Issue 1327
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
“Keep a little fire burning; however small, however hidden.” ―
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Babe Ruth Day!
Did you see the news? Click here to read the latest issue of the Sunday News 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.
RV Life in a Coronavirus World: “Once a nurse, always a nurse”
We have asked RVtravel.com readers to tell us how they are adapting to life these days.
“I guess I am a typical retiree. I am a Registered Nurse and worked for almost 40 years as a Home Health Nurse. And actually before that for about 5 years worked with psychiatric patients. So both of those endeavors helped me slip into the world of retirement. Read into that what you will, lol. My husband and I lived in SoFLo for over 40 years. He introduced me to the camping world with his love for exploring the wilderness and areas where the tents and windows of others were not in our pockets. And so our truck camper outings began…” Continue reading Lois’ story.
Tip of the Day
Yikes! A holding tank pyramid!
Here is a question which Chris Dougherty, a certified RV technician, received from a reader while he was serving as RVtravel.com’s technical editor.
Dear Chris,
We’ve been stationary for almost a month. I’ve noticed what I think is a pyramid formed at the pipe base in the black tank. This has occurred twice in two weeks. I use one of those magic wands to clear it. We use probiotics in all tanks and Scott toilet paper. I use the flush king after every emptying. Any thoughts or suggestions? —Alan
Do you have a tip? Submit it here.
RV Electricity – This week’s J.A.M. (Just Ask Mike) Session:
Solar battery tender? Yep! How to easily maintain the health of RV house batteries when the RV is parked somewhere remote without a nearby electrical outlet.
• 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.
Will weight on rear of RV trailer off-balance the rig?
Chris Dougherty, certified RV technician, received a letter from a reader while serving as RVtravel.com’s technical editor regarding his concern about the need to offset extra weight from adding a hitch and bike rack to the rear of his Hi-Lo trailer. Read Chris’ answer.
Let your drill clean your RV, really!
This 4-piece cleaning brush attachment connects right to your drill. Deep-clean virtually any surface. Perfect for grout lines, corners, tiles, tubs, showers, carpets, wooden furniture, windows, shower doors, siding, linoleum, stoves, counters, fiberglass, grills, marble, and more. Learn more or order here.
Reader poll
How much of your personal banking do you do online?
Respond here and see how others responded.
Readers tell us
How often do you go for a walk? Find out what fellow RVers said, and why walking is good for your health, here.
Crazy excuses traffic accident victims use to explain their mishaps
Some of these excuses, compiled by the Automotive Information Council, are absolutely insane (and kind of hilarious…). Click here to read them.
Come into the light!
Our favorite electricity guy, Mike Sokol, uses this Caterpillar pocket light for just about everything. He writes, “I bought one of these CAT CY1000 Pocket COB Lights a few months ago and liked it so much that I also picked up one for my dad. I’ve dropped it a bunch of times, and it still keeps working, like any of the other tough-as-nails CAT products.” It easily clips on to your belt, shirt pocket, or anything magnetic, so you can work hands-free. Chuck and Gail bought one too and love it! Learn more or order.
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.
Quick Tip
Inspect solar panel cords frequently
“For those of you who use ground-based solar panels, you should inspect the electrical cords frequently. Recently, while boondocking, I repositioned our solar panels to follow the sun right before we left to run some errands in town. I was in the vehicle with the engine running when I glanced back and saw smoke coming from the plug where our panels connect to the exterior of the RV. I was able to quickly disconnect them to prevent more damage. Upon inspection of the wires, I noticed significant damage to the insulation on one of the wires. I’m guessing that when I moved the panels, the cable found just the right place on the ground that allowed it to short out. I don’t know what caused the damage, but it looked like it was either run over or chewed on by animals.” Thanks for the tip, David Johnson!
Random RV Thought
While you are self-quarantined, buy a ukulele and learn how to play it. It’s not very hard to master the basics. Be sure to order a couple of beginner’s guides (some of the ukuleles on Amazon include free online lessons). You can play a lot of tunes with a few simple chords. Then make up some songs.
You must keep road flares in the RV for emergency
Always have road flares in your RV in case of an emergency. This kit of 3 bright lights can be seen from a mile away and can be used for traffic control, as a warning light or as a rescue beacon, and can also be used for camping and hiking. Learn more or order here.
Coronavirus News Update
Coronavirus News UpdateThe World Health Organization said Friday that no evidence exists that people who have recovered from the disease and developed antibodies are protected from catching it again.
Vehicular access at all of California’s 280 State Parks and Beaches is temporarily closed, meaning there are no parking facilities, and parking on roadways is prohibited.
RV Parts and Accessories
Everything you need for your RV (and probably a whole lot more). Click here.
Website of the day
Roadside America
We’ve probably linked to this website before (maybe even several times), but it’s just so dang fun to poke around. Reader Sue Mills sent it to us in an email and wrote, “We have seen some neat places we would have missed, had we not used this site.” Thanks, Sue!
Popular articles you may have missed at RVtravel.com
• How to fix stripped threads on RV water heater anode.
• Getting your rig safely to the bottom of that long grade.
• RV Shrink: Avoid pulling a flat-tired toad – or you’ll be sorry.
