Monday, March 2, 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
“The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existence. One cannot help but be in awe when he contemplates the mysteries of eternity, of life, of the marvelous structure of reality. It is enough if one tries merely to comprehend a little of this mystery each day. ―
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Old Stuff Day!
Did you see the news? Click here to read the latest issue of the Sunday News for RVers.
Tip of the Day
Towing in the dirt – Be careful of your “fog”
By Greg Illes
In 2015, we were fortunate to be able to take off for several months to tour Alaska and Canada. While most of the main roadways were paved for the greatest part of our 14,000-mile journey, there were some stretches of gravel and dirt to contend with.
Our towing setup was pretty typical: a motorhome towing a smaller vehicle, in our case a ’96 Ranger 4×4 pickup. We felt that we’d had pretty extensive experience, having already put 40,000 miles or so on this configuration, with many miles of mountain and desert dirt roads among them. But, as with many other factors in an Alaska journey, there are big differences. Continue reading.
Do you have a tip? Submit it here.
RV Electricity – This week’s J.A.M. (Just Ask Mike) Session
Is there anybody out there? Part 3. Mike needs your help to receive sponsorship support and keep his invaluable articles coming. Please complete these two quick polls to help guide his future articles.
• 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.
Re-tire with a used tire?
RVers have lots of tires to maintain — for their safety and others on the road. When it comes time to replace a tire (or several), money talks. Is it safe to buy and run used tires? Consumer Reports recommends against it, but what if you decide you need to buy a used tire or two (or ten)? Here are some things to look for as you carefully examine a potential purchase. Read more.
Reader poll
Readers tell us
Do you or your partner use a CPAP machine for sleep apnea? Find out here, and learn why the cleaning device you use for it might not be effective.
This little tool does so much!
This multifunctional tool is seven in one! This heavy-duty pen tool features a handy tablet or smartphone stylus, a sturdy screwdriver, a bubble level, a universal inch/cm ruler and a handy Phillips screwdriver flathead bit, and it’s only the size of a pen! Perfect for any weekend project, and it even makes a great gift. Learn more or order.
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.
How a blown tire on an RV could catch it on fire
RV technician Chris Dougherty explains. You’ll travel safer with your RV if you watch this video.
Quick Tip
Handy bedside water glass holder
Space tight in the bedroom? No room for a water glass? Your local auto parts store has a great selection of folding cup holders that can screw onto a nearby wall or bulkhead.
Don’t blow out your plumbing!
Sooner or later, usually “sooner,” every RVer comes upon an RV park water hookup with pressure so high it could blow out the plumbing. None of us want that because it causes a lot of damage and is expensive to fix. The simple solution is to be sure when you hook up use a water pressure regulator, like this one that features a lead-free design to prevent lead contamination. Learn more or order.
Random RV Thought
Coordinate your wardrobe around one or two main colors. You can then mix and match them more easily so you don’t need as many clothes – nor as much closet space.
Website of the day
10 U.S. towns that are older than America
Do you enjoy learning about history? Do you want to feel young again? Well, there’s no guarantee of that, but these cities that are several hundred years old would be fascinating to explore and you would certainly feel young in comparison.
Popular articles you may have missed at RVtravel.com
• “Real ID” Act may soon complicate RVers’ lives. (Is your ID a “Real ID”? You need to know by October!)
• The badger who got a whole lot of sh*t!
• Hitch Pitch: Take the pain out of RV leveling.
#894-1
Guide to state firearm laws hot off the press for 2020
The 2020 updated edition of the Traveler’s Guide to the Firearm Laws of the Fifty States has recently been published. The annual guide contains information about the firearm laws of all 50 U.S. states, Canada, and Mexico, and how to prepare, carry and transport your weapons during local, intrastate and interstate travel. Learn more here.
Trivia
Olympic gold medals aren’t 100% gold. In fact, they stopped being 100% gold in 1912. The gold medals are plated in gold, but both the gold and silver medals are 92.5% silver.
Leave here with a laugh
I’m gonna work on being less condescending. (Condescending means to talk down to people.) (Oops.)
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.
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.
