Monday, April 13, 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
“Whatever you are, be a good one.” ―
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Scrabble Day!
Did you see the news? Click here to read the latest issue of the Sunday News for RVers.
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: “The goal is to survive”
We have asked RVtravel.com readers to tell us how they are adapting to life these days.
“In some ways, being retired and having no children is a lot like sheltering in place. The difference between before COVID-19 and now is that all our out-of-the-house activities such as concerts, plays, meetings, church, or any place where people congregate, are cancelled. At this point we make lists of items we need: food, medications, fuel, hardware, and plan on a single outing. The idea is to minimize the opportunities for exposure…” Continue reading Julius’ story.
Tip of the Day
RV electricity: Reader asks meaning of AC power
Reader question:
Forgive my electrical ignorance, but doesn’t “AC” mean “alternating current”? Does that mean that the hot and neutral wires are constantly reversing?
Read Mike Sokol’s explanation.
P.S. Mike asked his friends at Southwire to come up with a prize for a contest this week, and they supplied him with half a dozen of their really nice 3-meter kits. Read how you can win one of these great prizes.
And please be sure to read Mike’s message to Gary Bunzer, the RV Doctor: A promise between Gary the guitar guy and Mike the keyboard guy.
Do you have a tip? Submit it here.
ADVERTISEMENT
Be like Mike! Use this 3-light and digital voltage tester!
Mike Sokol says: “I found this nifty tester online and have been using it in a variety of voltage checking situations. It performs all of the 3-light tests for outlet polarity, open ground, open neutral, etc., as well as being a 3-digit digital voltage indicator. In addition, it performs a standard 5 mA GFCI safety test – which you should be performing on all of your GFCI outlets once a month (or at least once a camping season).” Read more about it here.
What day is best to fuel up the RV?
While it’s not always possible to pick a specific day of the week to fill up the old motorhome, if you can, you may save yourself a few bucks. Find out in this article by Russ and Tiña De Maris when the best days and the worst days are to fill up, and other interesting information, based on three years of data analyzed by fuel price watcher GasBuddy.com. Good to know.
Reader poll
Readers tell us
On a daily basis, how many people do you live with during “self-isolation?” Find out who fellow RVers are spending their time with here.
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.
New book a must-have for state park campers!
This newly published book, “50 States: 500 State Parks,” is a must-have for all state park campers and explorers. The book is a beautiful visual journey through America’s best state parks. Whether you’re looking for stunning vistas, rare wildlife, a dose of history, or an enjoyable hike, the state parks offer an array of experiences. Learn more or order.
Quick Tip
Keep a hose just for when dumping tanks
Dedicate a hose strictly for use in tank-dumping operations. Use it for rinsing hoses, flushing tanks, etc. But be sure to keep it completely away from your fresh water hose to prevent cross-contamination, preferably stored safely in a suitable container.
VIDEO: Where motorhomes go to die
The Bennetts visit a Kentucky RV salvage yard with about 1,500 motorhomes — destroyed by a variety of causes. They visit one motorhome that was abandoned with much of its contents still inside. Watching this is an eerie experience. The drone footage and the well-chosen music make this a most unusual video and one you won’t soon forget. Watch it here.
Random RV Thought
Once we’re allowed to travel about freely again (Oh, won’t that be nice!), when you’re driving through a small town, stop for lunch or dinner at the local mom-and-pop diner. These local diners are disappearing, and it’s nice of us passing through to support them. Plus you’ll get a yummy meal out of it.
Website of the day
Spring farmers market recipes
Many farmers markets are still open and operating, and right now it’s important to support small businesses (if you have the means to do so). Here are 60 delicious recipes to make with fresh ingredients you’d normally find at farmers markets this time of year (but you can buy the ingredients from your local grocery store too).
Popular articles you may have missed at RVtravel.com
• Funny things RVers say.
• The myth of full-time RV life versus the reality.
