Issue 1377
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
“Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” ―
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Fried Chicken Day!
On this day in history: 1957 – John Lennon and Paul McCartney meet for the first time, as teenagers at Woolton Fete, three years before forming the Beatles.
Did you see the news? Click here to read the latest issue of the Sunday News for RVers.
Tip of the Day
How to keep your RV’s fresh water tank fresh
By Mark Polk, RV Education 101
Do not assume your RV’s fresh water will stay safe and fresh like at home. Contaminated water is extremely dangerous. As RVers, we must not only deal with a water system that hasn’t been used for some time, but we hook up to different sources and eventually contaminated water.
The most important step is to keep the fresh water system sanitized. At a minimum, sanitize it every spring or if you notice stale water or an odor. Here’s how to do it.
Do you have a tip? Submit it here.
RV Electricity – This week’s J.A.M. (Just Ask Mike) Session
Chiller? Cooler vs. refrigerator comparison
Dear Mike,
I recently bought a plug-in cooler and was really disappointed when I drove to my picnic spot a few hours away, and my meal was ruined. I thought this was a cooler, but it doesn’t get the temperature down like my RV or home refrigerator does. What gives? —Crystal
• Join Mike’s Facebook group, RV Electricity.
• Read more of Mike’s articles here.
Stupid RV design: Another example
This is hard to believe: On a luxury motorhome on the sales lot of one of America’s largest RV dealers, the toilet seat lid is partially sawed off. Why? Because it won’t stay up with the bathroom door closed. Who approved this design? You gotta wonder. Read more.
Run your RV A/C with only normal household power. Yes, it’s possible!
Reader poll
Did you buy your present RV new or used?
Please tell us by voting 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.
• DIRECTORY OF RV PARKS WITH STORM SHELTERS.
JUST PUBLISHED
Two new guides to free campgrounds
Roundabout Publications has teamed up with the Ultimate Public Campground Project on these two new guides. Discover thousands of designated camping areas in the West and in America’s Heartland – real places – not big box store parking lots. Included are areas managed by various governmental agencies. Learn more about the West edition or Heartland edition.
Quick Tip
Non-skid pads have their place – but not on refrigerator shelves. These can block air circulation, and make it hard to cool food. Reserve their use in the fridge for door shelves only. To keep things from falling out of the fridge and onto your toe when you open the door after driving on bumpy roads, use some expandable refrigerator bars, available on Amazon.
Random RV thought
If you’re concerned about being involved in an emergency situation while away from your rig, you could do what reader Pat Mitchell does: “I usually just pick up a park brochure from the campground office to leave in our truck. It’s always handy and if we are in an accident, the location of our camper and other details are right there with us.”
Make yourself a healthy summer snack for your outdoor adventures!
Check out reader Linda’s recipe for healthy nut bars here.
Website of the day
30 no-bake pies you can make in 30 minutes or less
Have a sweet tooth and need a quick fix? Too hot out to bake? Company coming for dinner? These would be quick and easy to make in your RV (not to mention they look delicious!).
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.
Popular articles you may have missed at RVtravel.com
• What you should know about lug nuts.
• Don’t be a sucker: Internet safety for RVers.
• I want to live on vacation.
#923-1
Trivia
A single strand of spaghetti is called a “spaghetto.”
Readers’ Pet of the Day
Send us a photo of your pet with a short description. We publish one each weekday in RV Daily Tips and in our Saturday RV Travel newsletter.
• If your pup overheats easily, check out all these products to help keep them cool.
• Mosquito repellent spray for dogs and cats is a must for camping. Click here.
Leave here with a laugh
Never laugh at your wife’s choices. You are one of them.
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Did you miss the latest RV Travel Newsletter? If so, read it here.
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RV Daily Tips Staff
Publisher: Chuck Woodbury. Editor: Emily Woodbury. Senior editor: Diane McGovern. Social media 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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I head to a local bakery if I need a to get some sweet treats. Most local bakeries need supporting. Otherwise it is just me and I do not need the sweets.
I use Sterilite 111/4 X 4 1/4 1608 white to keep food items in place in refrigerator. Wal-Mart .98 cents. Use them at home also.Side of basket are all open.
Quick Tip: The two rod assy, designed for RV use, for keeping stuff from falling out of the fridge is held together by a plastic joiner between the rods. In short order the plastic will break and you’ll have two separate rods. (Please recycle!). Save some money – go to Walmart, Amazon, et al and buy individual adjustable single window curtain rods! All you need is one per shelf anyway. (Not Rv designed!).
About the “Quick Tip” suggestion of refrigerator bars. A better solution is to use clear plastic bins that you can organize all your contents plus keep them from moving around during travel and easy to remove single items in the back just by pulling the bin partially out and remove what you need and push the bin back. We even use the same bins in our home fridge and just transfer contents from one fridge to the other with the bins. You can find the bins (of different sizes) at most large stores (Target, Walmart, etc).
Not good for air circulation though
You can do the same thing with wire baskets. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes.
Anyone know what to do with an electtic awning that wont lock on the left when rolled in…
We bought new from RV Country in Laughlin Nevada. 2016 Holiday Rambler Vacationer gas. They have THE best service department. We are full-timers that spend winters in the southwest and summers in northern Illinois where are grandchildren are. If we have any problems with our unit RV Country is right there for us.