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Issue 1452
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
“Life is like a dogsled team. If you ain’t the lead dog, the scenery never changes.” —Lewis Grizzard
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Seafood Bisque Day!
On this day in history: 1789 – John Jay is sworn in as the first Chief Justice of the United States.
Did you see the news? Click here to read the latest issue of the Sunday News for RVers.
Tip of the Day
RVers must take responsibility for their own safety
By Bob Difley
RVers must take responsibility for their own safety, especially when boondocking. One of the many joys associated with boondocking is finding those pristine, backwoods campsites or forest service campgrounds that have a minimal connection with civilization. At the same time, they have lots of birds, wildlife, trees, canyons, wild rivers and tumbling streams. Along with those amenities comes difficult access, no cell phone signal, no TV or radio reception, and little, if any, presence of authority. Just the way we like it … until a natural emergency occurs. Read more.
Do you have a tip? Submit it here.
Today’s RV review…
In today’s review, industry insider Tony Barthel reviews the new Solis 59PX class B motorhome from Winnebago. As he reports, the small unit reminds him a lot of the VW Westfalia camper vans of years past. But the new Solis 59PX definitely packs in a whole lot more features than those of the minimal Volkswagen campers. Learn more.
In tomorrow’s newsletter we profile Forest River’s new River Ranch fifth wheel trailer.
RV Electricity – This week’s J.A.M. (Just Ask Mike) Session
My WAG chart on solar panels and air conditioners
Hey Mike,
Please help me understand this. I’ve been following your recent articles about solar panels and air conditioners, and wonder if there’s a simple chart you can provide that will give us a hint of just how hard/expensive or easy/cheap this is to do. And do we really need a SoftStartRV to run an air conditioner with a 2kW inverter, or is that just sales hype? I really appreciate your straight talk on these complicated topics. —Doug Z.
Read Mike’s response (and find out what “WAG” is, if you don’t know) here.
• Join Mike’s Facebook group, RV Electricity.
• Read more of Mike’s articles here.
Spending time with Mother Nature is good for your brain
Those who enjoy the outdoors know that nature can have a positive effect on one’s attitude and feelings of well-being. But now, a professor claims it is also good for your brain. On average, Americans spend about 10 hours a day in front of a computer or other electronic device and less than 30 minutes a day outdoors. That is a claim made by David Strayer, a professor of psychology at the University of Utah, who says that all this time spent with technology is making our brains tired. Read more.
Reader poll
How many burners are there on your RV’s kitchen stove?
If you can’t remember, go count, then 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.
We’ve published a book!
The third edition of The ABCs of RVing by editor Chuck Woodbury has arrived! The book is for RV beginners, those just getting started who don’t even know the right questions to ask about buying or using an RV. It’s quick reading and will get newbies up to speed on choosing the right RV (for them), buying it at the best price, and then using it. It provides important information that will keep them out of trouble, both in the buying process and then on their trips. If you know someone who is considering buying an RV, please let them know about this. You can learn more about the book or order it for instant reading by clicking here. (The print edition should be available by next week.)
Quick Tip
Easier backing in after dark
It is always best to get to an RV park in the daylight, but if you ever need to back into a campsite in the dark it helps to have rope lights on hand. You can quickly plug them in and lay the rope lights on both sides of the parking pad to help illuminate and guide backing in. It is less stressful than trying to follow someone waving a flashlight around. Thanks to Nanci Dixon
Website of the day
Norcold Refrigerators
Time for a new fridge for your RV? Or just curious about what’s available? Check here for the RV refrigerator lineup at Norcold, the most popular maker of RV refrigerators in America.
Join the RVtravel.com Facebook Group RV Advice. Share tips with fellow RVers 24/7. Moderated by our editors.
Popular articles you may have missed at RVtravel.com
• RV Shrink: RV awning – Use it, don’t lose it!
• The peace and satisfaction of “living small”
• KOA to open new park: RVs not welcome
#936-1
Trivia
According to a 2018 study from Arizona State University, most people think dogs are cutest when they are between six and eight weeks old. However, it does vary slightly depending on the breed, according to National Geographic. They write: “Jack Russell terriers peaked at 7.7 weeks, Cane Corsos at 6.3 weeks, and White Shepherds at 8.3 weeks.”
Something better than duct tape? Yup.
Duct tape is the greatest thing for on-the-fly repairs of all kinds. But you may want to add Waterproofing Repair Tape to your tape deck. The manufacturer claims this stuff is so good that it’ll stick to almost anything, and it’ll do it even underwater. Read more about this handy tape here. Trust us, it’s sticky, durable, and you’ll want some for yourself.
