Issue 1523
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
“No winter lasts forever, no spring skips its turn.” —Hal Borland
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Chocolate Cake Day!
On this day in history: 1880 – Thomas Edison receives a patent for his incandescent lamp.
Tip of the Day
How to get rid of carpenter ants
Here’s a tip from RVtravel.com contributor Roger Marble: “Carpenter ants are a special problem as they are not attracted to normal ant poison that is based on food and sweets. I had an infestation and after lots of research, I discovered that powdered boric acid sprinkled on the entrance and anywhere I could find them eventually (1 to 2 weeks) killed the nest. Boric acid used to be easier to find as it was used as an eyewash so you could get it at a pharmacy, but box stores like CVS, Walgreens near me do not stock.” [Editor: A Google search indicates it is available at most big box stores (sometimes as roach and ant killer), and sometimes even at dollar stores. And, of course, you can get it on Amazon.] Thanks, Roger!
Do you have a tip? Submit it here.
Today’s RV review…
In today’s column, industry insider Tony Barthel reviews the new 2021 Alliance Paradigm 365RD Fifth Wheel. As he reports, “What I think is most impressive is how the company tests each unit before it is delivered to the customer. Alliance actually fills the holding tanks and then takes the fifth wheels for a drive on a test course to make sure everything does what it’s designed to do. When it returns to the factory, the unit is thoroughly tested once again.” Learn more.
Did you read Tony’s review yesterday of the 2021 East To West Alta 2810KIK 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, Jan 27, 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.
This past week three readers claimed their $25 Amazon gift card: Grant C. of Tacoma, WA, Bob & Debby O. of Box Elder, AZ, and Tina S. of Titusville, PA.
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.
Drive your car right into luxury motorhome’s rear garage
Oh, come on now. Do we really need this German motorhome? No word on how much it costs but it’s well over a million, that’s for sure. Maybe two million. If you’re filthy rich and can’t stand the thought of RVing in anything short of the world’s most extravagant rig, then here you go. Watch the video.
Yesterday’s featured article: Finding the stuff you’ve “stored” in your RV
Reader poll
How many languages besides your native language do you speak FLUENTLY?
Cuéntanos aquí (tell us here!).
Wow! This is so handy!
What a great idea! Hook this on your steering wheel and you’ll have an instant ergonomic desk. It’s very light, but sturdy enough to support a laptop, lunch or notepad. It mounts quickly on the steering wheel and is easily stowed in the back seat pocket. We love this! Learn more or order.
Here’s an easy way to view your campground reservations on your map… See how here.
Helpful resources
• NATIONAL TRAFFIC AND ROAD CLOSURE INFORMATION
• ROAD AND TRAFFIC CONDITIONS ACROSS THE NATION
• WEATHER ALERTS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
• 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
Protect your RV shower from hard water stains
Hard water leaving its mark on your RV shower? You may be able to chase it away with a product like Lime-A-Way. Once it’s gone, banish it by “polishing” the shower walls with car wax. Putting it on the shower floor could lead to a dangerous slip, so be careful.
?????? MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY ??????
OMG! We laughed out loud looking at the photos of this! We can’t imagine this would end well… but we’d love to see someone try! Look here.
Website of the day
Here WeGo
If you’re familiar with Google Maps, this website and app should be fairly easy for you to use. It will tell you every possible way to get from point A to point B. But what’s cool about it is that you can drag the route wherever you want it to go, so if you want to take a detour to make a pit stop, or just take a road you’ve never traveled before, drag the route and it’ll re-adjust to your destination.
Popular articles you may have missed at RVtravel.com
• How to make the most of your stay in full-service campgrounds
• Destruction of motorhome from horrific crash hard to believe
• Bear enters home, lounges on couch. Sad ending to story.
#954-1
Trivia
According to BBC News, more than half of all U.K. airline pilots, 56 percent, have admitted to falling asleep while flying a passenger plane. Of that 56 percent, 29 percent said that when they awoke, they found their co-pilot asleep as well. Um… maybe it’s best we stick to RVing…
*What animal causes the most injuries to zookeepers every year? Betcha can’t guess… Find out in yesterday’s issue.
Don’t scream, just fix the screen!
This roll of screen repair tape is just what you need to fix those torn or ripped screens in your home or RV. Don’t waste money on a new screen! Cut as much tape as you need, stick it over the torn patch and you’re good to go. Learn more or order here.
Readers’ Pet of the Day
“The traveling beagle! She is spoiled.” —Holly Witt
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
Two cowboys are lost in the desert. One sees a tree that’s draped in bacon. “A bacon tree, we’re saved!” He shouts. He runs to the tree but is immediately shot dead by hundreds of bullets. It wasn’t a bacon tree. It was a ham bush.
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.
Mail us at 9792 Edmonds Way, #265, Edmonds, WA 98020.
This newsletter is copyright 2021 by RVtravel.com
My dog said ‘no’ to the mystery product of the day.
