This newsletter is for intelligent, open-minded RVers. If you comment on an article, do it with respect for others. If not, you will be denied posting privileges.
Issue 1423
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 click here to visit through our affiliate site (we get a little commission that way – and you don’t pay any extra). Thank you!
[activecampaign form=34]
Breaking News:
Plugs pulled on Trailer Life and Motorhome magazines
Both magazines will cease publication with their December issues. We’ll have the complete story this coming weekend in the RV Travel Newsletter.
Today’s thought
“No matter what he does, every person on earth plays a central role in the history of the world. And normally he doesn’t know it.” — Paulo Coelho
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Ampersand [&] Day!
On this day in history: 1892 – The Pledge of Allegiance is first recited.
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
RV with your furry “kids”? Some tips to keep in mind
By Russ and Tiña De Maris
Never traveled with your pet? Can you take your pals with you? It’s an important consideration. We’re slanting our thoughts on the matter to those who call dogs and cats their pets, but some of the underlying principles will apply to other species as well.
First, some pets aren’t travelers — just by temperament or perhaps illness. Have you taken your pal in the car for a trip? If they enjoy car travel, the adjustment to RVing will likely be a cakewalk. On the other hand, while our cat associates car travel with going to the pet groomer (BAD!), she doesn’t seem to have the same hang-up about the RV. It may be a matter of a psychological adjustment. Continue reading.
Do you have a tip? Submit it here.
SECRET PHRASE: New York was once New Amsterdam
The world’s longest RV? We think so!
Here’s a photo of a very interesting, and very long, RV. Is this the longest RV ever? Read about this retractable RV and learn more. Check it out.
Yesterday’s featured article: Sticky 5th wheel hitch, Cowboy? Slick ’em up!
Reader poll
Do you carry binoculars on your RV trips?
Zoom in and tell us over here.
Casino Camping: Your input wanted
We are starting a new weekly column in RVtravel.com with information about casinos that welcome RVers for overnight stays. Some offer full-hookup RV parks while others provide space in their parking lots for free overnight stays. We welcome your tips about casinos that welcome RVers. Learn more and submit your tip here.
Quick Tip
Need to clean tall RV windows? Here’s where to do it
Diesel islands where trucks can fuel up usually have long-handled squeegees, ideal for washing very tall windows. Wash your windows while fueling to prevent holding up the fueling line. Don’t forget to wash the driver and passenger windows, mirrors and headlights. Thanks to Ron Jones, AboutRVing.com.
Website of the day
U.S. Military Campgrounds
If you’d like to stay at a U.S. military campground or RV park, this is a website for you! Search many parks by state, the highest rating, or the most viewed.
Dirty contacts? DeoxIT!
Here’s a comment from our electrical specialist, Mike Sokol: “I’ve used DeoxIT for decades on my pro-sound gear. We use it on speaker connectors, power connectors such as cam-lok and twist-lock plugs (just like RV power), volume controls, gold-plated circuit boards (like in RV refrigerator control boards), etc. There are several different versions of DeoxIT depending on if you want built-in lubricant for potentiometers, or gold contact refurbishing or simply oxidation removal.” Learn more or order.
NEW FACEBOOK GROUP: RVing Wacky, Tacky America. This will be fun!
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:
• 23 percent have had something stolen from their campsite
• 50 percent would not pay more than $2 for a cup of plain coffee
• 59 percent say high gas prices will not affect their upcoming travel plans
Are deer flies a problem? Try this easy trick to get rid of them (you might get a laugh out of it too).
Trivia
Hewlett-Packard was almost named Packard-Hewlett. When founders William Hewlett and David Packard decided to go into business together, they knew their company name would be a combination of their last names, but were unsure of the order. So in Packard’s home garage, they flipped a coin and Hewlett won, putting his name first.
*Yesterday’s trivia told you a fun fact about the man who invented Frisbee golf.
Readers’ Pet of the Day
“Bruno, our 14 y.o. Yorkie, loves our TT and camping as much as we do!” —Robin Hamilton
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.
Stay free at more than 1,500 wineries and farms
With a Harvest Hosts membership, stay overnight for free at more than 1,500 wineries, farms, breweries, etc.! Harvest Hosts is an alternative to traditional campgrounds, where members can taste great wines and micro-brews, eat fresh produce and stay in peaceful settings. (RVtravel.com recently stayed in a blueberry orchard.) Save 15 percent by using code HHFRIENDS15 at checkout. Learn more.
Leave here with a laugh
The COVID-19 situation has been especially stressful for the Flat Earth Society. They fear that the social distancing measures could push people over the edge.
Today’s Daily Deals at Amazon.com
Best-selling RV products and Accessories at Amazon.com. UPDATED HOURLY!
Join us: Facebook • Twitter • YouTube • RVillage
See all of our many Facebook groups here.
Did you miss the latest RV Travel Newsletter? If so, read it here.
Oh, and if you missed the latest Sunday News for RVers, make sure to catch up here.
Become a Member!
