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Issue 1436
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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Coming in Sunday’s newsletter…
We have a nice surprise for you in Sunday’s newsletter — information where you can download a free “2021 RV Model Year Guide.” If you’re in the market for a new RV, or simply curious about the latest developments in recreational vehicles, then this will provide lots of good reading. The fact that this is free, with no strings attached, makes it an especially outstanding (and rare) offer. Be sure and keep an eye oust for it on Sunday.
Page Contents
Today’s thought
“Everybody has to leave, everybody has to leave their home and come back so they can love it again for all new reasons.” ―
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Quesadilla Day!
On this day in history: 1890 – The United States Congress establishes Sequoia National Park.
Tip of the Day
Bad weather RV driving tips
By Russ and Tiña De Maris
A big motorhome may look invincible, and being up above the road-hugging level of a four-cylinder coupe, the view is great. But don’t let the view from the rig make you cocky. Weather is no respecter of height or size. A sudden blast of sheer wind can move your motorhome right off the road or whip your trailer into a frenzy of unexpected motion. Read how to be as safe as possible here.
Do you have a tip? Submit it here.
For a good sleep – don’t camp here!
You want a peaceful night’s rest? Then don’t camp by railroad tracks. If you’ve been RVing for long, you know that’s no joke. Many RV parks are located right along the rails – it’s cheap land. Read about RVtravel.com editor Chuck Woodbury’s worst RV “train” experience and watch his short (but illustrative) video.
Yesterday’s featured article: Heading “out West”? Don’t miss these BLM gems!
You may have missed these recent popular stories…
- Airstream Nest production halted
- Ford announces two new F-150 pickup trucks
- RV Electricity – 12-volt battery dangers (Warning: graphic content)
- Accurate RV tank gauges? This could be the real answer!
Reader poll
Do you bring bicycles with you on your RV trips?
Pedal over here and respond.
Quick Tip
Get that gunk off your rig!
“A tip for getting those nasty bug guts, bird droppings, or tree sap off your rig – try dampened Bounce dryer sheets! They work great, and won’t hurt your paint; you DON’T have to immediately go rinse or wash your rig after using them.
My DH keeps a box with his rig & window washing stuff; we use them quite often. Simply take a small bucket of water with you as you walk around your rig, dipping the dryer sheets in water as you go; you don’t need to scrub very hard (you’ll know when to start a new sheet, when the “gunk” doesn’t come off as easily)!” Thanks for the tip, Erinn Mayer!
Add a romantic mood to your RV with these flameless candles
There’s nothing like a candle to add a romantic glow to your home or RV. This set of three flameless candles fits the bill perfectly. And, boy, do they look real! They’re made of genuine paraffin wax with realistic dancing LED flames that add a festive or romantic mood to any room safely, even in the presence of small children and pets. Learn more or order.
Website of the day
The most unique U.S. camping destinations
Camp while you look for diamonds? Sure! Camp in a tree house? Yup. Even if you’re not the most adventurous camper, this list is worth a peek; there’s some pretty neat stuff here.
SECRET PHRASE: The USA has the longest cave system in the world.
Clubs and useful organizations
PLEASE NOTE: We may receive an affiliate commission if you join any of these.
• Harvest Hosts: Stay free at farms, wineries and other scenic and peaceful locations for free. Save 15% on membership.
• AllStays: The best website for RVers! Your membership will become your RV-bible.
• Overnight RV parking. Directory of more than 14,000 locations where you can stay for free or nearly free with your RV. Modest membership fee.
• Boondockers Welcome. Stay at homes of RVers who welcome you in their driveways, yards, farmland or other space on their private property. Modest membership fee.
• Escapees. Best Club for RVers: All RVers welcome, no matter what type of RV, make or model.
Trivia
Do you have foods that you enjoy eating now but hated as a kid? Each human is born with about 10,000 taste buds. Those taste buds are replaced every two weeks, so if you didn’t like broccoli one week, chances are you wouldn’t like it if you tried it again two weeks later. However, as we grow older, taste buds stop being replaced. Now, every time you eat broccoli, your taste buds like it more and more.
*Speaking of human senses… How many scents can your nose detect? We told you yesterday.
Hang up the heavy stuff!
RV walls aren’t exactly designed for having screws or nails driven into them. Enter acrylic mounting tape. This is a clear, double-sided tape that is sturdy enough to hang heavy objects and can easily be removed without doing damage to the walls. Get some on Amazon here.
Readers’ Pet of the Day
“This is Rascal, the “semi wonder dog.” He is 17 going on 18. We are cherishing every moment we have left with him and spoiling and pampering him. Unfortunately, he’s mostly blind and deaf but he still loves to play with his squirrel and his Frisbee. Believe it or not, he can tell time. He gets a string cheese every night at 9:00. By 8:45 he is sitting on the floor staring at us waiting for his treat.” —Greg Thompson
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
“As we waited for a bus in the frosty weather, the woman next to me mentioned that she makes a lot of mistakes when texting in the cold. I nodded knowingly. ‘It’s the early signs of typothermia.'” —Phil Noyes
Today’s Daily Deals at Amazon.com
Best-selling RV products and Accessories at Amazon.com. UPDATED HOURLY!
