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Issue 1469
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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Happy Veterans Day! Make sure you read last Saturday’s newsletter for a special note to all those who served and who are serving. And read an essay about the day and a personal tribute from Mike Sokol too.
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Today’s thought
“Courage isn’t having the strength to go on – it is going on when you don’t have strength.” ―
Need an excuse to celebrate? It’s Veterans Day! It’s also National Sundae Day!
On this day in history: 1926 – The United States Numbered Highway System is established.
Tip of the Day
Adjusting your RV mirrors for maximum viewing
By Mark Polk
RV EDUCATION 101®
Most RV mirrors I see are not adjusted properly for maximum viewing alongside the RV. The best way to check your mirrors is to stand in front of your coach (or tow vehicle) and sight down the side. The inside edge of the mirror head should look like it is just touching the side of the coach or trailer you are towing. On the passenger side of the coach, you should set the mirror flush with the outside edge of the awning arms. If the mirror is too far in or out, you are losing valuable viewing area.
ONLINE VIDEO TRAINING COURSES BY MARK POLK
• Drive Your Motorhome Like a Pro
• Tow Your Fifth Wheel Like a Pro
• Tow Your Travel Trailer Like a Pro
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Save even more on a SoftStartRV!
Check out this special holiday savings offer on the incredible new device that allows you to run your RV’s air conditioner in low-power (or alternative power) situations when you could never run it before. SAVE BIG NOW! Learn more.
Today’s RV review…
Today’s RV review…
In today’s column, industry insider Tony Barthel reviews the Homegrown Trailers Timberline Travel Trailer. As he reports, this is a unique, beautifully made travel trailer perfect for weekend getaways. Learn more.
Did you read Tony’s review yesterday of the 2021 Grand Design Imagine 17MKE Travel Trailer? If you missed it, you can read it here.
For previous RV reviews, click here.
Is this your RV?
If it’s yours and you can prove it to us (send a couple of photos for comparison), tell us here by 9 p.m. Pacific Standard time today, Nov. 11, 2020. If it’s yours you’ll win a $25 Amazon gift certificate.
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Buy or sell an RV • Rent an RV from a private party • Stay overnight for free at farms & wineries • RV parts and accessories at Amazon • Free RV campgrounds. • Join America’s best RV club
National Parks contain volcanoes with highest threats
According to the latest U.S. Geological Survey National Volcanic Threat Assessment, 34 of the volcanic systems (about 21 percent overall) mentioned are either entirely or partially within areas managed as national parks or national monuments. Learn how volcanoes are categorized according to their threat level, and which ones made this list.
Yesterday’s featured article: Zap that filthy RV awning – With Mr. Clean’s help
Secrets of RVing on Social Security
Author Jerry Minchey takes you on a journey that lets you discover how you can travel around the country and live the fascinating RV lifestyle for far less than it costs to live in your sticks-and-bricks home. Among other things, he shows you step-by-step how to enjoy the RVing lifestyle while traveling and living on just your Social Security income. Learn more or order.
Is your RV packing on the pounds? Try these 10 steps to shed some weight.
Reader poll
Do you bring an electric toaster with you when RVing?
Make some toast, 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.
Did you buy a lemon RV? Here’s more about RV lemons and lawyers who will represent you if you need help.
Quick Tip
Carpet those cupboards…
“Reference to RV storage in cupboards. I went to Lowe’s and bought carpeting for all of my outdoor and indoor storage and cabinets. It creates a noise buffer and keeps everything in place. Haven’t had any issues with sliding or travel movement.” Thanks for the tip, Chuck Webb!
Thinking about joining AllStays?
Your membership includes a massive online directory of campgrounds (including free ones) with rankings. It also includes interactive maps where you can pinpoint public lands, state and federal parks. Find RV-friendly truck stops, RV-friendly Walmarts, rest areas, dump stations, fraternal lodge parking, propane sellers, weigh stations, road hazards, motels with RV parking, RV washes and much more! Click here.
Website of the day
10 Best National Parks in the U.S. For Stargazing
This article from Travel + Leisure will make you want to camp out under the stars! Check out these amazing places to stargaze across National Parks in the U.S. Wow!
Popular articles you may have missed at RVtravel.com
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• RV Travel’s guide to DIY projects and RV mods to do while you’re stuck inside
#941F
Trivia
The invention of the teabag was an accident. New York tea merchant Thomas Sullivan sent out samples of new tea leaves to some of his customers in small silken bags in 1908. The recipients assumed the bags were supposed to be used the same way their metal infusers were, so they placed them right in the hot water. He got such praise for his brilliant invention that he began designing teabags for commercial production.
*If you were to drive into outer space, how long would it take you to get there? We told you yesterday.
Easily clean those stubborn bugs off your RV
The Microfiber Mesh Bug and Tar Sponge has millions of tiny fibers embedded in the microfiber cloth that grabs and holds the dust and dirt. It is so effective it even cleans without chemicals, saving both time and money. The secret of this sponge lies in its unique, double-layer microfiber mesh. Older nylon bug sponges can harm your clear coat, but this one is completely paint safe. Learn more or order.
