWARE” shows.
My Wife and I just attended an RV SHOW in MOBILE, AL. A rather small show with a HUGE CAMPING WORLD presence. A few Motorhomes, lots of travel trailers and some 5th wheels. Again, Large Mark downs on all the units being offered and Camping World had their booth set up, taking credit applications for many new buyers. WOOPS! More Horror Stories to come, after people take delivery from Camping World!
RV SHOWS are great to go luck and ask questions, BUT DON’T BUY!
The best way to get into RVing is Research, Research and then Research again. Ask questions from various user groups on the units you are interested in and look to find a reputable dealer. Some dealerships are only interested in selling you an RV and NO support after the sale!
Be careful folks and Hang onto your wallet!
Absolutely great advice Jeff, will it work? Probably not. Another thing you will not see at these shows is baby sharks, all the best of the best are on the floor,
Eager beaver in tank with shark do not survive date with shark. Did Confucius say that? lol.
I bought a new travel trailer. According to the info on the trailer , it was manufactured about 2 months before I bought it. Got it at a great price
I have CANOE 1 on my truck. I also have KAYAK 1 but don’t use it any more.
amateur radio plates on our daily drivers and a personalized plate on my 1946 Willys CJ2A.
Our car’s plate is HOWDY2U.
My truck has Firefighter plates, Motorhome has permanent handicap plates. Of course we’re retired now, and getting by from all those hazards of the job for 33 years!
Our vehicles (cars) have Amateur Radio plates. No duplication of letters and numbers in the entire 50 States.
PH AWRE as in Pulmonary Hypertension Awareness
Amateur radio call sign on one vehicle.
Back in the 90’S I drove a 68 Tbird and that is what the tag said. It was my favorite car of all time and I think I would still be driving it if it hadn’t caught fire. Beautiful teal with a white landau roof. Boy I really miss that car!
Lifetime mechanic, so the plate on my Harley says WRENCH
Wife has a Polaris Slingshot, it has 3 wheels, so her plate says 3FRFUN “3 for fun”
Our last name is Hutchins. Our Coach is our second “big” RV, after a tent trailer and a couple of Westfalia Vanagons. The Coach’s plate is HUTCHII. Our toad is a tiny Fiat 500, license plate SOFIA, and my 3rd BMW motorcycle, which rides on a Hydra Lift on the coach, is HELGA3.
I don’t, but the guy that used to park next to me at the RV lot has one that says ArrrghVee. I wish I’d thought of that.
Our tags are TREKIN & TREKIN2 meaning to travel with “the specific purpose of exploring and enjoying the scenery”. Usually on foot but it works for our RV Travel as well.
In Saskatchewan Dick Assman (yes that’s his real name), you might have seen him on the David Letterman show, wanted his personal plate to say ASSMAN. The government issuer said no as that was offensive. It’s the guy’s last name for crying out loud. Big Brother at work again.
Sorta right… according to Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dick_Assman
So, Dick Assman was on David Letterman, and Dave Assman tried to get the personalized license plate. Thanks, WEB. 😀 —Diane at RVtravel.com
If you see a Red HHR toad with NO PMTS (no payments) for a plate toot your horn, or drop in – the coffee pot, and spirited conversation is always at the ready.
The last year of production for the HHR was 2011. It should be paid off by now. A better plate would be “I’m still chugging”
Personalized license plate are sometimes referred to as a “vanity plate”. However, my particular special design was created in the wake of 9/11 and is dedicated to all heroes of that sorrowful day and all the heroes, before and since.
I don’t consider that “vanity”.
God bless all our heroes and their families (also heroes), always and forever.
Wife
s car is EDMAR2, truck is supposed to be EDMAR1 but hasent been paid for yet. Trailer is permanent plate and cant be personalized. On yeah. We are Ed and Mary.Daily tip is bizarre… put a stinky softener sheet in with clean laundry so it can be made stinky again — and also greasy and floral? No softener for me. Even less with a contaminated sheet! Why not wrap your sweaty socks in clean laundry directly?
The trivia is also misguided… weight is a measure of gravity due to mass. The number provided is what a twin mass of the earth would exert at sea level on another earth. Which isn’t possible app- you have to crush it into a black hole point-mass. So, a twin mass blackhole would weigh X at MSL… not as sexy sounding.