• How would you respond as a driver to a tire blowout? (Poll with many comments)
#904-1
Make outdoor fabrics look brand new!
From cotton duck to modern acrylic textiles, all outdoor fabrics stain and eventually begin looking old and tired. Scrubbing with water and mild detergent may remove some of the surface dirt, but organics such as mold, mildew and algae need to be handled differently so they won’t grow back. Biodegradable Mold & Mildew Stain Remover from Iosso Products works well to rejuvenate fabric, vinyl, wood and plastic without any harsh chemicals that bleach-out colors and deteriorate materials. Read more about it here.
Trivia
If Adolf Hitler’s father, Alois Schicklgruber, had not changed his surname in 1877, the Third Reich would have been led by Adolf Schicklgruber. “Heil Schicklgruber” would have been the salute!
Leave here with a laugh
I misplaced Dwayne Johnson’s cutting tool at the scrapbooking class. I can’t believe I lost the Rock’s paper scissors. —Thanks to Patricia Gerard!
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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In your survey about how the Corona Virus, how many in each category were full time RVers.
If your life has not changed dramatically then you are not doing what we have been asked to do or you were a hermit to begin with. I for one am very sad that I can not hold my new born great grandchild. I am thankful that I get videos and pictures but not being able to touch that little guy is a dramatic change in my life, along with many other changes. Stay safe and I really hope we can all gather again.
Has this impacted me my wife or the kids? To some degree those in Idaho, those in Calgary not much. I’m as busy as a beaver in my shop, and since I abandoned TV and most of the “if it bleeds it leads media particularly after reading Goldberg’s books Bias & Arrogance etc) then topped that off with Nick Russells “Morals and the Media” I don’t base my life around what the media says, or books for that matter.
To put this in perspective, and not in anyway am I poop-pooping the urgency, I’d like to remind everyone in fits that in a world of 7.7 BILLION, the death toll as of April 11th topped 100,000. For comparison check what past illnesses that have swept the world have cost in human lives. In fact check what fentanyl cost in human lives every year in North America – YOU will be surprised – but no emergency there.
Of that 100.000 how many actually died solely as a result of Covid-119 can never be determined. Dr. Annie Bukacek (https://youtu.be/_5wn_bBk) puts some sense into how the numbers are obtained and what is wrong with tthe reporting that you are not being truthfully informed about.
A good article to refer to for balance (I am not trying to sway anyone) is to goggle this line “The CDC confesses to Lying about Covid-19 Death numbers”
Yes I’m concerned, yes I do think this is dire, am I in fits about it -NO. Should you be?
The answer to the later statement lies in the amount of time you are willing to put into finding some answers the media will not give you – and why is a question in itself.
There’s plenty left in the telling & what is not told.
There’s lots of time folks so do some investigation on your own, you might feel better knowing a little more than what you’re being fed by CNN, and the New York Times.
You might feel just a bit differently if you lived in one of the epicenters of the Covid 19 outbreak instead of rural Idaho. You have absolutely no credibility after referencing a whack-job like Annie Bukacek who advises against all vaccines. She can’t be trusted to deliver any truth.
Life has a few more inconveniences now than before the isolation began but we are doing ok. Have been able to stay in touch with family and friends thru modern technology and they are all fine. I think back to WWII and the inconvenience that our parents and grandparents had to endure for years. I wonder if the 8% above have complaints or just saying it’s different.
Stay isolated and be safe and healthy.
There needs to be something between dramatically (which I chose) and not a whole lot. We have cancelled all our travel plans including an extended time with our grandkids, and are staying in SW Arizona for the duration–probably until next September when we go back to BLM land. HOWEVER,
our income stream is unchanged, we are still healthy, our children are still able to work remotely. So we are MUCH less affected than a whole lot of people. After typing this, I wish there was a “change vote” button like I’ve seen on some of them.
