Tuesday, March 3, 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 fact that we live at the bottom of a deep gravity well, on the surface of a gas covered planet going around a nuclear fireball 90 million miles away and think this to be normal is obviously some indication of how skewed our perspective tends to be.”―
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Cold Cuts Day!
Tip of the Day
Tidbit Tuesday, with RV Lemon Law Lawyer, Ron Burdge
Do not buy any RV without a thorough inspection
‘”If you are considering the purchase of a prior year model RV that has a ‘too good to be true’ sales price, do a thorough inspection before you agree to purchase the RV. Ask to hook up the unit to water and electric on the dealer’s lot, open and close slideouts and retractable steps, flush toilets, run showers, open and close cabinet doors, etc., to fully test it out. And be sure to ask for dealer records that show it was properly winterized. Do NOT trust the picture you see online and do NOT trust the salesperson’s assurance that it has been well cared for. If the dealer refuses to allow a thorough inspection, DON’T BUY IT.”
Term of the day: Lot Rot: A term used by dealers and manufacturers to describe a new or prior year model RV that has sat on a dealer’s lot for an extended period of time, and which the dealer often “cannibalizes” for parts to repair other RVs.
Do you have a tip? Submit it here.
RV Electricity – This week’s J.A.M. (Just Ask Mike) Session
Since there was a technical issue with the link to Mike’s JAM Session article (and poll) yesterday, we’re running it again today. If you were unable to vote yesterday, would you please do so today so we can get a more accurate picture of what our (and Mike’s) readers want. This was Part 3 of his polls, so even if you voted in Parts 1 and/or 2, please vote in Part 3 if you haven’t already. Thank you very much!
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.
A reason to boondock: The value of personal space
There are at least two primary motivations why RVers boondock: financial and the desire for personal space. While some RVers prefer the campground with lots of neighbors, there are others who prefer a more natural setting, away from the hubbub of campground activity. If you haven’t tried boondocking yet, this article from BoondockBob just might convince you to give it a shot. Read more.
Yesterday’s featured article: Re-tire with a used tire?
Reader poll
Quick Tip
Easy way to clean your showerhead
Can’t get your RV showerhead off to clean it? Fill up a plastic storage bag with white vinegar, “bag” the shower head, and hold it in place with a rubber band or other tie. Leave it hanging overnight to dissolve mineral deposits.
Don’t scream, just fix the screen!
This roll of screen repair tape is just what you need to fix those torn or ripped screens in your home or RV. Don’t waste money on a new screen! Cut as much tape as you need, stick it over the torn patch and you’re good to go. Learn more or order here.
Random RV Thought
It’s annoying when the campground or RV park seems empty, or has lots of empty spaces, but the campground host/manager assigns you a spot right next to another camper.
Sewer rats in holding tanks? It happens
Editor Chuck Woodbury introduces Doug Swarts of Drainmaster.com, who tells a story about an RVer who found a rat in one of her holding tanks. How did it happen? Doug explains. Plus, sewer flies in RV holding tanks? Absolutely. How to avoid them (and the rats) getting into yours. Watch the video.
Website of the day
Histography
This website is so neat! It combines sounds, animations and visuals so you can “relive” history through an interactive timeline. There are 14 billion years of history here. The information comes from Wikipedia and new events are added every day.
2020 Casino Guide includes RVer info and coupons!
The 2020 American Casino Guide provides detailed information on more than 750 casino/resorts, riverboats and Indian casinos in 41 states including which have RV parks and/or allow RV overnighting for free. Includes maps and more than $1,000 in coupons. Discloses the actual slot machine payback percentages for every state’s casinos. Learn more or order.
And the Survey Says…
We’ve polled RVtravel.com readers more than 1,500 times in recent years. Here are a few things we’ve learned about them:
• 19 percent have had to take refuge in a storm shelter during a storm
• 47 percent most often pay with a credit card for routine store purchases
• 11 percent have had something stolen from their campsite
Recent poll: If stocks continue to plummet, are you worried about paying your bills?
Trivia
Bats are the only mammals that can fly. Similar mammals, such as flying squirrels, don’t actually fly (it’s more of a glide).
