Issue 1498
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
“But remember, boy, that a kind act can sometimes be as powerful as a sword.” ―
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Date Nut Bread Day!
On this day in history: 1937 – The Lincoln Tunnel opens to traffic in New York City.
Tip of the Day
Dumping your tanks without moving your rig
Removing sewage or gray water from your rig’s holding tanks doesn’t necessarily mean driving or towing your RV to the dump station. Portable waste storage tanks, or “blue boys,” can tote your liquid waste to the dump station in jig time. They come in different sizes to accommodate various sizes of waste tanks.
Another option if your rig is parked close by but too far for your hose to stretch is to use a macerator pump to grind and pump sewage greater distances, even uphill, through a garden hose or small diameter plastic pipe. Some macerators operate on 12-volt power, others on water pressure alone. Some boondockers combine macerator pumps with portable waste tanks to move their sewage while saving their backs from heavy tank lifting. It’s not good to use a macerator at a popular dump station, as they are slow, and RVers in line behind you won’t be happy campers having to wait their turn.
Do you have a tip? Submit it here.
Today’s RV review…
In today’s column, industry insider Tony Barthel reviews the new 2021 Aliner Ascape Plus Travel Trailer. Tony says he “still can’t get over how many usable features Aliner is able to get inside this diminutive wedge-shaped trailer.” Learn more.
Did you read Tony’s review yesterday of the 2021 Coachmen Freedom Express Ultra Lite 252RBS 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 photo for comparison), tell us here by 9 p.m. Pacific Standard time today, Dec. 22, 2020. If it’s yours you’ll win a $25 Amazon gift certificate.
If this isn’t your RV, send us a photo of your RV here (if you haven’t already) for a chance to win in future issues.
This past week two people claimed their $25 gift card: Richard G. of Ventura, CA, and Jane F. of Fort Meyers, FL.
We’ll have another photo in tomorrow’s RV Daily Tips Newsletter (sign up to receive an email alert so you don’t miss the issue or those that follow). Some of these photos are submitted by readers while others were taken by our editors and writers on their travels around the USA.
RV electricity expert Mike Sokol interviewed on radio program
RVtravel.com electricity expert Mike Sokol is interviewed by Alan Warren of the syndicated radio program The RV Show USA. Mike is considered the national authority on RV electricity. In this half-hour interview, he and Alan discuss a variety of topics including how an RV can actually electrocute someone in certain conditions. Watch and listen (and learn).
Yesterday’s featured article: Buying a new RV without a warranty? Be careful
ESSENTIAL
Wow! So handy for your RV!
This will come in handy in any RV. Just plug it into one 110 outlet and instantly you’ll have a surge protector, six-outlet extender and 3 USB charging ports. The plug rotates so will fit in most situations. Learn more or order.
Reader poll
Have you made a campground reservation for this summer?
Think about it, then tell us here.
Quick Tip
Most RVers have a number of devices that use batteries for power. They include flashlights, smoke detectors, emergency radios, lanterns, clocks, TV remote controls — the list goes on. Many of us end up with batteries of various sizes in our junk drawers and we don’t know whether they’re brand new, used but still good, or completely drained. A small battery tester can come in handy. Some cost less than $8, and will likely save most RVers that much money with just a few batteries that are not mistakenly thrown away.
Website of the day
America Fun Facts
Reader’s Digest has a great list of America fun facts you may not know! Plus, each fun fact links to another interesting article, so click here when you’re feeling curious and have some time to kill.
?????? MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY ??????
This could save your life or you from suffering a serious illness. It’s already saved lives for millions of people around the world! Our staff always carries one with them. Its name says it all! And it costs less than $13!
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:
• 33 percent have spent one year or less of their adult lives traveling in an RV
• 85 percent do not wear, and never have worn, earplugs to sleep
• 46 percent believe that human activity has contributed to global warming
Recent poll: Would you pay $20 for a one-night stay with electricity in a Walmart parking lot?
Trivia
The soup that “launched a billion casseroles” debuted in 1934. What was it? Campbell’s Cream of Mushroom Soup, of course! And what’s the best selling Campbell’s soup? Their Classic Chicken Noodle Soup!
*When did the very first car accident occur? We told you about it yesterday.
Readers’ Pet of the Day
“RIP Krystal. Our traveling companion for 15 years made her last journey June 23rd and will be missed.” —Ken Pichelmann
She is so cute, Ken! We are sorry for your loss – they’re our babies, aren’t they?
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
I went to a furniture store last weekend looking for a large couch. The salesman showed me a nice one and said, “This sofa will seat five people without any problems!” I began laughing uncontrollably. I said, “Where the heck am I going to find five people without any problems?!”
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.
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.
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This newsletter is copyright 2020 by RVtravel.com
Used the shown battery tester for a couple of years now. Works really well.
Krystal is SO beautiful. So sorry for your loss.
Portable waste storage tanks, ( in my opinion ) are a waste of money! They take up way too much storage, don’t hold enough, & are messy to use. It was easier to unhook, & cleaner to move the trailer to the dump station.
RE; Leave Here With a Laugh…I actually LOL’d
Cheap battery testers aren’t much better than nothing. Here are two good ones that actually load test the battery. They’re a big help in troubleshooting.
ZTS – Mini Multi-Battery Load Tester Mini-MBTI often pull partial batteries out of cameras, GPS unit, game camera’s etc. so they don’t die at inopportune times. I sort the partial batteries into groups of 40%, 60%, 80% and then pair ones with similar capacity for use in remote controls, etc.– things where the batteries are easily changed.
ZTS Multi Battery Tester MBT-1 This one is close to $100. Not worth it for AA and AAA but it pays if you use a lot of button batteries.
Irv, you got to much time on your hands. 😀
Leave here with a laugh was great😆!
Sure was. Still laughing.
Gradually moving all AA & AAA batteries to NiCad recharge types. Have a great flashlight from Aldi’s, that recharges. Lots of flashlights.
You should be aware that rechargable NiCads put out slightly less voltage than regular alkaline types. This does not normally cause any problems but there are some devices that won’t run right with them.