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Issue 1434
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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Page Contents
Today’s thought
“Until you value yourself, you won’t value your time. Until you value your time, you will not do anything with it.” —M. Scott Peck
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Great American Pot Pie Day!
On this day in history: 1806 – Lewis and Clark return to St. Louis after exploring the Pacific Northwest of the United States.
Tip of the Day
Prepare your RV forced air furnace for cold weather
By Mark Polk
RV EDUCATION 101®
One LP gas appliance that gets overlooked during warm weather camping trips is the RV furnace. Most of the service requirements for the furnace need to be accomplished by a reputable RV service center, but there are a few things we, as owners, can do to prepare the RV furnace for cold-weather operation.
Inspect all of the furnace ducting that is above floor level for any damage, like bent or crushed ducting. Repair or replace any damaged ducts prior to using the furnace. Inspect all furnace vents for obstructions that could affect the operation of the furnace. Keep the furnace vents clean. Make sure the furnace air return is not blocked or restricted. Check the exterior furnace exhaust vent (when cold) for any signs of soot. Soot indicates improper burning, and the furnace should be inspected by a professional. Test the operation of the furnace before you actually need it when you are out camping.
ONLINE VIDEO TRAINING COURSES BY MARK POLK
• Motorhome RV Orientation.
• Travel Trailer & 5th Wheel Orientation.
Do you have a tip? Submit it here.
Avoid black tank “pyramid” problems
Chris Dougherty, certified RV technician, received a question from a reader while he was serving as RVtravel.com’s technical editor regarding a “pyramid” which formed at the pipe base in the reader’s RV’s black tank. The reader thought he was taking measures to prevent this from occurring, and asked for suggestions. Read Chris’ response.
Yesterday’s featured article: Don’t use the wrong math comparing full-time to vacation RVing
Reader poll
Have you ever needed aid with a slideout stuck in the out position?
Please tell us 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.
Did you buy a lemon RV? Here’s more about RV lemons and lawyers who will represent you if you need help.
Quick Tip
Be aware of all road signs
Pay attention to road signs that warn against travel by vehicles towing trailers. If you missed the sign that warned of a “Dead End” ahead, would you be able to turn your vehicle around? What was the weight limit for the bridge ahead? Did you notice the height clearance for the overpass? You may not notice these types of signs because you’ve never had to worry about them in your passenger vehicle – you will have to worry about them in your RV.
These socks don’t stink!
If you don’t believe us when we say these compression socks really work, look at the overwhelmingly positive reviews and maybe you’ll change your mind. These socks provide instant relief to your arches and heels and work to increase blood and oxygen circulation, which helps reduce lactic acid buildup and aids muscle recovery in ankle and feet. Click here to learn more.
Website of the day
Top pet-friendly campgrounds
Fido wants to come too! This site, BringFido.com, is a great resource for all things dog-related and this list of the best dog-friendly campgrounds is very detailed and informative.
SWELL CONTEST OF THE DAY
How would you like to win a copy of RV electricity expert Mike Sokol’s book, RV Electrical Safety? Well, this might be your lucky day! In one of this past week’s Beginner’s Guide to RVing Newsletters we published a secret phrase. Simply email the phrase to us at RVcontests@gmail.com . We’ll select a winner at random out of all entries we receive today (September 23, 2020) by 11 a.m. Pacific time. Remember, you can only enter once and after we notify you by email that you won, you have 24 hours to respond or we’ll give the prize to someone else.
LAST WEEK’S WINNER of the Coleman Portable Butane Stove with Carrying Case was John Mifsud of Massapequa Park, New York.
Popular articles you may have missed at RVtravel.com
• Why Walmart is banning RV overnight stays at more stores.
• Airstream’s far-out (wacky?) ideas of the future.
• RVer takes pride in cheating campground reservation system.
#933-1
Trivia
Think a cloud is light and fluffy? Think again! According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the average cloud weighs about 1.1 million pounds (which equals 551 tons). The clouds float in the sky because the air below is even heavier.
*What year did a toilet first appear on TV? It’s a funny story… Read it in yesterday’s trivia.
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. Learn more or order.
Readers’ Pet of the Day
“Our little Cocker Spaniel, Bailey, always has to be included in all of our travels and adventures.” —Richard Cunningham
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.
