Issue 1536
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
“Heaven can be found in the most unlikely corners.” ―
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is President’s Day! It’s also National Gumdrop day!
On this day in history: 1965 – A new red-and-white maple leaf design is adopted as the flag of Canada, replacing the old Canadian Red Ensign banner.
Did you see the news? Click here to read the latest issue of the Sunday News for RVers.
Tip of the Day
Simple ways to keep RV pipes fresh and clean
By Gail Marsh
“Away go troubles, down the drain!” This old Roto-Rooter advertising jingle has been looping through my brain lately, as we’ve recently experienced some trouble with our RV’s gray tank. Specifically, one drain empties slowly (shower) and another drain occasionally emits an unpleasant odor (kitchen sink). Maybe you’ve experienced similar challenges? Continue reading and see what Gail and her husband did to resolve these drain problems.
Do you have a tip? Submit it here.
Today’s RV review…
In today’s column, industry insider Tony Barthel reviews the new electric Palomino Revolve EV-2 Travel Trailer. He writes, “The Palomino Revolve series is a line of four travel trailers that employ very advanced solar and battery systems and have absolutely no propane aboard at all.” Learn more about these electric trailers here.
Tony’s reviews from this weekend you may have missed:
• Palomino SolAire eXpandable 147X
• Outdoors RV Creek Side 21RD MS
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, Feb. 15, 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.
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.
RVelectricity – This week’s J.A.M. (Just Ask Mike) Session
How to fix an open ground problem with a generator
Dear Mike,
We have a 2500 inverter generator and when we plug the surge protector into the generator it gives an open ground code. Do I need to use the surge protector with the inverter generator and, if not, can that open ground fry components in my RV? Also, is there a way to ground the generator? Thanks. —Leslie
Mike explains it all (in easy-to-understand terms) here.
• Join Mike’s Facebook group, RV Electricity.
• Read more of Mike’s articles here.
Telltale signs full-time RVing is not for you
Read this list from Liz Wilcox to see if you could “make it” as a full-time RVer. Or if you’re already a full-timer and don’t understand why you’re having difficulties adjusting, this list could help you pinpoint the problem. Get a chuckle here.
Reader poll
Where did you buy your current RV?
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
Let your drill clean your RV, really!
This is neat! This 4-piece cleaning brush attachment connects right to your drill – no more scrubbing! Deep-clean any surface with hardly any effort. The drill brushes are perfect for grout lines, corners, tiles, tubs, showers, carpets, wooden furniture, windows, shower doors, siding, linoleum, stoves, counters, fiberglass, grills, marble, and more. You can even wash your dishes! Learn more or order here.
Quick Tip
12-volt items not working? Check this!
This came in from CeeCee in our comments: “On our trip last fall, the battery disconnect switch by the door of our MH inadvertently got turned off. Be aware that if this switch is off, nothing that requires 12-volt such as furnace, fridge, lights, etc., will work. We were camping in below-freezing temperatures at the time. DH was looking for fuses, circuit breakers, broken connections, anything that might be the cause of the problem. If your 12-volt stuff doesn’t work, check this switch. It may save you much troubleshooting or a service call.” Thanks for the great tip, CeeCee!
Website of the day
radio.garden
We may have shared this website with you in the past but one of our readers, Doug, just sent it to us and we admired it all over again. Listen to live radio stations all over the world. Seriously, this will keep you entertained! Thanks, Doug!
Popular articles you may have missed at RVtravel.com
• This pickup truck drives upside-down – no joke!
• RV Shrink: Buying a rental RV – Good idea?
• What’s better for you: Class C motorhome or Class B van conversion?
#956-1
?????? MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY ??????
The miracle fruit! And no, it doesn’t make you… well, you know. These things make lemons taste like candy. It’s true! (Emily from the RVtravel.com staff has tried them). You know you’re curious…
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.
Trivia
Ready for a long road trip? Head to Australia and travel across Highway 1. It’s the world’s longest national highway, running about 9,000 miles. It circumnavigates the entire country. Wouldn’t that be a trip?
Readers’ Pet of the Day
“Meet our 15-year-old ‘Max’, who wants you to know he’s always ready to hit the road for as many RV trips as possible. His quest for camping and exploration is as strong as his owners’, who have been RVing for more than a year. In this photo, you will find him here getting comfortable after a long day.” —Karl & Jennifer Zinchak
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.
Check for gas leaks often by using this!
Russ & Tiña De Maris write: “We keep our natural gas leak detector tucked in the door pocket of our tow vehicle so we can check for leaks when we reconnect an LP bottle after filling. We also use it whenever we make up a new connection on a gas line, or ‘think’ we might have a leak. Here’s one you can pick up for a good price with lots of good reviews.”
Leave here with a laugh
A reader who calls himself “NOT FUNNY” (well, isn’t that ironic…) sent us this photo. Ha!
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 2021 by RVtravel.com
LH with a laugh was one of the best ever!
Laff of the day. In a smaller size, it could be reusable. Just rinse and it’s ready to go.
