Issue 1333
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!
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Today’s thought
“And once the storm is over, you won’t remember how you made it through, how you managed to survive. You won’t even be sure, whether the storm is really over. But one thing is certain. When you come out of the storm, you won’t be the same person who walked in. That’s what this storm’s all about.” ― H
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is Cinco de Mayo! It’s also National Hoagie Day!
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!
Tip of the Day
Easy ways to cut down on unnecessary electricity usage
One of the skills for making boondocking more enjoyable if you haven’t installed solar panels is the efficient use of your available electricity, which will reduce the length of time you need to run your generator or engine to recharge batteries. Recharging batteries always takes longer than you think, and the sound of a running engine can detract from the otherwise peace and quiet of boondocking in the wild.
So the simplest and most efficient skill is learning where and how much electricity your rig uses and what you can do to reduce this usage. Here are some tips.
Do you have a tip? Submit it here.
Full-time RVing – Will your rig haul the weight?
Moving from a sticks-and-bricks home to an RV makes for plenty of challenges. Where will you put all your stuff? That’s a great question, but a critically important related question: Will my rig handle the weight of all my stuff? Do you know how much weight you can carry? Here are some critical considerations when shopping for an RV.
Yesterday’s featured article: Definition of “boondocking” stumps experts
Stay for free at more than 1,000 wineries and farms!With a Harvest Hosts membership, you can stay overnight at more than 1,000 wineries, farms, breweries, etc., for free! Harvest Hosts offers an alternative to traditional campgrounds, where members can meet interesting people, taste great wines, eat fresh produce and stay in peaceful settings. Learn more.
Reader poll
In self-isolation, do you take more naps than before?
Please respond here.
Quick Tip
Check your roof for leaks
If you have not inspected your RV’s roof lately for possible leaks, do so now. Allowing water into your RV can result in large repair bills if not attended to quickly. Do not take a chance – inspect soon or have a professional check.
Random RV Thought
Have you ever been on a whale watch? If you’re near a coast with whales, leave the campground for the day and go on a whale watch. You can find great discounts on Groupon. It’s incredibly humbling to be surrounded by such large, beautiful creatures.
Don’t scream, just fix the screen!
This roll of screen repair tape is just what you need to fix those torn or ripped screens in your home or RV. Don’t waste money on a new screen! Cut as much tape as you need, stick it over the torn patch and you’re good to go. Learn more or order here.
Website of the day
Outdoorsy – Rent an RV or rent yours out
If you won’t be traveling for the rest of the year, make money by renting out your RV! Or, if you’re new to RVing you can rent an RV to test the waters. Outdoorsy says they’re “like Airbnb for road trippers.”
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:
• 19 percent are full-timers, but another 17 percent hope to be full-timing in the future
• 33 percent do not carry a spare tire for their RV
• 11 percent say that if recreational marijuana is legal, they will use it
Recent poll: Will you have trouble making your RV loan payment this month? Please respond here.
Two examples of horrible RV hookups
Here are two examples of what any veteran RVer comes upon from time to time. An RVer who finds him or herself assigned to a campsite like this should demand another site or take their business elsewhere. Read more and see photos.
Let your drill clean your RV, really!
This is so neat! This 4-piece cleaning brush attachment connects right to your drill – no more scrubbing for you! Deep-clean virtually any surface with hardly any effort. The drill brushes are perfect for grout lines, corners, tiles, tubs, showers, carpets, wooden furniture, windows, shower doors, siding, linoleum, stoves, counters, fiberglass, grills, marble, and more. You can even wash your dishes if you want! Learn more or order here.
Trivia
If you were to write out every number (one, two, three, etc.), you wouldn’t use the letter “b” until you reached one billion.
*How does planning a fake or far-off vacation affect your mood? We told you this interesting answer in yesterday’s newsletter.
Leave here with a laugh
Today’s Daily Deals at Amazon.com
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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re: “Today’s Thought”
Very timely, very…….
I was ripped off by an RV Rental Scam!
Before my wife would consider us purchasing an RV, she demanded I rent one (we rented a 31 foot Class C years ago) so I did. Went online found an RV Share and rented a 40 Class A DP for 4 days at a cost of $800 with a $500 deposit up front. Photos were beautiful and the owner claimed he owned 3 and all new, as his little business. Great, he said he would deliver to my house in Central California so I could drive my wife to Pismo Beach where I rented us a nice RV Park space. Then the RV Owner asked if I could go ahead and pay him the $800 ahead of time, as his wife needed a minor surgery. Sure I said, and he said oh let’s us PayPal Friends and Relatives so I don’t lose so much in fees on the Business payment account. Sure I said, and did. Then a couple weeks later the RV Owner said, since we have a business relationship could I loan him $500 to a $1000. I replied we do not have such a relationship and since you own 3 Class A RV’s I will do a Title Loan where the money is likened against the RV. Just crickets after that, heard nothing. It got worse when I checked on the business address he used on the contract and it turned out to be a pizza parlor in Northern California who had never heard of this rascal. Then he said I used that because it was the actual location where I wrote up the contract. He won’t use his personal address because of a Home Invasion Robbery and also got beat up. His phone turned out to be a Text Only cell phone and I lost all communications with him.