Which Olympic medal isn’t made primarily of the material in its name?
A.) Gold
B.) Silver
C.) Bronze
We told you yesterday.
Leave here with a laugh
We don’t know if this is true, but here’s the claim: “My brother, tired of being a taxidermist after 15 years, went to veterinarian school. His new business never got off the ground so he decided to operate both his taxidermy and vet business together to save money. His new slogan was ‘No Matter What Happens – You Get Your Cat Back!’”
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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Walmart. Once in my suburban when I left MT late one evening drove to Sheridan WY and parked in their RV and Semi parking space. Went inside to brush teeth and use restroom, slept in my back seat, got up around 6am back inside this time buying breakfast and lunch and left. A wonderful night.
Walmart parking? Only when crossing the country and weather becomes so bad it is unsafe to continue.
We basically just overnight park at Walmart when there is no other choice, which means occasionally. I chose once a month as that seemed the closest.
Thought for a day. Humans have always thought it normal. Only after Galileo did we begin to understand how insignificant we really are. Seabed cores go down to no life on earth. For 1.5 BILLION years only one cell life. We’ve been around for about 150,000 yrs. Virtually all the night sky light is millions and billions of years old. And light travels at 186,000 miles per second. A light year is 10 to the 27th power miles. So no we haven’t been visited by aliens.
The website of the day today is amazing.. made my day, thank you!
In Colorado per Wal Mart and the police you will be asked to leave if you do even if you ask permission. It is illegal to park there due to homeless population overrun. We ended up asking the police if we could stay on their property over nite. Believe it not they said yes.
Proof those who protect and enforce can be your best friend. I’m going to try that next time we’re in a parking for the night bind Jillie. thanks for the tip.
Hmmmm, “Leave here with a laugh” At least when you get your cat back you don’t have to clean the litter box.
We’ve only stayed in a Walmart parking lot once, and that was because we were having work done on our truck at a close-by Les Schwab the next day. Schwab said it would be fine to stay in THEIR lot but somehow forgot that THEIR lot was being repaved that night (as we showed up). So, down the street to Wally World we went.
Chuck Everyone talks about what you should do or not do but until they are actually faced with the situation no one knows what they will do. You need to asses the problem from your stand point and do what you feel best with. Good luck in what ever you decide to do about your roof and water leak.
We pulled in to a campground at Lyons Ferry Wa a few years ago. It was mid week and there were no other campers in the park. We had a beautiful view down across the grounds of the marina and Snake River. Just as I got the chairs out and the grill set up, the campground manager scooted up in a golf cart and announced “you’ve got neighbors”. He then parked a behemoth, ugly black class A right between us and our view if the river.
I packed everything up and we had sandwiches for dinner. I will never, ever return and continue to bad mouth the place at every opportunity.
As a side note, I did email the office voicing my discontent but never received the courtesy of a reply.
Gary Smith. I think a lot of RV’er share your pain. How dam rude. We’ve had it happen many times over a very long time. A maddeningly close second for us is to get stuck between or next to someone camping with COLEMAN. Man do I hate those lanterns. Next to the most obnoxious drunk(s) there’s nothing that will screw up a pleasant stay than a COLEMAN lantern in the middle of a picnic table completely ruining a beautiful star lit night.
Thanks for the heads up on Lyons Ferry. There’re off our list too.
So you are bad mouthing a campground because they didn’t run it the way you want? You can always buy your own campground and run it with your own rules.
That’s pretty harsh, Cheryl. How would you like it if you had a beautiful view in an empty campground and a big RV parked in such a way that it blocked your view? I think you probably wouldn’t have been too happy about that either. If the campground were full and that was the only spot left, it would be more understandable. But I have to agree with Gary on this one. Just sayin’. 😀 —Diane at RVtravel.com
AMEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!1.
