Issue 1587
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.
[activecampaign form=34]
Page Contents
Today’s thought
“If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant: if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome.” —Anne Bradstreet
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Prime Rib Day!
On this day in history: 1986 – The city of Pripyat and surrounding areas are evacuated due to Chernobyl disaster.
Did you see the news? Click here to read the latest issue of the Sunday News for RVers.
Tip of the Day
How to replace and reseal RV windows
By Mark Polk, RV Education 101
Part of RV ownership is preventive maintenance. Preventive maintenance consists of cleaning, inspecting, lubricating, adjusting, and servicing your RV. You need to routinely inspect all the components on the RV for any damage and take corrective action.
Continue reading to see what to do if your RV windows need to be replaced or resealed.
Do you have a tip? Submit it here.
DOWNLOAD FOR FREE
New free directory lists every U.S. RV manufacturer and their makes and models.
How many different makes and models of RVs are there in America? RVtravel.com has the answer in a new, free, comprehensive 73-page directory that lists every U.S. manufacturer and every brand and model they make. “RVs: Who Makes What” is available free as a public service from RVtravel.com in PDF form. Learn more and/or download a free copy.
Today’s RV review…
In today’s column, industry insider Tony Barthel reviews the new 2021 Chinook Summit. As he reports, “The thing that most intrigued me was their insulation, which they’re very proud of – and should be. The Summit is the only RV in the U.S. gold-level certified by Truma. How do you achieve this?” Find out.
Did you read Tony’s review yesterday of the 2021 Shasta 21CK 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 time today, April 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.
Last week two readers claimed their $25 Amazon gift card: Jan E. of Port Orchard, Washington, and Rick K. of Kendallville, Indiana.
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 to prepare for a roadside emergency
We all love our RVs and the lifestyle, but, on occasion, Murphy’s Law takes over. It’s inevitable. By being prepared, you can minimize the inconvenience of a breakdown and get back on the road safe and sound. Here are some ways you can prepare.
Yesterday’s featured article: Do not take your picnic table for granted
Reader poll
Did the movie “Nomadland” deserve to win Best Picture at the Oscars?
Please tell us what you think here.
Quick Tip
Hooking up your water? Use your elbow!
Something as small as a part for under $10 may not seem like a big deal, but you’d be surprised by how these little things can make a big difference. This part can pretty much be found at any place selling RV parts, but I’ve been surprised by how many people don’t use it. This part is simply a ninety-degree brass fitting from your water hose to your RV exterior water hookup. Why is this part important? It will make your life so much easier as these exterior RV water hookups stick straight out from the side of your RV, putting a lot of pressure on your water hose and RV threaded fitting. So the result is usually a water hookup that leaks. At first it will not leak, but over time, it will get worse and worse. This simple ninety-degree brass fitting takes a great deal of pressure off the RV hookup and water hose fittings. Since I started using this part several years ago, my exterior RV water connection has never leaked when properly tightened. From The Simple Life Guide To RV Living: The Road to Freedom and the Mobile Lifestyle Revolution. Available on Amazon.
Website of the day
WorkampingJobs.com
If you’ve never considered a work camping job, perhaps it’s time? This website is your go-to resource for finding a position.
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:
• 83 percent own a pickup truck
• 7 percent only dream in black and white
• When stopped at a rest area, 35 percent will always use the public restroom, not their RVs
Recent poll: Did you experience physical discomfort the day after your second COVID shot?
?????? MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY ??????
This is sooo funny! We all need these!
Recipe of the Day
Cheesy Parmesan Potato Pancakes
by Rose Mary Mogan from Sauk Village, IL
Rose’s potato pancakes are a delicious and great use of leftover mashed potatoes. They are crispy outside, with a warm, creamy, and cheesy center. Adding Parmesan cheese and garlic gives these potato pancakes tons of flavor. Yum!
Watch short cooking videos: Don’t watch near mealtime or you could get terribly hungry. If you love to cook, you will love these videos, most a minute or less.
The latest news headlines for RVers. For a complete recap of the most important news affecting RVers, be sure to read our Sunday RV Travel Newsletter.
RV Manufacturers Set New Record in March: U.S. RV manufacturers are continuing to let the good times roll, as they set new production records in March. The Recreational Vehicle Industry Association reports that manufacturers shipped 54,291 new units to RV dealerships in March (See chart below). Those March results helped set a new record for first-quarter shipments of 148,507 total units, up nearly 10% from the previous first quarter record set in 2018. Towable units led the way, with 49,303 wholesale shipments so far this year (up 77.8% from last year). Motorhomes finished with 4,988 shipments in the first quarter, up 94% from last March.
Idaho Campground with Dune Access Opens April 28: There’s still at least one campground in Idaho that operates on a first-come, first-served basis. The Egin Lakes Campground near St. Anthony, Idaho, will open for the season at 8 a.m. April 28. The 48-site BLM park has electric hookups, shelters, picnic tables, fire rings, a dump station and access to water. It also has direct access to the St. Anthony Sand Dunes for 4-wheel enthusiasts.
Fire Burning Near BLM Campground in AZ: The BLM’s Wild Cow Campground near Kingman, Arizona, is being threatened by the Flag Fire. The fire began burning Sunday, April 25, in the Hualapai Mountains and had already burned 1,000 acres of Ponderosa pine, brush and grass. You can get updates on the fire here.