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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
Our chihuahua went blind in one eye and his brother and sister help him out the door and to the backyard. The picture above looks like a pom chi. She looks exactly like our little girl. She is 11. 18 eh? I guess we have a long way to go with her. Love that pic. Ours gives us that stupid look of what? Who me?
That’s one of the hardest parts of being owned by a pet, having to say goodbye. J will cry with you.
I’m sorry to hear of Rascal leaving you. I think that’s the hardest part of being owned by a pet…having to say goodbye.
Pet of the Day:
Unfortunately, we helped Rascal pass over to the other side two weeks ago. After 17-1/2 years his poor little heart gave out. He was the love of our life and he will always be in our hearts.
I’m not sure if dogs and humans go to the same place when they die but I know I just want to go where dogs go.
Give your best friend whether it is a dog or cat or whatever a hug and cherish the time that you’ve had with them.
We’ll miss you buddy.
Buttercup rv park and observatory in benson, Arizona is very nice. Next to tracks, horn blows every hour!
It’s Butterfield.
The noisiest campground I ever used was one that is the closest to some major historical sites, so no good option to go elsewhere. There was a very busy two lane road on one side, tracks on the other carrying Amtrak all day and freight all night. Just beyond the tracks is a very busy four lane highway. To top it off, an airport made sure that there would be no peaceful moments. I won’t rat them out because they do run a nice operation.
So what is the chemical in dryer sheets that wipes out the bugs so well?
I could be wrong (usually am) but I don’t think it’s a chemical more than the physical composition of the dryer sheet. The material is soft enough to not scratch a fiberglass gel coat but is textured enough to snag and remove bug parts. Similar to a fingernail but covers a larger area.
Will the dryer sheets take sap off of glass
Nope. Bugs of the worst type but not sap. Try Citrusolve for that. It won’t hurt the paint and takes that kind of sticky goop right off. P.S. ANY dryer sheet works – we get ours at the cheapest place possible.
Antibacterial gel removes sap… Does not hurt paint. Put a drop on sap, wait a minute and wipe off.
I have been told that autobody shops use denatured alcohol to take off pine sap. I think that it is a little higher alcohol content (91%) than rubbing alcohol. Before Covid, you could buy a large bottle of it in any drugstore for a couple of dollars. But, good luck finding it now. I don’t know how safe it is on RV fiberglass, but it works wonders on my Chevy Tahoe.
JimS, you are correct sir, alcohol works great at removing pine sap. But be aware it will also remove any wax that had been applied also.
Yesterday we left the Grand Canyon Railway Hotel and RV Park. Trains all night long blasting their horns! 😡. Great park, but those trains…
When you stay at at a place with a name like Grand Canyon Railway Hotel and RV Park, what do you expect. We’ve stayed there too and wasn’t surprised.
Re; Trivia…as a kid I despised onions! Now? can’t live without ’em!
Love your rascal, I just lost one of my 14yr old mix, she was kind and deaf and new the time as well. They leave such a hole. We bought electric bikes to use since we are both older now and love them. When we are going cross country to a particular place we stay at rest stops and they are mousey it we sleep well. I have lived near tracks so a train doesn’t matter, you soon get use to the sound.
I had a Rascal. They do not live long enough and leave too big a hole. Cherish each moment.
Don’t park near railroad tracks!!!! You gotta be kidding! In 40 years of RVing, my wife and I have decided one thing is certain: “If there’s an RV park, there are trains nearby!” Accept it! Live with it! There are worse fates.
Does it have to be “Bounce” brand dryer sheets or do any brand work?
NO it does not. I get the cheapest possible sheets from the cheapest possible store…
We camped between I- 75 and the CSX railroad. Where there was a road crossing I feel your pain. Then we went and did it again forgetting the first time. We won’t forget again😅😅
To Greg Thompson, I love your beautiful little Pom Rascal. We recently lost our Pom just after his 16th Birthday, we miss him terribly. They are a wonderful breed and really are SO smart!!!!
Starting yesterday I have read a few times that Tiffin has sold out to Thor.
Please tell me it’s not true!
I hope Bob Tiffin and family have not went that crazy.
Where did you read this? Please provide your sources.
I spent more time than I should have looking for some sort of confirmation of this ‘claim’ about Tiffin and found nothing. Anywhere.
I also found nothing.
You could just call Bob Tiffin 256-356-8661 ext. 2206 and ask him.
Bob Tiffin doesn’t need to sell out, he’s got sons that can take over when he hangs up the keys. His one son and grandson have started their 5th wheel business not called VanLeigh building high end units.