Wednesday, March 4, 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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Page Contents
Today’s thought
“There is no friend as loyal as a book.” ―
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Pound Cake Day!
Tip of the Day
Buying a new RV? The lowest price isn’t always the best buy
By Steve Savage
We recently installed a second air conditioner on a new fifth wheel. During our conversation, the owner advised us he had paid nearly $8,000 less than the best price he could get at a local dealership by buying instead from one 300 miles away. He went on to say the local dealership told him if he bought the same model they carried from someone else, it most likely would take them three to six months to take care of any warranty service he might require.
Did he save money? Obviously he saved on the purchase price. But what about warranty coverage? Continue reading.
Do you have a tip? Submit it here.
Sticky black water valve perplexes
Chris Dougherty, certified RV technician, received this letter from a reader while he was serving as RVtravel.com’s technical editor regarding the black water handle sticking.
Dear Chris,
Pulling the black water handle on my 2012 Entegra is getting more difficult compared to the gray water side. Is there any way to ease this or prevent it from getting even more difficult? —Ed
Read Chris’ response.
Yesterday’s featured article: A reason to boondock: The value of personal space
Reader poll
Readers tell us
Did you buy your current RV from Camping World? Find out here, and see if those who did are satisfied with their purchase.
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.
Maintain those slide seals!
If you’ve heard a cracking or popping sound when extending your slides, it means its seals are sticking and/or drying out. Applying a seal conditioner about every 8-12 weeks can extend a seal’s life. We recommend using Thetford Premium RV Slide Out Rubber Seal Conditioner.
Quick Tip
Use big enough leveling blocks
Got leveling blocks for under the tires? Make sure the blocks are big enough that the tire sits completely on the block – not overhanging it. Dually rig owners, BOTH the tires must be supported, not just one or the other.
Random RV Thought
Owning an RV is worth it for the sheer fact that you can travel around the country without having to wait in airport security lines.
The easiest RV security system
This 2-pack window and door security alarm provides a simple, cost-effective security solution to protect you against invasions thanks to the 120-decibel alarms, loud enough to make an intruder think twice. The alarm is easy to use, no matter what your technological skills may be. Attach the alarms with double-sided tape, no wires required! Perfect for the RV! Learn more or order.
Website of the day
Vital Vegas
All the insider news, information and tips you should know about Las Vegas. It’s the stuff the media doesn’t cover, and the stuff that business owners don’t want you to find out.
Popular articles you may have missed at RVtravel.com
• RVer Safety: Nothing but the truth…
• How RV manufacturers hide shortcuts from you.
• Why one couple quit full-time RVing.
#895-1
- Camco Water Bandit connects standard water hose to various water sources. Click.
- Camco 90-Degree Hose Elbow eliminates stress/strain on RV water intake hose fittings. Click.
- Camco Plastic Water Pressure Regulator prevents damage to RV water hoses and pumps. Click.
Trivia
Your dog is as smart as your toddler! According to the Animal Psychological Association, dogs are as smart as a two-year-old child, and can understand up to 150 words.
What is the only mammal that can fly? We told you yesterday.
Leave here with a laugh
To the guy who stole my antidepressants … I hope you’re happy.
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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I waited to post about feeling uncomfortable. We were in a park in At Catherine, Ontario where the people behind us were loud, drunk, and had a bonfire instead of a campfire with flames shooting 20-30 ft. in the air at 2 am. They finally went to bed around 3 am but left the fire burning. When I complained to the park management they said there was nothing they could do. I left and posted it on social media and was told by another person that I wasn’t the only one and the park ended up going out of business.
Safety concerns only once in 50+ years.That was in New Orleans after hurricane Katrina..We had gone to Bourbon St for dinner and to wander about. got back to our site, there were 2 men standing in front of our rig.. they saw our California plates and came to tell us they were out of state firemen, come to help the city..We were warned not to open our doors after dark, to yell loud if trouble and they would come running..there were drug dealers living in Fema trailers and they wanted to make sure we stayed safe. We thanked them, locked our doors and left in the AM.
No, I knew better than to buy from CW. I have a ? to full-timers, do you put a block pads under your jacks when staying at a park on your class a motor home? Thanks for any feedback.
Yes — the big flat kind, then the small stackable ones to limit how far the jacks have to extend.
Yep, stayed at a park in Oklahoma, people were obviously doing drugs and actually saw one “exchange”.These people were looking at me with the stink eye like …mind your own business! Well I did.., got in the camper and didn’t come out til morning. Lot of cars coming and going thru the night. I didn’t even take time to make coffee, just packed up and bugged out!
I would have left that night not waiting until morning!
It was the 4th of July weekend and the campground owner was holding a festival with a rock band entertaining the public in the grove right next to the campground. Some very drunk people were walking around late into the night. This worried me because they were not campers. People from outside the campground were there until all hours of the night. I stayed at my site even though campers were invited to partake in free food and drink.
I don’t ever feel uncomfortable in an RV park because I never stay in one. I feel safer being out and boondocking….
What about the times you are getting there or leaving to go somewhere else? You must not live far from boondocking! Those of us who travel afar…are under different circumstances!
I answered “yes” to the poll, but wifey reminds me that the place in question was not really an RV park. It was a mini-mart right next to the freeway with eight hookups ‘out back’. It was getting late, we were desperate, and saw the sign for RV Park. What a joke. Six permanent residents, and the employee’s car blocking the site we could get into. He moved, we moved in. All night long there was commotion in the lot, and questionable folks frequenting the place. Looking back, we just should have stopped earlier where we felt more comfortable.
I regards the survey, never felt uncomfortable but a few places did not leave any of my gear outside.
I have only had my reservations canceled twice. Once in West Memphis, as the Mississippi was rising to flood level and everyone was leaving. The other is in Wyoming who said they made a mistake in reservations. However, they still invited me to drop by for lunch.