#907-1
Trivia
Have you ever seen a Little Free Library? If you have, you probably know that you can take and leave a book for free. It’s great for RVers! Todd Bol started the nonprofit in 2009. There are now more than 100,000 Little Free Libraries across the country giving residents free access to books. You can find a map of them here.
Roof vent not doing its job? Here’s a solution…
If you smell your toilet when driving your motorhome down the road, it’s because the odor is being drawn into the RV and not outside via the roof vent. The solution is to get an inexpensive 360 Siphon Roof Vent. It works for all RVs even when the RV is not moving, like in a campground. Keep the stink away.
Leave here with a laugh
There’s no way you can make it through this video (click to play) without a big smile.
Best-selling RV products and Accessories at Amazon.com. UPDATED HOURLY!
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RV PARKS OPEN FOR BUSINESS:
These parks are open for business for self-isolating and have asked that we spread the word.
Big Chief RV Resort, Burnet, TX
Walnut Hills Campground and RV Park, Staunton, VA
Oakwood RV Resort, Fredericksburg, TX
Larsson’s Crooked Creek RV Resort, Hill City, SD
Own a park you’d like listed here? Send the park name, web address and city and we’ll include it here. Send to editor@rvtravel.com. No charge.
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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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FWIW-The environmentalists have again spoken, I think it was around 2009, but could have been sooner, they bitched and moaned about plastic insulation used in almost everything. So car companies and maybe others reformulated the plastic insulation to contain SOY based material so it’s less damaging to the environment. Animals love the insulation now, they hunt places where they chew on it, and eat it. I had 400 dollars of damage to the wiring harness in my Jeep because mice got up into the bundle and ate it, a new wiring harness would have been thousands, not counting the labor. Of course this insulation material is cheaper than the old stuff, so anything to save money. if you have external cords (solar panels which have external connections) those could have the same formula used in that insulation. Put the cords into either 1″ pex pipe (comes in white. blue, red) so you can see it and that should prevent animals getting after it. It would also protect it from being run over. PVC pipe also could be used, but mice/rats used to love eating that as well. That is why electrical conduit is GRAY in color, it’s been formulated to keep animals out of eating it.
Good information Bonnor thanks.
In these times such wonderful videos are most welcome. A very lucky owner of that entertainer.
I’ve got two sets of the LED flares. Very nice. Didn’t like the idea of just placing them on the pavement though. So I got creative with magnets & soccer cone. I’ll post a photo if you find me on FB.
I really enjoyed the Snowball video. Brought a smile to my face.
Looking at that solar panel cord, sure looks like TEETH marks to me, but also could have been driven over. Also looks like it happened a while ago as the wires seemed a bit corroded!
Snoopy
“ The World Health Organization said Friday that no evidence exists that people who have recovered from the disease and developed antibodies are protected from catching it again.”
The WHO also quickly came out with a clarification the same day. You might want to check your facts.
Not saying your wrong just remember, The World Health Organization is a private entity. They take private donations and have an agenda that may not align with what’s best. Take what they say with the “grain of salt” and be open to other ideas.
Catching the flu last year wouldn’t guarantee you won’t get it this year. But it DOES prevent you getting the exact same strain and DOES reduce your risk against all strains.
C19 works similarly. Double infection would require encountering both current strains and being vulnerable in the first place – very unlikely.
Meanwhile, more newsworthy, according to random testing results revealing 25% of the USA has already had C19 and should be now nearly immune, the mortality rate has dropped from 2% to 0.02%… 4000 of the deaths in NY are due to clustering “rule out vulnerable” cases with “active cases” almost guaranteeing full infection, and treatment with “closed” respirators that recirculate virii and cause lung trauma (both wrong treatments). And for “some” reason most hospitals are still not using the treatment protocols that were proven to work 6 weeks ago….
Also interesting, from the front lines….
https://youtu.be/D5GDPCUUBEE
My wife, the retired librarian Has a traveling Little Free Library. Now when we travel she brings a box of books with her and sets up the library in front of our camp site. Last summer it was a popular place for conversation and patrons using the library.
WHO believes the WHO any longer? A shame to suspend their funding, just cut it by 90%.
I think all executive level members of the WHO should be replaced, as a condition of funding restoration.
Dave, did you know WHO had several several CDC individuals on their international committees who reported findings to the Administration, who in turn did nothing. You are correct in saying replacements are needed, but wrong where they should start.
I don’t understand your comment
Simple, we the people (tax payers) need to have our money used responsibly and the most important part is to hold every last politician responsible—term limits are a most.
Not going to happen any time soon:
https://www.termlimits.com/2020-presidential-candidates-on-term-limits/
Democrats are opposed to it.
https://www.thoughtco.com/why-no-term-limits-for-congress-3974547
Constitution will not allow it.
We “could” have a Constitutional Convention to open that discussion up. But sure as you do, a million Democrats and Liberals will want to add a hundred-thousand extras to the Bill.
I am for a Line-Item Veto though…
why not have the rest of the world support WHO but not share their findings etc with the USA. USA would be on their own
I cannot see anything where the video for the morning smile should be….
click the title at the top, should take you to a facebook page.
Our neighbor turned their Little Library into a Little Food Shelf. While books are nice to have, food is a must.
Folks in our little city south of Atlanta have done this, too — from books to free food during the pandemic. Great idea!