Keystone Offering New Buyers Free Togo RV Plus: Keystone RV, one of Thor’s most popular brands, is providing a free one-year membership to Togo RV Plus to those who purchase a new rig. Togo RV Plus is an app service that provides several digital tools and discounts. Existing Keystone owners who subscribe to Keystone emails will be given a free 3-month Togo RV Plus membership. The annual membership usually costs $39.99. Among other benefits, Togo RV Plus offers camping discounts, planning checklists, road trip planning, customized GPS navigation, and discounts on RV, truck and trailer tires.
Camping World Buys Reservation Booking Engine: If your favorite campground uses CampgroundBooking.com to manage its reservation system, you’re really dealing with an arm of Camping World. Camping World Chairman and CEO Marcus Lemonis just announced that his company has purchased Nomad Reservations, the creators of the CampgroundBooking.com booking engine. Campground owners use the platform to better manage and “optimize” revenues from sites. Expect to see Camping World also using the platform and the information it provides about campers to serve up real-time online marketing messages and other lures to Camping World products.
Be like Mike! Use this 3-light and digital voltage tester!
Mike Sokol says: “I found this nifty tester online and have been using it in a variety of voltage checking situations. It performs all of the 3-light tests for outlet polarity, open ground, open neutral, etc., as well as being a 3-digit digital voltage indicator. In addition, it performs a standard 5 mA GFCI safety test – which you should be performing on all of your GFCI outlets once a month (or at least once a camping season).” Read more about it here.
Trivia
California experiences about 10,000 earthquakes every year. However, most of the quakes are so small they are never felt.
*When was the first ticket to Disneyland sold and how much did it cost? Yesterday’s trivia tells you.
Readers’ Pet of the Day
“Copper is a Red Healer/Whippet female, 3 years old and LOVES traveling, mainly sleeping in the trailer. She’s a great dog and a great camper.” —Bill Emanuel
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!
Leave here with a laugh
What do you call an ugly dinosaur?
An eyesaur
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.
Become a Member!
This newsletter is brought to you Monday through Friday by RVtravel.com and is funded primarily through voluntary subscription contributions from our readers. Thank you! IF YOU APPRECIATE THIS NEWSLETTER and others from RVtravel.com, will you please consider pledging your support? Learn more or contribute.
Join us: Facebook • Twitter • YouTube
Need help? Contact us.
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
I love my 45* brass fitting especially with that angle. The 90 is straight down which very hard to use being so close to our trailer wall. I know from experience about wearing out the city water connection with using our water filter there. Recently I started using our filter on the other end of the hose as it takes the weight and pressure off the connection.
Just gained 10lbs looking at the potato pancakes. Dang!
Noticed how many were pop-ups. Not many. Are people starting with travel trailers and skipping this starting point.
I have read and taken to heart your articles about prepping an RV for sale. I wonder if you have any advice or suggestions on how to receive payment safely and successfully. We thought maybe a local bank or legal office might help. Any advice or suggestions would be appreciated.
I can’t imagine having a dog that sheds…especially in the small area of an rv. I love dogs, always have, always will; however, I will never have another that sheds hair that gets into every crack, crevice, surfaces, clothes, carpets, food….cats are even worse!
Can deal with the dog hair it’s people that I can’t stand. Especially when you got someone’s hair laying in your burger and now pulling it from your mouth.
Fur is just a condiment as far as I can tell 😉
I would not watch the Oscars if it was the ONLY thing on TV.
I was going to order some of todays Mystery product of the day ” memory mints for senior moments” for a FEW buddies, but noticed they were made in CHINA, I do my best to avoid anything made in CHINA!
Snoopy
I”m with you David!
Referring to the production chart:
There is absolutely no way the manufacturers can increase production of class A coaches 68% and not compromise quality.
What does this translate to?
If you are an RV tech (especially a mobile tech), you will be singing all the way to the bank.
If you are not an RV tech, you will be crying all the way to the bank.
Plus +1
Snoopy
I was introduced to workamping a few years ago. This is how I found a job that interested me and is more in line with what I do currently. I leave in a year after I retire to start that job part time. I found a RV park that is seasonal and I can live there while working part time. I hope. It is a plethera of information for jobs. Wish there more on the east coast then west. Did find one I would love to do but couldn’t. Maybe in the future.
RV manufacturers shipping in record numbers does not necessary equate to record sales. We just returned from the 2K mile trip through the southeast. Most RV dealerships are inundated with inventory. KZ offering incentives to buy implies that sales are not as strong as manufacturers would like for you to believe.
Don’t even watch or care to watch the political charged Oscar’s, all they want to do is get their point across, and as I said don’t care one bit
One thing this pandemic has proven, we don’t need Hollywood and don’t need sports to survive.
agree…. 😊
Nah!! We need Sports!!
Helps Keep Peace in The Valley!!
Agreed
Here Here!
👍👍👍👌👌👌👏👏👏
TOTALLY AGREEEEEEEEEE !!!!!!
Thank you so much for the “don’t know, don’t care” response option!
I agree, Diane.
On another note, I remember the reader poll about dreaming. “7 percent only dream in black and white”. I’m lucky (or unlucky, depending on the dream . . .) I even remember dreaming, let alone whether it was in black and white or color. I can’t imagine a dream would be in any other form than real life, which is color. Unless, of course, you’re “color blind”.
Agreed. Fit my feeling perfectly. Feel bad for all the mass transit passengers that were inconvenienced At Union Station.
I wish there were a “gripers” forum for you negative nabobs, then maybe the RV websites would be enjoyable as they used to be.
Amen, Bill.
Yep; Amen Bill
Agree Bill!
I totally agree Bill. I enjoy the RV newsletters AND have enjoyed the Oscars for many years. Wish there were not so many negative attitudes in the comment section about everything.