Issue 1514
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
“In the long run, the sharpest weapon of all is a kind and gentle spirit.” ―
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Dress Up Your Pet Day! (What about this?)
On this day in history: 1954 – The Hudson Motor Car Company merges with Nash-Kelvinator Corporation forming the American Motors Corporation.
Tip of the Day
Move your RV TV for comfort
By Greg Illes
Maybe you’re one of the lucky ones and your TV is perfectly situated in your RV for the best viewing comfort. But all too often, the TV is placed more for décor reasons and less for ergonomics. Here are some tips to move your RV TV for your comfort.
Do you have a tip? Submit it here.
Today’s RV review…
In today’s column, industry insider Tony Barthel reviews the new 2021 Keystone Montana High Country 280CK Fifth Wheel. Tony writes, “I had a difficult time finding things not to like about this unit. Okay, I don’t like floor vents for heaters, but it’s not a big deal in a couples’ camper. This layout, the kitchen with a larger oven, and just the overall thinking that went into this model are going to have Montana with another big hit on their hands.” Learn more.
Did you read Tony’s review yesterday of the 2021 Coachmen Freelander 21RS Motorhome? If you missed it, you can read it here.
For previous RV reviews, click here.
NEW! Keystone debuts Arcadia, fifth wheel innovation. Read Tony’s initial thoughts. 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. 14, 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 the past week three readers claimed their $25 Amazon gift card: Frank H. of California, Clint G. of South Dakota, and Mark O. of Plainfield.
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 RV manufacturers hide production shortcuts from you
Here’s a great example of how an RV manufacturer can cut costs without the customer finding out. They save a dime wherever they can when the work will be hidden from view, where few buyers will ever bother to look. Here’s one example how some lazy production work affected an RV’s heater performance.
Yesterday’s featured article: RV inspectors: Not all created equal
Lightweight, waterproof, foldable backpack perfect for RVers
Ultra-light, ultra-durable, and ultra-handy for RV trips, this backpack is perfect for small-space living. Pack folds into a tiny sandwich-sized pouch, perfect for storage or for use on airplane trips. Many pockets, including two water bottle slots, make this waterproof pack great for hiking, camping, or day-trips. Learn more and view all of the colors here.
Reader poll
How often do you use an alarm clock to wake up in the morning?
BEEP, BEEP, BEEP… Tell us here.
Recap of RV-related recalls for the previous month.
Quick Tip
Outdoor rug anchors and garden/patio lights all-in-one
Many RV parks do not allow putting stakes in the ground. To anchor down our outdoor rug we paint large coffee containers black, fill them with cat litter and use the containers to weigh down the rug edges. You can cut a slit in the top and place an inexpensive solar-powered garden light in the container to provide outdoor lighting. You can also use the containers and lights even if not putting out the rug. Thanks for the outdoor lighting and “stay put” tip to Jim G.
Website of the day
The Ultimate Route 66 Travel Guide
We’ve seen a lot of Route 66 travel guides, and we’re not sure we’d say this is the “ultimate” one, but this state-by-state breakdown of the famous route by Travel + Leisure does have a ton of great ideas for things to do and see.
?????? MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY ??????
What the heck would you do if you saw these hanging in someone’s RV window? We’d probably scream … then call the police!
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:
• Of the men who answered, 72 percent say they never wear a neck tie
• 77 percent have taken a CPR class
• 69 percent have never taken a self-defense class
Recent Poll: Do you plan on selling your RV or buying an RV in 2021?
Trivia
In Florida, it is legal to break a car window to save a pet from overheating. Note: Do not leave your pets in cars on hot days!
*On the planet Uranus, how long does summer last?
A.) 10 months
B.) 2 years
C.) 19 years
D.) 42 years
We told you yesterday.
It’s time to clean your CPAP machine!
One of our past surveys told us that 53% of you (or your partner) use a CPAP machine. Wow! When was the last time your machine was cleaned thoroughly? They get very dirty! This highly rated cleaning kit will get out all those yucky germs and bacteria. The extendable brush will expand to 7 feet, but folds up into a small plastic bag so as to not take up too much room in your RV. If you use a CPAP, you’ll want to order this here.
Readers’ Pet of the Day
“Dakota, our rescue dog, seems to be praying to the rain gods to ease up on this Colorado monsoon season. We are spending the summer in Westcliffe, CO, and the rains come every evening.” —Sylvia Elders
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
You can find this shirt and others like it on Amazon. You’ll get a lot of laughs!
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
Looks to me like Dakota wants a belly rub!
When reaching “Dante’s View” in Death Valley some years ago we came upon several elderly gents on Harley’s. They all had the customary leather motorcycle jackets, but instead of some nasty sounding club name, they had the “Sons of Arthritis” ‘colors’ along with the Ibuprofin Chapter thing. Nicest bunch of guys you could ever meet!
Please isn’t there some way you can block these obnoxious ever present adds about how to wipe/clean your rear end with water Verses paper ??? Today’s picture is ridiculous!
Sorry, Howard. I agree, and will ask one of our IT folks about it. In the meantime, if you reload/refresh the page it should switch out the ad which is auto-inserted by Google. 🙂 —Diane at RVtravel.com
My wife and I have used bidets and don’t mind them at all. To each his own.
Just don’t look at it…
On the sand/coffee can anchors with lights, Could you please turn the lights off when you retire for the night? THANK YOU!..
With being solar light they should be fairly dim.
I think all states should allow you to break car windows when a pet is in DISTRESS inside on hot day.By the time you get police on the seen it may be too late.
We actually saw a dog not responding on a hot day and had to wait for the cops to arrive. They did break the window and got the dog out. Luckily, some water and shade and he responded.
BAD part was is the owner admitted she was was inside a Petsmart store for over an hour buying dog food and other things.
Petsmart allows you to take your pet into the store!!
By the way, she was cited for cruelty to animals.
I like that mystery product. I would hang it at home to keep away the house flippers.
In response to the outdoor rug anchors unless you travel with cats I would use water jugs as these would be heavier than cat litter on no extra weight when traveling. I have used this when the pad I’m on is not able to accept my screw in dog tie out anchors, they also work to hold the awning stable.
Would be hard to make your solar lights stand still in a jug of water. 😉 Joking aside, I was thinking how I would do this as well as I do not have cats. Maybe just shovel some dirt or sand in the containers. There should be some of that wherever I am going.
A slit in the lid of a coffee can or the neck of a milk jug should hold the post of a solar light just fine while filled with water. Just saying. 👍
Touché. I never thought of that. I will need to add that to my list. Easier than those metal stakes and provide light. Win-win! And becomes win-win-win without grasshoppers. 🙂
We use the puck-type solar lights and set them on top of our water-filled buckets.
Filled water jugs are supposed to keep garasshoppers away also! 😉