Readers’ Pet of the Day
“Our Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen (PBGV), Phoebe, goes everywhere with us, whether it is RVing or sailing!” —Patricia Otto
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
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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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Just wanted to add: I like the comment section as much as the entire newsletter. I do miss not being able to add support to others comments though.
Mirrors – If you’ve ever traveled through Mexico you would know they sometimes put traffic sign posts right at the edge of the pavement. Then they mount a sign on said post. this puts half the sign in the traffic lane. Lots of the roads are narrow anyway, thus causing even further problems. My experience shows many of these signs are right at the height of my mirrors, so I have to drive around the signs.
For this reason I adjusted the mirror housing outside edge to be extended no further than the outside edge of the housing for the slide topper awnings. So the mirror sticks out no further than the widest part of the coach. Granted, this reduces the field of view somewhat, but as mentioned previously, I “Wobble” some to view all areas around the coach. I think I always did this anyway. I’m constantly trying to stay aware and out of the way of others.
I have become accustomed to this mirror position and never feel the need to return them to a wider stance.
I wouldn’t use carpet to line cupboards — it’s cloth, it collects dirt, and when you wash it, it takes a long time to dry. Instead, we use “Easy Liner” brand shelf liner. It’s made of rubber, or a rubber-like plastic & comes in a roll that unrolls to be 12″ wide by 20′ long & sells for under $10 on Amazon. It doesn’t slide around, it dampens noise, and when it’s dirty, just rinse it in the sink, hang it up to dry for an hour and it’s ready to use again.
Forgot to add that it also comes in a wide variety of colors.
Go to Dollar Tree and get a roll or two, only a $1.00! Use it all the time in the RV for any thing you don’t want to slide.
Our Newmar MH is up for sale. Going to build new house. But excellent video series on YouTube on how to adjust mirrors and a host of other tips. Especially the blown tire clip, you must see it, it could save you life.
Working for OCTA, driving 43′ busses & 63′ articulating busses, we adjusted the mirrors while seated in the drivers seat as precheck. Different driver different mirror position, and very important to adjust your seat periodically during your day (and mirrors), for safety, fatigue, and health. Finally when using your mirrors “rock & roll” every time, moving forward and back side to side for maximum viewing.
I agree with the comments below but from a different standpoint. I am only 5 foot, the mirrors need to be adjusted differently for me than for someone 6 foot.
The process is the same
When I started driving semis we learned to adjust our mirrors so we couldn’t see the side of our trailer without a slight tilt of our head to one side or the other, this way we could see exactly what was coming up either side. When I finished my career driving school buses invariably getting onto another drivers bus the mirrors would be adjusted to where at least half of the mirror was looking at the side of the bus as if they couldn’t remember that the bus was painted yellow with black lettering, the mirror is to see what’s behind you or beside you. If you can’t remember what the side of your RV looks like take pictures and put them on the dash, but adjust the mirrors the way they should be. I’ve seen far to many RVers move from lane to lane dangerously because they can’t see what’s beside them.
My high school driver’s ed teacher always told us, “You don’t need to see whether your door handles have fallen off.”
Sometimes I have doubts about the persons giving advice on RVing. Most of us have Mirrors that adjust independently of the outside frame of the mirror housing consequently the advice given in this instance might only be useful if you have mirrors that the whole assembly moves when adjusted. At best this needs a statement relative to the type of mirror and frame is one the vehicle.
I really only use the mirrors while I’m behind the steering wheel, so that’s where I am when I adjust them, not standing in front of the RV. Also, the electric switch to move the mirrors is on the dashboard, not on the grill. Maybe I’m missing something in the article, but I cant follow the logic of adjusting the mirrors while standing in front of the vehicle. I do check the adjustment every time I back up, but the only reason I can think of to re-adjust the mirrors is if someone else drove the RV or messed with them while it is parked. Aint happened yet. I have had other large vehicles that I had to adjust manually, so that switch spoils me.
After four years of driving my coach I realized that if I adjusted my mirrors to see the back corners it made backing much easier.
Not buying that thing on the mirrors without some more explanation of the logic behind it. Personally, I run mine as far out as possible, adjusted so that the “inside” of the image in the mirror just includes the back corner of the rig. This gives a bit of an angle to the view, decreasing the size of the blind spot immediately behind.
I agree. This may be true to some extent, if it is a fixed mirror and frame. Mine has mirrors that move inside the outer mirror frame. If someone is having that much trouble adjusting mirrors, maybe they should think twice about driving that big rig down the road! 🤓
Ya, I’m not buying the mirror item either. Mirrors themselves are not all the same. Some are just fixed glass in a movable frame, which is what the author seems to be using. But many are adjustable glass in a fixed frame, which would have no relationship to the author’s instructions. Mine also slide to extend further away from, or closer to, the side of the vehicle. This too makes the author’s instructions not applicable. I agree with all those here who adjust the mirrors from the driver seat. That would apply to ALL mirror types.