Issue 1510
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
“If you hang out with chickens, you’re going to cluck and if you hang out with eagles, you’re going to fly.” ―
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Bubble Bath Day!
On this day in history: 1790 – George Washington delivers the first State of the Union address in New York City.
Tip of the Day
Beware of RV bumper junk
By Jim Twamley
In my RV travels I have seen all kinds of “bumper junk” attached to both the front and rear of RVs. It’s understandable RVers want to take along things that make RVing more fun. Some don’t have the extra storage capacity required to stow things like ladders, BBQs and bikes. The only places left are the roof, ladder and bumpers. But beware of all the RV bumper junk. Find out why here.
Do you have a tip? Submit it here.
Today’s RV review…
In today’s column, industry insider Tony Barthel reviews changes to the 2022 Winnebago Travato 59G. As he reports, “Winnebago has made some upgrades based on their passionate and enthusiastic following of Travato owners.” See what those upgrades are here.
Did you read Tony’s review yesterday of the 2021 Four Wheel Campers Flatbed Camper? 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, Jan. 8, 2021. 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.
In this past week two readers claimed their $25 gift card: Karen K. of Richfield, MN, and Frank H. of California.
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.
How robots build cars, but not RVs
On each stop of an RV assembly line, workers with power drills and staple guns piece together one part or section of an RV. Considering that so many people — including those with minimal skills — touch each RV in the production process, it’s no wonder that the level of quality of the RVs they turn out is all over the place. Now, contrast that process with the fascinating scene in this video in a German Mercedes-Benz factory, where robots perform all but the final detail work. Watch the video.
Yesterday’s featured article: Two NYC millennials see an RV up close and personal
Hanging out with mops and brooms
Most RVs aren’t equipped with broom closets. Got a basement storage compartment long or wide enough to stick those long-handled tools? Stick ’em up to the ceiling by attaching spring-loaded broom clips to the lid of the compartment. Here’s the ever-RV-popular Command Strips version.
You may have missed these recent popular stories…
- Service attendant overfills propane tank, RV almost goes up in flames
- RV Review: My favorite RVs of 2020
- The scary truth about thousands of catalytic converter thefts
Reader poll
How frequently do you drink a soft drink?
Take a sip then tell us here.
Quick Tip
Use cordless drill for rear stabilizer jacks
My Keystone Cougar fifth wheel trailer has manual crank rear stabilizer jacks. By using my cordless drill with a special socket sized for the jack, deploying and retracting the jacks is a breeze. No more being stooped over and cranking like crazy with the manual wrench. Thanks to Ray Burr at loveyourrv.com.
?????? MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY ??????
Think you’re having a bad day? You won’t after you take a look at this…
Website of the day
Quick Draw
This will keep you busy for a few minutes! See if Google can guess what you’re drawing (make sure your volume is up).
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.
Protect your RV “pigtail”
That 7-way connector on your travel trailer or fifth wheel is a critical component. When not plugged into your tow rig, the thing is susceptible to the onslaught of dirt, rain and even bugs. Here’s a plug cover that slips right over your precious plug and keeps out the crud. One user says, “This works perfectly to keep the plug on my RV clear. I remove it when not in use and place it in my ‘RV emergency tool kit.’ This way, it’s not knocked around when driving.” Learn more or order.
Trivia
Fortune cookies are not from China. They were invented in the early 1900s in San Fransisco by Makoto Hagiwara, who served them at his tea garden.
*Why is it illegal to own a hamster in Hawaii? It’s fascinating, really… We told you yesterday.
Readers’ Pet of the Day
“Our Shih Tzu getting ready to light up her cigar.” —Alan Householder
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
Do they allow laughing in Hawaii or is it just a low ha?
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
I bought one of the 7pin pigtail covers for our Prowler TT last year and couldnt get it on. I tried multiple times (I dont give up easily) and could only get it about 2/3 of the way on. Reviews online looked pretty good and mention a tight fit.
i have one on my 5th wheel pigtail and have never had a problem getting it on or taking it off.
I bought one as well and it took some effort to get it on! Maybe try just a touch of lubricant on it.
If it is that tight trapped air could be keeping it from fully seating.
Mine was very hard to get on. But the real problem was when I took it off. It was full of water and had corroded the plug.
I have a fifth wheel and just put it in the “hose compartment” behind the hitch when I unhitch.
You would have been better if you left it uncovered so it would dry out after getting wet.
Ours wasn’t hard to get on, but when I took it off, it was full of water also.
It only goes on one way check to make sure your lining up the notch on the pig tail to the notch on the cap. And it is quite a tight fit that’s how it keeps fine dust out.
Thanks for showing us the Quick, Draw! site! It’s a lot of fun!!
That cover doesn’t seem like a good idea to me. Leave it open and spray a coating on it, but not WD-40.
Thanks for today’s Readers Pet of the Day – the Shih Tzu smoking a cigar is my favorite so far. I found myself scrolling back to take another look and enjoy another smile and chuckle!
One day my dog emerged from the cat box with what looked like a stogie sticking out of her mouth.
Gross! 😯 —Diane at RVtravel.com
My vet said that some dogs will do that and there isn’t much you can do to stop them but I managed to break her of doing that.
Hi, Bob. Yeah, out of all the dogs I’ve had (in 70+ years) there was one that would go out into the yard and have a feast (on dog poop). There was even a report on KOMO News recently about why animals did that: https://komonews.com/news/consumer/why-is-the-dog-eating-the-cats-poop I still think it’s gross. 😯 Have a good night. —Diane at RVtravel.com
Almond rocca!
I heard “Today’s Thought” put in a different context. “It’s hard to soar like an eagle when you work with a bunch of turkeys.”