Tuesday, April 7, 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
“Do what you feel in your heart to be right – for you’ll be criticized anyway.” ―
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National No Housework Day!
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: “People I admire during this time”
We have asked RVtravel.com readers to tell us how they are adapting to life these days.
“My wife and I are retired, live in Southwest Washington, and are staying at home — now through May 4th. Our grandchildren and family live in suburban Chicago. Our three grandchildren are 2, 2, and 1 year old, and we try to fly to see them 3-4 times per year. That is no longer happening, which is a huge disappointment. At least we get to FaceTime with them almost every day…” Continue reading Roy’s story.
Tip of the Day
Think rubber tires will protect your RV from lightning? Think again!
By Mike Sokol
When lightning is striking all around, do you think your RV, riding atop rubber tires, will protect you from being struck? Well, hate to spoil your confidence, but they won’t. The fact is, in some RVs you will be heavily protected, but in others you might as well just stand outside. Learn more from RV electricity expert Mike Sokol in this two-minute segment of Ask the RV Expert.
And watch Mike’s recent RVelectricity webcast: Jump Start – Dog-Bone Adapters.
Do you have a tip? Submit it here.
How to help avoid roof water damage
It’s important to seal any potential entry points on your RV’s roof where water might seep in. If it does, you could be in for a lot of damage. And if the water never quite makes it into your living space but just lurks beneath the roof’s surface, the damage could be extensive and very costly to repair. Here’s some advice. Watch the video.
Yesterday’s featured article: RV fluorescent lights gone dim – what gives?
Reader poll
Quick Tip
Leave those doors unlocked…
When towing our vehicle I ALWAYS leave the front doors unlocked. If I need to jump in quick, I can get to the controls QUICKLY! — Thanks for the tip, Bill Dempsey!
George Foreman Grill is perfect for RVs
Create nutritious meals in minutes with this George Foreman 2-serving, Classic-Plate Grill, with a patented slope to help knock out the fat as you cook (critical if you’re watching your cholesterol). The nonstick coating lets you cook oil-free. A dishwasher-safe grease tray helps make cleanup a snap. Great for grilled cheese sandwiches and paninis, too. Learn more or order.
Random RV Thought
If you’re feeling cooped up, go outside (if you can) and make a campfire. Cook dinner over it if able. Even if you just sit around it, you’ll feel satisfied as you watch the flames.
Website of the day
Life hacks you’ll wish you’d known sooner
The title is true…we wish we’d known many of these hacks sooner! Scroll through this list of 49 life hacks and prepare to be impressed!
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:
• 15 percent have a serious collection of something
• 29 percent always use their RV’s bathroom at a rest area, not the public one
• 24 percent buy their groceries at Walmart
Recent poll: How comfortable are you in the place you are self-quarantining?
Microwave plate cover contains splatters, stows flat
How many times have you exploded something in the microwave only to have your significant other complain about your messy habits? Figured it is time for you to get yourself a collapsible microwave cover? This microwave-safe cover collapses for easy storage and takes only a slight press of the hand to lie flat. Multiple lid perforations allow steam to escape while keeping food moist. Learn more here.
Trivia
The Haskell Free Library and Opera House was deliberately built on the U.S.–Canada border. The opera stage resides in Canada, but most of the opera seats are in the U.S., and the library books are on the Canadian side. Because of this, the Haskell is sometimes called “the only library in the USA with no books” and “the only opera house in the USA with no stage.” The library has two different entrances (one from each country) and, hence, two different addresses. Exiting the library through the opposite entrance requires one to report to the country’s customs.
Santa Claus has an official type of what license? We told you yesterday.
Leave here with a laugh
Twenty years ago we had Johnny Cash, Bob Hope and Steve Jobs. Now we have no Cash, no Hope and no Jobs. PLEASE do not let Kevin Bacon die!
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
Reader Poll – time on the computer: I spend the same amount of time on the computer now than in the last month. I will spend the same amount on the computer every month as long as RVTravel is still being published.
Right on, KellyR! Thanks! 😀 —Diane at RVtravel.com
The joke of the day, is no joke. But it does apply to people that did not plan ahead for their future.
What happens if Betty White dies? 😀
The poll is convoluted… I used to work on several computers but not “online” per se most of the workday, and then I’d play online for a bit once home.
Now, as an “essential” C19 employee conscripted into continuing to work at home more than ever, I’m on the internet continuously for 9 hours or so with meetings and offsite uploads… but once I walk upstairs, I am seldom on the internet AT ALL anymore for personal usage.
Loved the joke of the day!!
Enjoyed the hacks! Interesting! People we admire in this crisis! Our granddaughter is working at a hospital in Nashville and puts her life on the line each and everyday with all the bugs, virus’s and what ever else is out there, a huge shout out to the men and women in law enforcement who don’t have a choice in getting out in the public doing their jobs, the men and women firefighters, all the many who stock our shelves in the stores to keep the country going and people fed and let’s not forget the truck drivers who supply our needs across the great American plains! A huge shout out of Thank You to you all who have stepped up and made a difference in this time of need.
Yes, thanks
I feel Bill Dempsey’s tip about unlocked dinghy doors could lead to more problems. At a minimum, someone stowaway in it. The worst case could be that someone would steal it. I always lock it up.
Always lock my towed when traveling. I’m not concerned when it’s following close behind at 62 mph, but when we stop for a break I may forget to lock it and with the key in the ignition it might be a temptation for someone to unhook it and take it for a one way ride.
With the key in the ignition and turned to the “first click”, my doors will not lock.
The tip on leaving the doors on the TOAD unlocked so one can access “the controls” easily if need be, is great news for thieves.
The doors on my toad will never remain unlocked. To access the “controls” or even sit in the seat I have to kick the brake controller out of the well, adjust the seat, and more. There’s lots of great tips in this column but this one is definitely one of the dumbest and arguably most dangerous ones yet.
If I did need to access the vehicle quickly, a quick press on the unlock feature on the fob I carry with me opens the door – how hard is that?
We once forgot to release the emergency brake on our toad….Sure glad the doors on the toad weren’t locked, we were able to put out a brake fire…get disconnected etc. When we park, of course we lock the doors, just common sense.
true if you don’t have the battery cut off as I have to do.
Great dogbone discussion by Mike. I carry combinations for all possible cases. Also, should carry an RV rated extension cord. Some State parks, the power pole may be a “shared center pole.
Thanks. I think most everyone likes the live video format, so I’ll keep doing those as well as written articles.
Life hacks…wow!