Readers’ Pet of the Day
“Duncan was a rescue from the Denton Animal Shelter. He was just a handful when I first got him and all white except for his points. He had been feral and it took quite some time for him to warm up to me. Now he’s the most loving boy ever with his large blue eyes and Lynx Point markings. He’s a big boy weighing in at 13 lbs.” —Gaines
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
The sergeant-major yelled, “Private Philpott, I didn’t see you at camouflage training this morning!” Philpott replied, “Thank you, Sir!”
Today’s Daily Deals at Amazon.com
Best-selling RV products and Accessories at Amazon.com. UPDATED HOURLY!
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.
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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
Chuck, I was saddened to hear of the responses to the question about black campers. I built and operated a great RV resort in San Antonio and had many people of all kind come and stay with us. All were welcomed and treated with respect and they treated us the same way in return.
We travel with 3 kitties (a tiger, a tortie & a manx). 13 years & counting. We love having
our little family with us.
I love the tip for using rope lights to back into your spot after dark. I’ve not pulled into a campground after dark but it just may happen some day. Thanks Nanci.
Diane, good Reader Poll Question. No one blamed either political party for a stove having 2, 3 or 4 burners.
Ha! Thanks, Kelly. But it was Emily and/or Chuck. Tough to find any kind of question that can’t be twisted into some type of political statement these days! But, now that you’ve brought it up, I’m sure we’ll hear from someone about it. 😯 —Diane at RVtravel.com
A private who calls a sergeant-major “sir” will be in big trouble whether he went to training or not.
Well, I guess since it was just a joke it didn’t need to be that accurate. But I did learn something new — Thanks, Steve! (I love to learn!) They’re addressed as “Sergeant Major Smith” (or whatever), correct? Have a good night. 🙂 —Diane at RVtravel.com
If you call a sergeant “Sir,” you’ll get a response something like:
“You don’t call me Sir. I work for a living.
Now give me 20 pushups.”
In Boot Camp we had to call everyone Sir, enlisted or officer. 3 years later when serving with my Boot Camp trainer it was difficult to call him Sir.
Just wanted to say that’s one of the best cat photo’s I’ve seen. It looks like those that were so popular in the 80’s where there are two visions, but the way he’s looking right into the camera without looking into the camera is great! Purrrrrty boy there.
Thanks for finally putting up a cat as “pet of the day”. I’ve been wondering if we’re the ONLY cat people among your readers! 🙂
We always have our black kitty, Pepper, with us! She loves her 5th wheel!
We carry TWO cats with us in our 5ver. One looks very much like Duncan, with blue eyes and similar markings. He will turn 21 in January and his vet says he seems closer to 8-10 years. Managing the litter box is the only challenge.
nice to see that another animal rescue has taken place. we also have a Lynx Point cat exactly like Duncan and is also a male. We rescued our Sebastian from a shelter as well, originally looking for a Siamese breed, as my wife had grown up with Siamese cats. But we found Sebastian and fell we love with him immediately. He was rather timid in the beginning, and somewhat defensive coming into a new home, but he warmed up rather quickly joining our 4 other fur babies (dogs) and now he fits in quite well with no issues!
Some suggestions, – If you want to change RV Fridge, you have to stay with the brand built into unit, unless you want to rebuild the wall. The aluminum frame around the Rv was configured for the opening for the fridge, Dometic and Norcold have different dimensions, hence the different framing necessary for the unit to fit and have support. The same goes for water heaters, the opening is designed for either Norcold or suburban, not interchangeable unless you rebuild the wall section. Both fridge manufacturers are now coming out with 12VDC Compressor Units, opt for one of those if possible, your ice cream will love you for it.
I briefly looked at a Solis at an RV show years ago. I could not stand up in it, and in the drivers seat, the doors are so small that I cannot look out the side window. I will look at it again.
Really? Years ago? That’s interesting because the first Winnebago Solis was introduced by the company in 2019 with the first ones hitting show room floors in August 2019.
The Winnie LeSharo was an awkward RV to get in and out of as well as stand up in. Maybe that’s the one you’re thinking of.
When is NORCOLD gonna come out with a regular Compressor based REFER / FREEZER that runs off a 12 Volt Inverter.
They are 1000 times more safe than Gas Absorption!
The #2 cause of RV Fires is Gas Absorption Refrigerators!
Ok, lets have all the THUMBS DOWN Now!
Far better than a 120-volt AC compressor that needs an inverter are refrigerators with 12-volt DC Danfoss compressors. They are way more efficient while running from battery power than any 120-volt refrigerator. Read my first impressions on the Dometic 12-volt DC refrigerator using a Danfoss compressor here. https://www.rvtravel.com/rv-electricity-industry-update-dometic-12-volt-dc/
Thanks Mike!