I have been trying to go to the radio garden site for over a couple months and its not working. I have tried multiple browsers and can not connect. I think that maybe the site has been disabled.
Hi, Michael. I just clicked on the website and it started right up. But I noticed it’s not a secure site, so your computer, or whatever you’re using, may be set to block it. Maybe you can adjust the settings to allow that one? Good luck! —Diane at RVtravel.com
I didn’t think of that. Thanks
You’re welcome, Michael. When I saw that it wasn’t a secure site, I thought ah ha! Maybe that was the problem. I hope it worked for you. Have a great day! 😀 —Diane at RVtravel.com
We did 15,000 kilometers in Australia in 5 months in a ’85 Toyota camper van. Did parts of Highway 1. Great country and people.
About the Trivia — We traveled on an off Hwy 1 in Australia for a full year. We circumnavigated plus trips up and down the middle (18,000 miles). Once in a lifetime but would do it again!
For the leave with the laugh, I wonder what the plywood be?
😆 I thought that was a typo, Dennis, then I went back to see what the joke was. Good one! Take care, and stay healthy! 🙂 —Diane at RVtravel.com
Excellent play on words…………………….
Oh that took me a while! Good one! 😂
Every motorhome operator should know what to expect when it breaks down. Ask a tow operator about the process. Observe a towing operation if you can. Research YouTube. The tow operators I’ve talked to will pull the axles only as a last resort. If you have a diesel coach, do you know where the air connection is to release your parking brake? Always something to learn.
Note of caution for all Class A owners. If you need to be towed you must use a tow truck with “wheel lift,” any other method will severely damage your front end. Also. if you have a diesel pusher you must pull the rear axles prior to towing, even if it’s just “around the block” or your transmission will be damaged.
This is so not true. If you have a straight axle (like most Freightliner chassis have), the tow trucks can tow your motorhome without damage…. and you never, never have to pull the rear axles….that is just about the most ridiculous statement I’ve ever heard…if you pull the axles you won’t have any rear tires on the ground. For the record, you do have to pull the drive shaft but certainly not the axles.
Ron, if I read your reply correctly, you are assuming they take the complete rear axel assembly out. You could not be more wrong! The axels being referred to are the axel shafts that bolt to the hub assembly, with a shaft that crosses to the rear differential in the center of the axel assembly. Removing the axel shafts (on both sides) is the same as removing the drive shaft on a front engine drive. The tires and housing remain on the vehicle and the wheels roll freely. I drove semi for 30 yrs and whenever we had a tractor towed it was with a “wheel lift”, and the axel shafts removed. If we had to be pulled out of a ditch they would use the tow hooks on the front frame. I hope this enlightens you. Happy trails.
Dear friend (who since passed away) & wife live(d) in eastern Australia. He was a retired 747 airline captain. Lived on huge sheep ranch in a beautiful mountain area. Bigger than life person. Invited us on 6 week trip, 6000 miles to the Outback (only 10% of Australians have been there), where it is red dirt roads, to southern coast, then eastern coast. Trip of a lifetime. Supplied a Toyota Landcruiser with snorkel & roo bars & camper. They pulled a trailer that had reinforced chassis, sides, to withstand flooding. Gourmet cooks, meals were unbelievable. The travel, scenery indescribable. Camped on the Cooper River in the Outback & talked to my Mom on satellite phone from there. Just made it into Outback as they closed the gates on the road in due to pending weather. Husband races, but driving the dirt roads was even more thrilling. Able to capture on video. Just so blessed to do that trip.
A fabulous life experience! Thank you for sharing this.
You are very welcome! It was only 6 weeks but a gazillion stories! Met a young couple w/young child from France at Penfold’s winery in S. Australia. Our friend invited them to join us for our private tasting. Then we went to lunch at another winery where we learned he worked for the French govt involved in helping the US during 9/11 attack. Calls with Bush, CIA, NSA, etc. Fascinating stories.
Loved Liz wilcox’s article on telltale signs Full-time rving may not be for you! Very well written, funny, and true.
LOVE Max!
Me too!
Our disconnect is inside the front storage bay. When you open the door the motion sensor light inside comes on. No light?, check the switch.
On the quick tip out disconnect switch is in the control panel with all the other switches so I put a piece of electrical tape over the switch so it doesn’t get accidentally turned off, I can easily pull it off if I need too but you know not to switch it off accidentally.
That small switch by the door is NOT the magical part of the problem if it is STILL on. It could be the solenoid relay that the switch activates. I have had mine in bypass mode for the past 12 years without ever having another event where I have lost all 12 VDC power to the inside of the motorhome either accidentally by unknowingly knocking the switch off or a solenoid failure.
I still have the salesmanship switch active in my motorhome with a indicator light active because it’s handy if I want to work on 12v item in the coach. Also regarding stinky gray tank, we occasionally use 6oz of 3 percent peroxide to kill bacteria, works great.
Hey thank you for the Website of the day ‘radio.garden’ ! I love internet radio and am always looking for new outlets. This one is great!
A wonderful website as I can now listen to the local ballgames back home! Going to pass onto everyone I know that travel.