Where is the link to the test and entry for RVelecrictiy I have watched the videos and do not see how to enter anywhere
Here’s the link, blt: Southwire Meter Contest Quiz #1 https://youtu.be/3fiVXBwwOZc Good luck! (Now why am I all of a sudden hungry for a bacon/lettuce/tomato sandwich? 🙄 ) 😀 —Diane at RVtravel.com
There is nothing funny about Hitler !
That’s very true, Pishka888, and we agree 100%. It is a bit of trivia, not the joke of the day. —Diane at RVtravel.com
I don’t think the Trivia item about Hitler was meant to be funny. It wasn’t posted under the “Leave here with a laugh” topic — it’s trivia. Similarly, if Friedrich Drumpf hadn’t changed his surname after immigrating to the USA in the 1880’s, we would now be talking about President Donald Drumpf.
I guess you didn’t watch Jojo Rabbit.
My wife insisted on our early days of travel on stopping at the local restaurants. Then she’d complain about the food or the service or cleanliness. Easier to stop at a chain and know what you are getting every time. Sorry Mel.
But now you have Yelp, TripAdvisor, Google, and more to help steer you to better-than-chain food while avoiding bad food, poor service, or a lack of cleanliness. You are missing out on the donuts in Avon, CO, the pies in Grant, NM, the BBQ in soooo many places. If nothing local sounds right, then fall back to a chain.
I’m just not used to being confined like this. I live in the countryside in northern Mexico. I was stopped by the police twice this week while out exercising. They told me to go home. Planes are flying over with loudspeakers telling us to stay inside. I wish we had left before this started and we would be boondocking in the mountains here.
The poll may mean different things to people. This pandemic will impact most if not all at some point. The current ‘stay at home’ orders are a inconvenience, but not life changing. However, 401K’s, unemployment, housing values, inflation once this passes and lets not forget the many families who will be shattered by the death of members.
We have learned much about the behavior of Americans during stressful times. The people we were during the Great Depression and WWII has changed. Today we see empty shelves due to the hoarding selfishness of a few that triggered panic buying. We have seen the inability of some to follow the ‘stay home’ restrictions. They can be seen on the roads hauling their boats to recreation resorts, spring break crowds, bars, etc.
This is a big deal and we as Americans will come through it, but life will not be business as usual for some time.
Today’s reader’s poll tells me that 8% of the nearly 2,000 RVers are not doing their part to keep Coronavirus from spreading to others. That’s sad.
16 of 2000! It’s pretty difficult to get to zero in any poll like this. I wonder what the % is in the overall community. My sadness is that I’m not out in an RV with y’all.
I’m one of those who answered that COVID-19 has changed things greatly for me. There are many whose lives haven’t changed very much (by their definition, not yours or mine) but who are still doing everything required or recommended in their state or locality. That doesn’t mean they’re out RVing every weekend.
It tells me that the boondockers are still boondocking. I was enjoying sitting in the Arizona desert before this started, and I’m happy to continue doing so.
Until it gets HOT!!
The poll didn’t ask if our RV habits had changed. It asked if our life had changed. I don’t consider it life-changing to cancel a few RV trips this summer!
We live in the country on 10 acres. Normally we go to town once every 10 days for groceries. Now it’s once every 20 days. Not life changing!
I now go to the grocery in the morning rather than the afternoon. After they’ve stocked but before they run out. Not life changing!
I wear gloves in the store and wash my hands a lot more often. Not life changing!
We let most packages sit on the porch for at least three days before opening them. Not life changing!
We spray canned goods and other waterproof items with 75% alcohol or 3% hydrogen peroxide. Not life changing!
Other items we touch the box with gloved hands and dump the inner bag onto the counter. Then remove the gloves before touching it. Not life changing!
Planting a large garden for the first time since we started RVing. Not life changing!
I think you may be making false assumptions about your and other’s behavior and your tolerance for change compared to other peoples!!!!!!!
Perhaps, the 8% stay home most of the time.
