Thursday, April 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.
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). Thank you!
[activecampaign form=34]
Today’s thought
“There’s nothing like deep breaths after laughing that hard. Nothing in the world like a sore stomach for the right reasons.” ―
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Burrito Day!
Coronavirus Updates for RVers
Coronavirus Updates for RVers
Because so much is happening, and so fast, we are separating our daily coronavirus news updates into its own file.
There is so much interest now on how the virus is impacting our lives as RVers, our staff is devoting more time to keeping you informed of critical matters that affect how you use and travel with your RV.
Read today’s coronavirus news updates for RVers.
New Facebook Group: How the coronavirus is impacting RVers. Learn about park closings, cancelled rallies and RV shows — and more. Your input requested.
If you are a member of an RV club or are affiliated with an RV-related event would you please let us know if its gatherings, meetings, etc., are cancelled or postponed because of the coronavirus? We’ll pass along the info to our readers. We appreciate any news related to RVing that’s being affected by the virus. Please submit it here. Thank you!
RV Life in a Coronavirus World: “Finding ways to give back”
We have asked RVtravel.com readers to tell us how they are adapting to life these days. Here is Chris’ story.
Tip of the Day
Is a warm electrical outlet cause for concern?
Dear Mike (Sokol),
I have a GFI (Ground Fault Interrupter) question about our RV. I have noticed that the GFI outlet in the bathroom was warm when we had an electric heater plugged in to another outlet. The second outlet had a GFI sticker attached to it but was not a GFI outlet. When I tripped the GFI test button on the first outlet the heater also shut off. So obviously this one GFI is protecting more than one outlet, but should it get warm? Thanks. —Tom Toomey
NOTE: Mike Sokol is live streaming his full Basic RVelectricity seminar on Thursday, April 2, at 1 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. Eastern time. See below for details.
To subscribe to Mike Sokol’s RVelectricity YouTube channel click here.
RVelectricity for FMCA Rally – Basics Part 1, beginning at 1 p.m. Eastern time on April 2, 2020.
Mike Sokol covers the basics of electricity for RV owners.
Part 1 includes volts, amps, watts, and how to use a digital meter to measure them for your RV.
RVelectricity for FMCA Rally – Basics Part 2, beginning at 2 p.m Eastern time on April 2, 2020.
In Part 2, Mike Sokol covers the basics of campground pedestals including the use of EMS/Total Protection surge protectors. He also covers potential sources of electrical fires in an RV with ways to prevent them.
RVelectricity for FMCA Rally – Basics Part 3, beginning at 3 p.m. Eastern time on April 2, 2020.
In Part 3, Mike Sokol discusses portable generators, inverters, DC-DC charging, and lightning protection in a campground during a thunderstorm.
Do you have a tip? Submit it here.
RV Mods: Power visors – inside shade easily at hand
Have you ever thought how handy it would be to have motorized visors/shades in your RV? Read this article by former long-time RVer and all-around DIYer Jim Twamley on what he purchased and how he installed his motorized visors. Learn more.
Yesterday’s featured article: Stupid RVer trick? Or is this just sad?
Reader poll
Quick Tip
Important to know when buying new tires
Need new tires for the rig? It may be best to stick with the same tire specification as the original equipment. If you do decide to change specs, make sure you always match up your tire and wheel capacity. For example, NEVER mount a 3,000-pound capacity tire on a 2,000-pound capacity wheel.
Random RV Thought
Never tie up traffic because your RV doesn’t go fast enough. Pull over and let traffic pass. But try to wait until the road is either level or sloped downhill: Gravity will help you get up to speed again and save you fuel.
Website of the day
How to organize your fridge to keep food fresher, longer (and cut your energy usage)
Here are great tips on how to store food in your refrigerator and freezer to use the appliances to their most efficient potential while helping your food last longer. We’ll bet you didn’t know a lot of these “chilling” facts!
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:
• 52 percent take a shower or a bath every day
• 11 percent sleep more than nine hours a day (including naps)
• 75 percent of our readers’ parents have passed away
Recent poll: On a daily basis, how many people do you live with in “self-isolation”? Please tell us here.
ADVERTISEMENT
Be like Mike Sokol, use silicone!
Mike says: Never use any kind of petroleum-based products on rubber or plastic components in your RV, such as your trailer connector. That includes products such as Vaseline, WD40 or any other type of spray lubricating oil. Doing so will eventually break down the plastic and/or rubber components causing them to swell up and eventually disintegrate. The proper treatment is anything silicone-based. We use a lot of Heavy Duty Silicone in our shop for general connector cleaning and lubrication. It’s also useful on rubberized door sweeps and such. You can get some of your own here.
Trivia
Lobsters have clear blood but it turns blue when exposed to oxygen.
Yesterday we told you about a hilarious prank the BBC pulled off, convincing the world that ______ grew on trees. Make sure you read yesterday’s issue and watch the hilarious video to find out what it was.
Leave here with a laugh
Day 4 of social distancing. Struck up a conversation with a spider today. Seems nice. He’s a web designer.