Leave here with a laugh
My wife and I went out for a drive to see the changing autumn leaves when we noticed that one of our tires seemed to be low on air. We stopped at a gas station to fill it up. The wife was a bit taken aback when I asked her for some change. She asked, “Why in the world did they start charging for AIR?!” I looked at her and winked, “Inflation.”
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RV Daily Tips Staff
Publisher: Chuck Woodbury. Editor: Emily Woodbury. Senior editor: Diane McGovern. Social media and special projects 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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This newsletter is copyright 2020 by RVtravel.com
How about a web site that lists campgrounds that DO NOT allow dogs!
I seriously doubt if there are any…..hence, no list.
Givens Hot Springs will not allow any dog in their RV Park. This place is along the Snake River south of Marshing, ID. So there is at least one.
Tip of the day, pretty good article about prepping your RV furnace! One thing that happened to me was Wasp mud daubers building a nest in the furnace exhaust vent! Trust me you’ll know it as there will be black smoke coming out! Easy enough to fix, just wait till it cools down & relocate the little buggers. Then get one of those RV furnace screen kits on Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/JCJ-M-300-furnace-Outside-Fitting/dp/B00076WQBS
They cost about 20 bucks & take a minute to install!
Snoopy
Thanks, Dave. Here’s a link to an article on mud daubers, etc., that we ran awhile ago: https://www.rvtravel.com/lp-sniffing-bugs-its-time-to-watch-out/ 🙂 —Diane at RVtravel.com
In the joke of the day, where has the wife been? Every gas station that I’ve seen charges for air for the last 40+ years. BJ’s doesn’t but that’s A club.
It’s an old joke…..
Harris Teeter doesn’t!
Harris Teeter doesn’t!
WAWA’s don’t charge for air. Typically they have the lowest gas, diesel and E-85 (ethanol free) prices. The coffee and food is also good!
Kwik Trip/Kwik Star in the MN,WI,IA area do not charge for air. At least none of the stations that I have been to.
The picture of the pet of the day is not only dangerous but idiotic, it’s plain to see the drivers hand on the steering wheel so apparently they are driving with the dog in that position. I know it’s cute but what happens in an emergency, the dog is injured as well as having the accident, as Ron White says You Can’t Fix Stupid!
Yes, Bob, I thought the same thing. But then, I decided they could have been sitting in line waiting to check in at the campground. Let’s give them the benefit of doubt.
Not with the speedometer clearly showing 30mph
Please don’t be so quick to judge.
They could of been getting fuel or waiting in line somewhere.
🙂
Take a look at the gauges…he is moving but not fast, maybe 20 mph.
Completely agree that puts the dog and everyone nearby in danger.
When I started driving a semi truck one of the first things they teach you is to read every sign along the road. Once you back a 53’ trailer over a mile and half around curves and with traffic coming behind you, you’ll never miss another sign. I’ve been retired from truck driving 11 years and I still don’t miss a sign.
Bob…good advice….50 years ago my high school drivers ed teacher had us read every sign as part of our course. I’ve read every sign since and it’s kept me out of trouble several times through the years and it keeps me alert while driving.
How about a list of parks WHICH DON’T ALLOW DOGS OR ANIMALS aside from natural ones.
I chuckled when I read this line in Mark Polk’s trailer orientation article.
“RV orientation® video is a class I give similar to an RV dealer’s class given to the consumer after an RV is sold.”
What dealer does THAT? I’m sure there must be at least one or two, but the simple walk-through most dealers do hardly qualifies as “orientation”.
Most dealers do not even do a sufficient walk though. You need to be prepared to ask questions.
There are numerous posts about where the water pump is located, where the low point and fresh water drains are located and battery disconnects, among other things.
With all the newbies buying RV’s and TT’s this is going to escalate.
That and the fact that the owner’s manuals are mostly generic and not specific to a certain model.
Was in a Washington campground earlier this year and a woman had another camper showing her how to hookup and then use her new travel trailer. The dealer got her hooked up and sent her down the road. No instructions at all.
Our dealer guy spent a fair amount of time with us on the “walk through”. The part I didn’t like was when the so-called “technician” chimed in- “They can slap one of these coaches together in 8 hours!”
(Insert your brand name here…)
While I agree with Tommy’s general assessment, our RV dealer (Curtis Trailers near Portland Oregon) provided a free orientation class to about 30 recent RV buyers. The Instruction was over an hour and included a generic handbook. The instructors stayed until there were no more questions. Snacks were also provided. I was quite impressed.