Well, John, my life has changed very little, so I am in the 8% and that is “sad because I am spreading it to others” ??? Boy did you make some big assumptions, I seldom leave my property more than once a month, therefore my life hasn’t changed that much. There are a lot of farmers, ranchers, and others that do not spend their time running around. Forcing one’s habits, lifestyle and values upon others just gets one locked inside their own little world.
I don’t believe your poll that 9% (117) said there life is still the same as always been, seriously? RVers taking your poll must be in denial yet WE complain about gov’t lock downs and CG closures. Still the same? I think not.
Well I’m currently camping in Long Beach, Golden Shores, 2 weeks I am able to purchase all the food we need. Ok, the change: fuel way cheaper, driving to Redondo to visit with the granddaughters ,and new baby born on3/30, every day having no traffic! Masks, gloves, social distancing big deal. This will be over very soon . Groceries delivered!!! Life is good!
I think so!
We live on the beach in a three story home with a kitchen on the first and second floor. Our son came home from the Air Force Academy over three weeks ago and the three of us have not left our home. Our cabin fever consists of fishing, kayaking, sailing, boating and yesterday, during the 55mph winds, parasail kiting off our beach. Our life’s only change is having our cadet home and not being an empty nester for a few months. We are still doing all the things we normally do, although our RV is not being used.
PS Referenced the 2nd FL kitchen because my son hung out on the second floor until he was sure he was virus free.
Gman, for the past 15 years I’ve been disabled and have no choice other than to stay at home for my own protection. That is why I voted my life is unchanged.
Some people may have led a monkish life before this impact.
John, been to Thailand -met some nice folks at the Golden Temple and fell in Love with the lifestyle. Been monk like ever since – cost of living plummeted.
Not many monks or temples in my part so to substitute, chose nature as my new best friend- wife goes along with the gig – likes it too.
Read my long reply to: John R Crawford about those making false assumptions about others!!!!!
I’ve heard W. C. Fields use the name Schicklgruber in his movies. I thought he just invented it like so many other names. Wow, who knew?
Schicklgruber is a real surname. Fields may have known or known of someone else with that name. Is there any indication that he was aware that this was Hitler’s family name?
Hi, Jim. I just Googled it and this is the first thing that popped up on the list of options to click for more info: “While posing as a bearded lady, W.C. Fields uses the alias “Gerdie Schicklgruber,” when talking to two policemen who are hunting for him. This was a jab at Adolf Hitler, whose real last name was supposedly Schicklgruber.” —Diane at RVtravel.com
Change those 751 keys. So easy, anyone can do it. Industrial lock and key is very easy to deal with for your needs. Tell them, Chuck sent you.
and you really think those dinky locks with any key will stop a thief? My only purpose for the key is LESS chance of vibration unlatching while traveling.
Take-Out has lost it’s joys. I miss roaming stores for things I might need.
Such as things I didn’t know I needed until I saw it. I work on the Wal Mart principle: If I don’t have it, you don’t need it.
It’s always odd to me that we have so many factories assembling shoddy RV’s but we cannot find factories taking them apart to recycle the pieces. We need a place to buy used parts since we wait weeks or months to get new parts.
I asked our local auto recycling about this very subject. He said the RVs do show up at auction, but he did not know where they were going. There is a big RV dis-assembly yard, somewhere in Arkansas. A friend bought interior furniture there. I have seen one or two RVs, but they are very rare.
How do you know they aren’t” used” for a new price? That would mean the”BONUS BABY” corp. types might have to dig into their bonuses to employ American workers at a fair wage in a business like time frame.
huh..?
Don, here’s a web site that you may find helpful. RVERSCORNER.COM. In this series of pages you’ll find salvage yards by state.
There is one in my city of Apopka Florida
Check out http://www.visone.com an Rv salvage yard in Kentucky. I bought a wheel and a Kwikee step controller from them – not exactly low priced but better than new for a good product with many years of useful life remaining.