Issue 1581
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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Page Contents
Today’s thought
“Somehow I can’t believe that there are any heights that can’t be scaled by a man who knows the secrets of making dreams come true. This special secret, it seems to me, can be summarized in four Cs. They are curiosity, confidence, courage, and constancy, and the greatest of all is confidence. When you believe in a thing, believe in it all the way, implicitly and unquestionable.” —Walt Disney
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Garlic Day!
On this day in history: 1987 – The Simpsons first appear as a series of shorts on The Tracey Ullman Show, first starting with Good Night.
Did you see the news? Click here to read the latest issue of the Sunday News for RVers.
Tip of the Day
Beat the heat: How to keep your RV cool this summer
By Julie Chickery
Summer is quickly approaching and it’s the most popular time of year to hit the road in your RV. The problem is it can get pretty hot inside. Here are a few tips guaranteed to help you stay cool while enjoying your summer travel. Continue reading.
Do you have a tip? Submit it here.
Today’s RV review…
In today’s column, industry insider Tony Barthel reviews truck campers from Capri Camper. Are these the most affordable truck campers? Find out when you take a peek inside here.
Tony’s reviews from this weekend you may have missed:
• 2021 Surveyor Legend 240BHLE Travel Trailer
• 2021 Coachmen Chaparral X 355FBX Fifth Wheel
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 time today, April 19, 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.
RV Electricity – This week’s J.A.M. (Just Ask Mike) Session
Warning! Lightning season is coming soon; protect your RV
Dear Mike,
So, last week a huge bolt of lightning hit a utility pole about 100 feet from my camper. It completely destroyed the pole (literally cut it in half). Well, apparently it followed the electric or cable wire into my camper. And yes, I had one of those surge protectors plugged into my electric source at the plug, and my camper was plugged into it. Apparently it didn’t help. Here is what I know. … Continue reading the letter and Mike’s response.
• Read more of Mike’s articles here.
This is so funny!
If we saw someone with this in their car’s or RV’s cigarette lighter, we’d want to be their friend – it’s hilarious! This “FIRE MISSILES” cigarette lighter cover fits into all 12-volt vehicle accessory lighter sockets. It’s just designed for show, but it’ll give anyone in your vehicle a good laugh. Learn more or order. (This would make a great gift for someone with a sense of humor!)
Lemon law attorney: “Don’t buy a new RV!”
In this video, Michigan lemon law attorney Steve Lehto discusses the continuing epidemic of poor-quality RVs. Watch the video.
Reader poll
Are you an only child?
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
?????? MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY ??????
Wow! Have you ever seen anything like this before? This is neat! We might buy ourselves one…
Quick Tip
What to do about a sticky sewer valve
The sewer and gray water valves on your coach should operate smoothly with little effort, but sometimes they don’t. This is because they get dirty, the lubricant fails or something gets jammed in the seals. What’s worse is that this frequently leads to leaking … and a surprise when you remove the sewer cap. If this happens to you, you might need to replace the valve seals. Once the tanks are emptied and cleaned, disassemble the valves using the four bolts around the outside and remove it. Replacement seal kits are available for your particular valve. Clean the entire assembly and then lubricate with Dow Corning 111 valve grease. This is a long-lasting valve lubricant that will help your valves last a long time. Replace the seals, reassemble the valves and test with clean water for leaks. Voila … You’re done!
From Chris Dougherty, Certified RV Technician
Website of the day
Where to travel around the world in a camper van
This list of where to travel around the world (including North America) in a van is super helpful. It even tells you where you can rent vans in each country and how much it will cost you. Get to planning!
If you missed yesterday’s Good News: Things to smile about column, read it here. The video of the grandmother is not to be missed!
Popular articles you may have missed at RVtravel.com
• 2020 Ford Expedition review: Big, bad***, expensive
• Oh, an unimaginable horror! Be careful not to do this
• “We’re (finally!) towing a dinghy and loving it!”
Give your phone or tablet a full-sized keyboard
How neat is this? This tiny, collapsible Bluetooth keyboard connects to your phone and tablet so you can type comfortably. The 5-ounce palm-sized keyboard can be folded into your pocket or backpack to carry around. All you have to do is press “Connect” to quickly pair with your devices. Check it out here.
Recipe of the Day
Southern Style Blackened Shrimp & Grits
by Debbie Elliott Vair from Wake Forest, NC
The flavors in this Blackened Shrimp and Grits are so perfect. This is a true Southern or Cajun dish. The blackened shrimp are seasoned just right. No seasoning overpowers another. You taste the blackened seasoning, pepper, red pepper, and cayenne. Served over creamy grits with a gently poached egg, you could have this for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. It’s an impressive meal that’s very easy to make. This recipe takes shrimp and grits to the next level.