This newsletter is brought to you Monday through Friday by RVtravel.com and is funded primarily through voluntary subscription contributions from our readers. Thank you! IF YOU APPRECIATE THIS NEWSLETTER and others from RVtravel.com, will you please consider pledging your support? Learn more or contribute.
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.
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.
Mail us at 9792 Edmonds Way, #265, Edmonds, WA 98020.
This newsletter is copyright 2020 by RVtravel.com
Very, very disappointing to read about MotorHome and Trailer Life magazines. It’s always a good day when one of these (or FMCA magazine) show up in my mailbox. I can only imagine that MH and TL magazines are another casualty brought about by Marcus.
I agree, since i JUST renewed my subscription… My husband is not a computer guy and much prefers the paper magazine to read.
The military campgrounds are only open to military, retired military – this doesn’t include those discharged from active duty at the end of their “hitch”, veteran care givers – which doesn’t make sense since veterans are not necessarily retired (my Viet Nam vet hubby pointed out he doesn’t fall into any of the categories but if I were his care giver I would??,
and civilian DoD people. They are not places for civilians/general public without any military connection.
I saw that too. My husband served 8 years during the Vietnam War but I guess that doesn’t mean anything.
It means a lot to those of us who are very thankful to those who served. Please thank him for his service for me. Freedom is not free.
The quick tip about cleaning R.V. windows was nothing but Click Bait. Much more of that an you can count me gone.
Hi, Gary. The entire tip was in the newsletter. We did not indicate that there was more to the tip than what was there (e.g., “To read the rest of the tip, click here”). Since we use tips from Ron Jones, we include a link to his website — that’s only fair. No one is making you click on his link if you don’t want to see his website. —Diane at RVtravel.com
So am I reading this article correctly? DeoxIT can be used on my RV power connections an the trailer and the park pedestal. Since “dirty ” contacts could lead to build up heat…would this be a good idea to use be for connecting to a pedestal?
I use DeoxIT spray on all electrical contacts and it works great; especially on the 50 to 30 amp dog bones. Power should always be OFF. Park owners should use it as a PM schedule to clean the sockets on their pedestals.
I like the quote. World is humanity, our planet is all life, and I, as a part of all of us, find some peace by paying attention to life.
I am retired. What restrictions do they have at these sites? I hunt fish and usually have a weapon with me, are they allowed? I never thought of staying on a base before. We cross country once in a while and it would be nice.
Most military bases have Fam Camps, some are fully outfitted and some are pretty bare bones. The main thing is, one must be active duty, retired military, disabled vet, and most need reservations. As far as guns, they better not leave what ever secure place you have them stored in your RV. There is in fact a great site called Military Campgrounds with full descriptions of the places you might stay. There is a small annual fee but its low and I’ve used it many times. The costs are usually under $20 with a few places with ultra Luxury facilities and may cost a bit more.
Thank you. I will have to look at it. Getting ready for one of those trips if snow doesn’t get me. I think we are due for an early winter this year.
We’ve used the military campground website for maybe 10 year. Run by a couple who travel a lot and take input from readers. Recently the website has been taken over by pop-up advertisers. Maybe 60-75% of the page is ads. They try to stay up to date with this COVID thing, but it’s best to call for the most up to date openings/closing. Many do not take reservations, but the Navy has a good reservation system for their campgrounds. The campgrounds fill up in the southern states with snowbirds. Can be noisy from the “sounds of freedom” 24/7. One thing you can count on, courteous RVers.
Vietnam Veteran non/career Hospital Corpsman here. I have no problem with the decision to allow only retired/active military access to military campgrounds. Allowing anyone, who ever served, would overload the campgrounds terribly. Some rights just have to be earned.
Far as I know, military campgrounds do not allow just ‘simple’ veterans.
It amazes me you can spend time in military but not use their Campgrounds. My husband was an officer but cant use them because he got out and did not retire. He served his time and more but did not get that benefit.
When you think about it how many active duty and retirees are on or around a military base? There are maybe 10,000 veterans in the same area, there just isn’t enough room to include to allow veterans to use it too. Also am a vet with several years service but I understand why I can’t use the facilities.
Correct. One must be an active duty or retired Veteran.
or disabled, any percentage
Sorry David, I do believe it requires 100% Service Connected Disability’
I have no problem with this. I put my time in for one “hitch” and got out. Those who chose to make a career in the military SHOULD have more benefits.
From the militarycampgrounds.us site cited above. There was a big change in January of this year. These folks do Not have to be retired or active duty.
“January 2020 Update: The below regulations are slightly out of date and don’t inlcude the new eligibility. The Purple Heart and Disabled Veterans Equal Access Act of 2018 became law in August 2018 and took effect on January 1st, 2020. This bill will now allow the following veterans use of commissary and exchange stores, and MWR facilities (includes campgrounds):
Veterans if you go to shop my exchange you can sign up to buy from the Base Exchange website and if you sign up for the Military Star Card you get free shipping. I have used it many times and got some great deals! Don’t have to be retired, just have an honorable discharge, with a copy of your DD214.