Yeah, what Wolfe said! Also, the earth weighs ‘nothing’ as there is no gravity in space. HA!
Stay cool
Don’t confuse gravity with weightlessness. People in orbit are just falling (due to gravity) around the earth. They keep missing the earth because of their forward motion. Gravity exists everywhere as it involves every bit of matter in the universe exerting a pull on every other bit of matter.
Don’t confuse weight with mass.
My RV has USAFA on it to honor the five (out of six) in my family who are presently active duty (I’m retired from the military) and are graduates of the United States Air Force Academy (youngest son plays football at USAFA)..
TV has my ham radio call sign on it.
My SUV has ASACUJ1. Refers to the Army unit I was assigned to during the Vietnam War.
Wanted plate for motor home to be same design as car, but my state would only issue that plate for motor home if paid for a personalized plate, so decided to personalize both.
My RV has ALLI CAT (for Allison Transmission and CAT Engine, and my toad, SONIC LT.
I do get questioned if I have a cat named ALLI, but no four legged ALLI on board.
re: tip of the day = fire extinguisher placement
I totally agree with the practice of having an extinguisher by the bed….I have a 20# there too. But I have to say do not hesitate to bail out of the widow, regardless – set you mind on this and do not resist. You might have an old mattress or something outside the exit and practice egress at home a few times……also having a blanket over the bottom of window helps. I have not been in a RV fire but I have been in an industrial fire and you will claw your way out in panic during a fire [I expended 3x 20# extinguishers to no avail and ended up smashing a window with the last one to climb/throw myself out. always plan for the worse, always.
The plate on our motorhome is TWOOFUS (there is only room for “two of us”)
License plate: Army vet plates.
1980 I finally got to get rid of a Travall {possibly the 1st of the SUV’s,} and van as our boys didn’t need us to haul Little league/scouts etc any more. We bought a Lincoln, a real car, for the 1st time in years..Licence plate JST4PAT. RV has a Snoopy dog dancing on it , not really a Vanity plate..it is a special interest plate.
OK. Who managed to get the Earth on a scale?😁 How can this be fact checked????? How would you even begin to compute this with all the variables?
Good question, betty. So I looked it up and added a little more info to the trivia tidbit that Emily had put into the newsletter, as follows: “The Earth weighs about 13,170,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 pounds. Since Earth is too big to be placed on a scale, scientists use mathematics and the laws of gravity to figure out Earth’s weight. —From Cool Cosmos, an IPAC website, and based on Government Sponsored Research. 😀 —Diane at RVtravel.com
My personalized plate says I’m a “Veteran” not sure that counts
That counts for a lot, Craig. Thank you for your service! 😀 —Diane at RVtravel.com
My MH has vanity plates that say MSPIGGY and my toad has plates that say KERMIT, for MS Piggy and Kermit the Frog…
Firefighter on the truck, normal serially issued plates on the 5er.
My plate has my amateur radio call sign
I had a personalized plate on whatever vehicle I had from the mid-1960’s ’til 2011 – “Muffin”. When we retired, we went to one vehicle and I didn’t think Muffin would look right on an F-350 long bed crew cab, so didn’t renew it.
My truck license plate is a veteran plate emblazoned with my Navy rank “EMCMSS”
Regarding the plastic collapsible microwave cover: so instead of taking time to wipe out the microwave, now I get to include the cover with dirty dishes to be scrubbed & dried? No thanks. We put a paper plate over the dish being heated, with another one underneath. Use both until soiled, and then discard. Too simple, too cheap, too sensible, I guess.
Our passenger car plate is ACOUPLE and the RV plate is A CUPLE.
Many times we have seen young couples taking a picture of themselves with our plate in the background. We do Relationship Seminars & Workshops for groups, (including RV Rallies) and one item on our standard introduction states “Our speakers are also licensed by the State of Washington as a couple”. We have been a married couple for 65 + years and dated for 4-1/2 years prior to that.
My ’97 T-bird’s plate is MTNMAMA, and my ’75 Suburban’s plate is MTNMOMA. The plate holders say, “I’d rather be in the mountains.” Good thing I own 18 gorgeous acres on a creek in the Cascades, an hour from my home. 😀 —Diane (aka Mountain Mama) at RVtravel.com