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This newsletter is copyright 2020 by RVtravel.com
Have not seen the reader poll in 2 weeks. Just does not show up on my smartphone.
Two years ago I started turning my propane off before gassing up. And have been thinking about turning it off when I travel. I always travel with plastic bottles filled with water and store them in the freezer. Sometimes I put a few in the fridge when the weather is hot or have to park with the fridge facing south. I rotate the bottles between the freezer and fridge. Maybe it’s time to travel with the propane off and put a few bottles in the fridge. Easy thing to do for added safety.
Yes & no and dogs destroying something…my 12.5 year old poodle never has but our 4.5 year old Labradoodle rescue ate two right Birkenstocks (my most expensive shoes) and a pillow in the first 2 weeks we had her…she was one. She is totally trust worthy now. I think the poodle calmed her but Poodle is now a hospice patient so a bit concern she may have some problems…
My wife and I renewed our ND drivers licenses last August. We were unable to get the new Real ID – because we did not have an original Social Security card! We had Medicare cards – doesn’t count! We had military ID cards – not acceptable for a SSN card. We have “Pass Cards” issued by the Dept. of State in lieu of a Passport – doesn’t count! Additionally, the license agent was a former comrade in arms with me – didn’t cut any ice! My retired military ID had SSN, grade etc, etc.. I retired with 42,07, and 28 days! Just a little irritating to say the least – to be put-off by a minor detail! We’ve also lived at the same address for 51 years! Didn’t count! Neither of us have an criminal records either – just no original SSN cards!
We did manage to get our licenses – albeit not “RealID” !
Two years ago I had to renew my AZ driver’s license and I asked for it to be Real ID compliant. Holy cow, I had to produce a plethora of documents. Most of them were no problem except for my Social Security. Even though I had the original Social Security card that I received in 1963, it wasn’t good enough. I finally found the annual SS benefit statement buried in my files that they would accept. I finally got the gold star on my license but it took some work to get it.
I feel you pain. I am in PA and just tried to get my real ID. My issue was my birth certificate. I had one from the state and one from the hospital which is also in PA. I am born and raised in PA and lived here all my life. Well the state issued one was to old and I needed the newer version. The lady at the DMV gave me an application to send in for a new birth certificate. The only requirement to get a new birth certificate is a legible photocopy of my current non real ID drivers license. LOL You can not make this stuff up.
So outrageous! I didn’t have an original SSA card either. I brought my passport, a Social Security benefits statement and a utility bill. This is in Maryland. I was in and out in 20 minutes.
Nice video on why to travel with your propane tanks shut off. I once had a rear tire blow on my F250 at 75 mph and it destroyed the whole side of the pickup bed, and that is steel ! Unbelievable how much damage a tire coming apart can do. Your rig will only burn down once. I’ll keep my propane off, thank you.
The stylus you hilited is a great tool. I’ve used one (and I am currently using one) since 2016. The only s&b store that carries them is the Menards chain of home improvement stores. Amazon has the replacement tips. For folks of a certain age they are a must.
Bedside water glass holder. I hate screwing anything into my motorhome’s wall. How about magnetic shelves you can buy at the Container Store? One part is a small painted metal panel that sticks to the wall with two sided tape. The other part is a small magnetic shelf that “sticks” to the metal panel. Works great! It also serves as my cell phone charging shelf overnight, then becomes my mini coffee table in the morning.
I agree the Poppin products are great! I wish they would come out with a shelf that was just a tad wider to add to the collection. I have used ours for all kinds of things from the kitchen area to living room. One of the few things that actually stay on the wall after a long time and through all the horrible road conditions.
Ah the propane debate. I for one have traveled many miles with my propane on. Never have had an issue. I can tell you though my propane lines under my trailer are metal and not rubber hose. They are only rubber hose at the tanks and coverts to metal. But if I had rubber lines that close to my wheel as in the video I might think twice about it.
Yes. thank you for the lesson on why to not have the propane on when driving, Another problem is the wheel wells are often flimsy wood or beer can thickness metal. Shredded tires steel belts take out the electrical, gas and brake lines.