We want to make this! Get the recipe here.
Did you miss this weekend’s recipes?
• Meg’s Homemade Crock Pot Beef Stroganoff
• BBQ Pulled Chicken Puffs
Trivia
The average American spends about 38 hours each year stuck in traffic. Yikes!
Readers’ Pet of the Day
“This is Scully! She loved traveling so much she wouldn’t sit down while we were driving. Sadly she jumped over the rainbow bridge but we still have lots of traveling pictures of her!” —Carol Hamilton
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. No blurry photos, please! Please do not submit your photo more than once. Thanks!
Cooking for two? It’s never been easier!
This cookbook from the beloved America’s Test Kitchen brings you 650 delicious recipes specifically designed for just two people! 150 of those recipes can be on the table within 30 minutes or less. This cookbook has it all! Look through some of the recipes, read the amazing reviews, or order here.
Leave here with a laugh
The first rule of the passive-aggressive club is… You know what? Never mind. It’s fine.
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
Being of Cajun heritage, I (and many other Cajuns) take a bit of exception to blackened anything. This is a new concept (40 years maybe) invented by Paul Prudhome when he was in New Orleans. But mind you, most Cajun cooks would throw burned food to the chickens. Also, Cajun is about taste not heat.
Skully is beautiful mine is kodiak we just stsrted pics more to come
I purchased the Fire Missles button for my husband. We had a great laugh with it, but it actually helps diffuse a bit of the road frustrations while pressing it!
When I worked in Chicago I spent that much time in traffic every 2-3 weeks
Your Trivia insert was interesting! Apparently, they never asked people who work or have visited Yellowstone and had to deal with Bison jams! LOL We had one yesterday that the cars were over 2 miles back from the herd, dead stopped!
And by the time that last car gets up to where the jam started the Bison will likely be gone. Been there.
YNP is a horrible place to be stuck in a Bison – Bear – Bighorn Sheep – etc. Jam! The scenery is so unpleasant. Sad that I have to work there.
😂
Scully looks like a great co-pilot. Our fur friends give everything, and ask for so little in return. Scully will co-ride with you forever in photo memories.
The easiest way to keep your black tank valve lubricated is when dumping, ALWAYS dump the black tank FIRST then leave the valve open. Then dump the grey tank. It’s best to use a clear short extension on the output side prior to your dump hose to monitor the contents being dumped. Once the soapy water of the grey tank is visible and the tank is empty close the black tank valve followed by closing the grey tank valve. The soapy water lubricates the valves for the next time. Been using that procedure for 17 years now without ANY problems.
Good advice. We have been doing for years on all the units we have had with no problems.
Sounds good and I have the sticky valve problem. But the Drs instructions are unclear to me.
Can somebody put it in different words?
It IS a good idea. The idea is that grey soapy water will back flush up into the black tank valve, cleaning it before you close it again.
I should note that this would not work on all RV’s. My 5ver has it’s black tank valve located 3-4 feet up the drain pipe from the grey tank valve. The grey water wouldn’t flow back up that far to reach the black valve. Other trailers have 2 black tanks with at least 1 valve nowhere near the grey valves.
Could you hold the hose up to force the water to stay in the pipes? and wash back up to the black tank?
Sounds dangerous! You can always squirt some Dawn in your black tank.
I went one step further. I added a 3rd tank valve at the bottom of the “Y” where you connect the stinky slinky (or clear connector). I open the 3rd valve, then open the black tank valve and empty the tanks contents. I then close the 3rd valve and open the gray tank valve allowing the soapy water to half fill the black tank. I then close the gray tank valve and open the 3rd valve allowing the black tank to drain once again. I can do this procedure at least two times, sometimes three. I then close the black tank valve and open the gray allowing the soapy water drain and clean out the stinky slinky. Note: while draining the black tank, I aways keep the black tank rinse flowing fresh water into the black tank and once the black tank has completely drained, I’ll shut the black tank valve and allow the rinse water to add at least 5 gallons of water back into the black tank.
Glad I’m not waiting behind YOU at the dump station. LOL!
Ron, that’s exactly what I do…
I also rinse the black valve as Dr4Film does and it works well. However, I did have an issue with the valve sticking to the point I thought I was going to pull the handle off. Being a graduate of YouTube with a doctorate degree I found a video that has helped a lot and I do several times a year and the valve slides like a new one for several months.
Google, Make me RV smart: Lubricating RV Sewer valves.
The only difference that I did was to put a steel washer followed by a rubber washer on the screw to prevent any leaks. Just remember use silicone spray only!
Wouldn’t putting some soap in the black tank do the same thing?