Just 7 days prior to my RV Trip to celebrate our 44th Anniversary, I had to find a real RV to rent! I found another site, called the owner, researched his address and sure enough even saw the RV he owned parked in his driveway on online maps photo. I went to his home, he was only about 17 miles from Pismo and I took possession of the RV for our trip! Whew, thank goodness I used my Wells Fargo Credit Card, to pay the crook who took my $1300. The bank said yes, you are protected from fraud, opened a case and within a few weeks gave my account the $1300!
I was told by RV Rental Companies in the Pismo area that I was the 4th or 5th victim of such a scam. I was so upset at myself, I was not able to determine it was a scam until too late, just please tell anyone considering renting online to be careful. I found there was no record ANYWHERE of the suspect’s phony name and could not find him!
Happily, I purchased a used Class A Newmar Ventana of our own last August, and will never have to rent another RV! I love it and can’t wait for this darn Coronavirus to get behind us to go enjoy it more!
“Trust but Verify”
EVERYONE is guilty until proven innocent these days.
If you hire a contractor for ANYTHING, NO PAY until the job is completed to YOUR satisfaction. If you don’t pay for what was specifically contracted for, they have a right to place a lein on your property. That is their protection. WAY TOO MANY SCAMMERS THESE DAYS! If they need half up front, they don’t know how to run their business! Clue one!
Would never, ever, ever, never rent out my rv. Too many “need to know” things. I would, and have, towed it to a campsite and let my grown children use it. As well, they don’t have the proper driver license endorsement to tow my rv.
It might be the last time you see it…Make sure you have plenty of insurance.
Dude, now that’s funny. Wonder what the discussions will be at the funeral parlor down the road. Something like, hey, remeber when dad………
How does this (or any) “Website of the day” get chosen? Is it:
a) thought provoking?
b) just something (unqualified) that exists and is RV travel related?
c) an endorsement?
d) a past/present/courted sponsor?
After 20+ years of respected journalism, it might be helpful if you indicated.
Hey, Mark! Thanks for your comment. We choose five websites a week to feature (over a year, that’s about 240 websites… If I did that math correctly…), which is a lot of websites! Our “Website of the day” is chosen based on anything we think may have an interest to our readers (sometimes it’s about tire safety or trailer hitches, other times it’s about the best burger in every state – either way, there’s no way we could please everyone!). They’re never sponsored or endorsed by any of the businesses we feature or link to. Outdoorsy is a great website for those that do wish to rent or rent out RVs. We know a few of the folks that work there and know they’re good people, doing good work.
Thanks, Mark. Take care. –Emily, RVtravel.com
My son and his wife have borrowed my travel trailer several times, no issues when returned..
Nice to have great family!
You can be proud parents!
Great job!
Tony’s answer is really more basic than it should be. If your RV has a small converter/charger, and you do anything other than FHU campgrounds, change it out for a newer and better “Smart” converter. Your house bank will not only get a better charge, but it will last longer before you have to replace it as well.
Personally, I have never thought of renting out anything, let alone my RV! With all the many things you need to know when you actually own your RV, you certainly can’t teach that to a newbie in a few minutes. Thanks, but no thanks!
Good and smart choice. If they rent, YOU have liabilities. It’s in your name. At the least, you’ll be out a ton of lawyer fees defending what you perceive as no liability. Lawyers are crooks. But blame your legislators (Dem/Rep/Ind alike) who DON’T know how to write a legitimate Bill.
If someone gets shocked, burned, trips on the stairs, slips in the shower, blows an RV tire and it causes them to wreck THEIR vehicle, YOU will be paying dearly to defend yourself. I won’t loan a toothpick to anyone for the same reason.
Some of you will think this is just crazy. I employ you to check out the horror stories for those who own and rent out. That includes homes as well.
Any more, its an insane world.
I wouldn’t let one of my children borrow my motorhome much less rent it to a stranger. The attitude most people have today they could care less whether they damage something or not. Plus what’s my insurance company going to say when I have a claim for damages? No thanks I’ll let mine set still until I’m ready to use it.
Hey Bob, can you put me in your will!
Adding to the “Tip of the Day” buy a 10 amp Battery Charger and learn how to hook it up to your Coach Batteries…meaning it’s different if you have 1, 2 or 4 or more Batteries and different if you have 6 or 12 volt. That way when you need to Charge your Batteries by running the Generator you will do it much faster rather than using the 2 amp charger that’s built into your RV Converter. With your Charging time greatly reduced your neighbor will be much more happier….that’s me
A modern multi stage converter/charger will be sized to charge 15 to 30 percent of the units battery capacity. Mine charges two 105AH batteries at 30 amps in the bulk stage. That brings them up to about 80% in an hour or so before the rate starts reducing.
Tony, what’s going to power your 10 amp charger when you’re boondocking?
Your “Website of the day” is NOT a good choice during Covid-19
We can all plan for the future, can’t we?
OPINION (determine your own):
Much less any other time.
Rentor? Ridiculous rates, terms, conditions.
Rentee? Toooooo much liability!
Hey, Gman. You’re right! Now is certainly not the time to be renting out your RV, or renting another’s RV. Nope. However, now is a great time to be planning trips for, well, whenever we can get out again. Outdoorsy is a great resource for those who are interested in renting an RV, or making a little extra income (which many people need right now) by renting out their own. It’s a good website to keep on the back-burner for those people who are interested in it. Thanks, Gman. Take care! –Emily, RVtravel.com
Rent out an RV? Chuck, have you ever checked out the Jucy vans, or any of the RV rental organizations? I used to see class B rv’s at national parks rented out to Europeans.