Loved the Mystery Product. Question. If you use Helium can you play Vollydog?
How do you drag the route with HERE WeGo?
I couldn’t get it to work either. But I didn’t download the app.
A little time and effort will “avoid” water stains. We have well water at home and in the MH. After drying yourself – take the towel and dry down the walls etc. Voila – no water spots, no stains. We have used this method for over thirty years and our appliances, sinks, wall tiles and fiberglass shower stall look like new.
I suggest caution on using lime-away and chemicals on some toilets with glass or porcelain bowls. I ruined one at home trying to remove a rust stain. Now the surface is porous and always dingy above the water line. (Read directions!)
Beagles rule!
Be very careful with boric acid around dogs as it is toxic to them.
I challenge anyone who really knows how to get soap scum and hard water spots off my rv shower doors. I gave up. Here’s what I’ve tried:
Vinegar
CLR
Cleanser
WD-40
Soft Scrub W/bleach
Bleach
With a few of these things I used a rotary scrubber as well.
The dog dryer was really funny- thanks!
Using body wash instead of bar soap is the first step, it greatly reduces scum. Also using a small squeegee on the door/walls helps reduce what dries on the surface.
1 part blue dawn liquid soap to 3 parts white vinegar in a spray bottle shake gently. Spray and let set 30 minutes or longer. It turns gooey. Rinse with hot water if a large build up repeat.
Try Isopropyl alcohol
I would pay money to watch the mystery product of the day in use, just putting that on a wet dog would be funny, and when you turned on the hair dryer that would be the best part, to quote Ron White “stupid can’t be fixed”.
Giving a cat a bath is more fun.
“Here’s your sign”
good laugh of the day
Building on the shower note, I found Mr. Clean Bath Scrubbers do a great job of eating away calcium buildup and soap scum. One sponge lasts a long time. Use gloves, as the sponges are powerful, and will take off your fingerprints.
Once I have the shower clean again, I use either a good car wax or Rain-X windshield treatment to help the water sheet away. I also added a tiny hook-side square of self-adhesive Velcro to an upper edge of the shower stall. It neatly holds a microfiber cloth to wipe down the shower after each use. No more scrubbing.
We finally broke down and bought a ‘portable’ water softener while staying in Houston. This has pretty much ended all the problems that come with water stains and calcium deposits on our fixtures. But, it has also added quite a few pounds of weight to our travel load. I told wifey she has to get rid of some of her flip-flops.
Years ago we also bought a portable water softener. Many campgrounds had such hard, rusty water and I found filling up the internal water from home added too much weight when added bikes also. With a softener we can fill up with water when we arrive. Had it now for probably 10 years and never had hard or rusty water again. They are absolutely the greatest to cut weight in a travel trailer or use with site water hookups.
We just arrived in Quartzsite yesterday. We hit the Pit Stop to fill up our onboard water using our own hose, water filter, and newly acquired water softener. Guess what. Now they won’t allow you to use any of the aforementioned equipment. This is a new requirement since the last time we were here two years ago. Had we known this beforehand we would have filled up at the last park we stayed in.
After I win the Powerball Lottery, I’ll order a VarioMobile with every option, including the sports coupe. At $780+ million jaclpot, anyone else want one.
Count me in if you’re paying!
Boric acid is the best thing I’ve ever found that kills those big water bug roaches. I sprinkle it around or sometimes get a soft drink lid and put some in that and slide it under furniture and such.
Tried Wego on web & Android. It is not ready for prime time. No help file (at all!). Only 3D navigation – horrible!
Cannot find the route drag feature, and, oh, no help file…
Changed the voice to US – detailed. It didn’t change…
Even the text editor on their feedback page was very weak.
It’s worth noting, ‘Here we go ap is not available for Androids.
I just installed on my Android. I think it’s great.
Works fine on both my Android units
I really like that lap top holder for the steering wheel but a word of caution, don’t have your computer plugged in while using it because the cord gets all tangled up in the steering wheel as you drive, especially on winding roads. Eating off of it while driving seems to work okay. Just trying to help.
Yes, like there aren’t enough distracted drivers. Now they have a place to put their McDonalds order. It should be laminated with a warning.
DO NOT USE WHILE DRIVING. There are people who will try.
You must be kidding? Thanks, but no thanks for your help.
Totally agree with Bob below. Your advice not thought out correctly.
I’m pretty sure Eddie’s comment was tongue-in-cheek. 😆 —Diane at RVtravel.com
Boric Acid
I recently bought a bottle of powdered orthoboric acid at Dollar Tree. It comes in a white plastic squeeze bottle similar to a ketchup bottle and is labeled as Roach & Ant Killer. It works on other insects, as well, by getting into their breathing mechanisms along the sides of their bodies and choking them to death as they walk thru the powder. Great Price, too.
The joke of the day about two cowboys wasn’t funny, it was punny.