Today’s Daily Deals at Amazon.com
Best-selling RV products and Accessories at Amazon.com. UPDATED HOURLY!
Join us: Facebook • Twitter • YouTube • RVillage
Our Facebook and RVillage Groups: RV Horror Stories • RV Advice • RV Electricity • RV Parks with Storm Shelters • RV Buying Advice • Northwest RV Camping • Southwest RV Camping • Free Campgrounds • NEW Budget RV Travel • NEWER RV Videos • NEWEST RV Coronavirus News • plus Texas RV Camping and Florida RV camping. And please join our group on RVillage (like Facebook except just for RVers).
Did you miss the latest RV Travel Newsletter? If so, read it here.
Oh, and if you missed the latest Sunday News for RVers, make sure to catch up 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
Tomorrow is April 3rd today is 2nd. Which day is the seminar?
Oops! Sorry, Tom. We were writing it the day before, so “tomorrow” sounded just fine. 😯 They were today, but you can view the videos anytime on Mike’s RVelectricity YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVcjUsmn1d1g4uwWeaqdHNg And he’s planning on doing more each week. Thanks for catching that! Too much going on. Stay healthy! 😀 —Diane at RVtravel.com
Does widowed or divorced fall into single or other? With 86% married, I guess the small minority does matter?
We made it 65 years of Marriage last last June and that was after 4-1/2 years of dating. For the last 46 years we have kept our love alive by writing a Love Letter every single day and it is working. Daily communication pays off!! Our Evergreen Winnies RV group has an outing every month, until the Corona virus hit, and we get to most of them. Been RVing since 1978 and plan to keep it up until the Lord calls us home.
Congratulations!
Thanks Merrily!!
15 years living in sin plus 40 years recognized by the state. We are blessed to have found each other. The only thing I would change: should have started “training him” sooner.
In two days will be 56 years!
42 years in August!
54 years in August 2020! It couldn’t get any better!
62 years last January. Would do it again in a heartbeat.
53 years married as of yesterday. The days have flown by!
Pulling over to allow traffic behind to pass is a good thing. Unfortunately this situation usually only occurs when you’re going up hill…not down. By the time you get back up to your original speed, you have a bunch more cars behind you. In addition, most pullouts not only have a inch or two drop off from the pavement and you have to slow to almost a crawl to move over but also the pull outs are usually not maintained and are full of ruts and pot holes or are not long enough for a large motorhome and toad.
Hey Ron. maybe once we get rolling again “social distancing” will have taken hold in the population and those folks trying to crowd us to do like they do- “10 over the limit” will BACK OFF and make the highways safer for everyone.
What’s that you say only in my dreams?????
SIgns say “Slower Traffic Pull Over” when you approach a turnout. But, if you’re doing the speed limit and traffic is piling up behind you, does that constitute “Slower Traffic”? Not in MY book. Luckily I don’t run into too much of this in NV.
Married, yes, 61+ years, but hardly seems so now with her (us) dealing with severe dementia for the past 5. I’m still caring for her at home, the RV sits unused in the driveway. Love never gives up but it’s a long good-bye.
Bless you Gary. Make sure you also take care of yourself. She will not make a turn around but you will continue to live. She may get to a point where a special facility is needed. My beautiful mother went down with true diagnosed Alzheimers. A facility was a must for her safety and mine.
God Bless you both!
50 years in September. I can’t believe she has put up with me this long!
We are spending our time with a rescue dog we just adopted while staying home. He was really abused and doesn’t trust anybody but he is getting better.
I really look forward to Rvtravel every morning while drinking my coffee.
82 last March, wife will be 82 on April 17, Married 61 years last August, still camphosting and love it.
Married 52 years, 2 months, and 20 days until my wife died November 29th, 2019. Now hanging in there. Starting to get a little better. Feel very lucky that we were able to stay in and seeing something in all 49 states on the continent plus a bunch of Canadian Provinces. Spent 18 days in 2017 [50th anniversary] visiting Oahu, Maui, and the big island [Hawai’i]. Hawaiian Airlines was fantastic and took excellent care of us. [She was an above-knee left leg amputee for 14+ years and had difficulty walking due to a bad right knee.] She made me promise that I would continue to travel to places we haven’t been able to visit so she could see them through my eyes while she’s in heaven. She’s now literally my angel.
53 years in January! My, how the time has flown! What we use to call old, is now the norm. Life long partners are a wonderful find for sure!
60 and I’d do it again, wonderful life!!
59 years, TODAY!
Happy Birthday David. Stay safe, enjoy your day.
My wonderful parents, old campers, Dad an outdoorsman extraordinaire, Mom the original camp chef, yumo, going on 73 years, June 14th, yippee!!!!
Congratulations to all of you posting 50+ years marriage. That is an admirable accomplishment. In the spirit of that, I’ll leave you with Ruth Graham’s (Billy’s wife) comment on marriage-“I never considered divorce in all our years…murder possibly, but not divorce.”
😆 Thanks, Gary! I’m sure many people can relate to that. —Diane at RVtravel.com
Married 54 years last August, heading for 55!