Regarding the American Casino Guide we were so disappointed this year. We spend our winters in Laughlin Nevada and previous years there were many coupons for the casinos here. This year only 3. The majority, as always, are in Las Vegas. That’s fine for the people who are up there but it is a 100mile trek for us. 😥
the wording of today’s poll is a bit ambiguous requiring an explanation of our answer which was “Never…”.
we’ve been RVing since 1986 and in those early days we often stayed in WalMart lots (and Flying J lots, church parking lots, etc.) as we had to maximize our travel days. not so anymore. we haven’t done a parking lot overnight in at least 15-years which is how long we’ve been retired.
Why is “parking at a Walmart” an issue when today’s poll has 88% of respondents say rarely (31%) or have never stayed(57%) in a Walmart parking lot? I’ve read most of the comments and yes, others actions will have repercussions on negative behavior. There are thousands of Wally’s in North America, if you ask and are turned down, move on or don’t ask. If it’s the latter, stay only night and pick up after yourself, 12% are counting on you, lol. FOMO’s will thank you!
I don’t know if this is the correct forum for this question! I’m very new at any camping or RVing. Is there any campgrounds that just simply rent out their RV. I would love to be a part of this community and bring my dogs & grandchildren out for a great summer adventure.
Many RV parks rent out “park models”.
Yes there is a company setting up resorts across the country with custom built Airstreams. Just Google AutoCamp.
Sewer rats ? Sewer Flies ? Oh yuck.
RE: RV random thought. Some years ago we stopped at a fair ground campground in Rock Springs, WY where there are 600 RV spots and you could choose from any of them. We set up on an empty row and went to tour the area and lo and behold when we returned we had 5 neighbors! 600 empty spots and these folks just had to be near others……..go figure!
Some folks just believe that there is safety in numbers and don’t want to be out in the west 40 all by themselves.
Years ago when the kids were small and we pulled a small TT with a Chevy Suburban, we camped most weekends at Bow River Camp ground on the Bow just a stones throw east of Canmore Alberta. That beautiful site was then a random camping setup, where people simply parked wherever with most folks respecting each others space. We had a small boat and decided to skip across the valley to boat and fish in Gap Lake. When we returned a jerk had backed his trailer into the bush and small trees almost right on top of our fire pit. His lack of consideration for our presence was totally obvious, and made for one very ugly scene. I asked him, among other things (not suitable to print here), if he’d entered our trailer, took the chicken out and had it cooking.
A short time later that formerly lovely spot (which is still there- (goggle Bow River campground Canmore Alberta) had to be shut down to preserve what was left of the natural environment, allowing it to regenerate.
When it reopened the numbered posts were in the ground and the main route through was paved – spelling the end of random camping at that spot, and most others in the area to follow.
Today there is to the best of my knowledge not a single place left in the Bow Valley that allows random camping. I’m very happy I and my family experienced it when we did. Some of the most spectacular star filled sky’s were observed in this formerly special place at that time.
Not anymore, today you might as well be parked in a shopping centre parking lot in Calgary, with all the lights, the racket, yappy dogs, kids running amok, mountains of plastic toys, diesel fumes…………… – todays version of getting away “from it all”
Our rv gets blowen into the next lane when semis pass us. Besides slowing down when equipment can be installed to minimize this.
Need more details on your equipment. Class A,B,C or trailer and size? If trailer:
How long, and how much do the tow vehicle and trailer each weigh? Do you have a weight distributing hitch that’s correctly setup? In addition, is your trailer and tow vehicle loaded correctly? Does your weight distributing hitch have sway control?
Don’t slow down, giving it some gas seems to help for me.
You didn’t say which kind of RV you own. If it is a drivable RV, there are several options for steering. One is called Safe-T-Plus which we had installed on our Class A. It really helped.
We added Roadmaster anti sway bar to rear of our Class A. In addition to that, safe T plus steering stabilizer and Koni shocks. No more issues!
We slow down and let everyone pass us. Best though is we travel when we can roads less travelled, rarely do we have a problem as described.
I’ve found generally RV folks whether pulling a TT, a tent rig, a B,C, or behemoth with a 30 foot boat on behind drive Wayyyyyyy to fast for, their skill set, the conditions, and what they’re piloting with no training whatsoever.
Lower a rear window on your tow vehicle. This sometimes interrupts the air stream enough to stop the effect of big trucks.