Issue 1716
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
“Each day means a new twenty-four hours. Each day means everything’s possible again. You live in the moment, you die in the moment, you take it all one day at a time.” ―
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Greasy Food Day!
On this day in history: 2001 – Microsoft releases Windows XP, becoming one of Microsoft’s most successful operating systems.
Did you see the news? Click here to read the latest issue of the Sunday News for RVers.
Tip of the Day
One of the best tips we’ve ever heard. Read this – It could save your life
By Emily Woodbury
I recently came across this tip online and thought I should share it with as many people as possible. This is a GREAT tip for when your phone is about to die. NOTE: Changing your voicemail will not work if you do not have cell service, as this states. If you are going somewhere without cell service, update your voicemail beforehand just to be safe.
Read this life-saving tip here (please!).
Today’s RV review…
In today’s column, industry insider Tony Barthel reviews the 2022 Entegra Anthem 44B Class A diesel pusher. As he reports, “This is a beautifully-executed machine. … But despite the craftsmanship and appointments in a coach like this, do the issues with supplier Cummins make you second-guess such a purchase if, in fact, you might otherwise make such a decision?” Read about this luxury coach here, and learn what kept Tony from taking the coach for an unauthorized spin around the parking lot at the recent FMCA Rocky Mountain Area Rally.
Reviews from this weekend:
• AEONrv: Remarkable new overlanding machine
• 2022 Highland Ridge RV Silverstar XLT 264RLS 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, October 25, 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: Karen Bates of Smyrna, Tennessee, and Mark Cason of Palatka, Florida.
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.
Ask Dave
Dave Solberg is a leading expert in the RV industry and author of the “RV Handbook” as well as the Managing Editor of the RV Repair Club.
In Dave’s column Monday-Saturday he addresses a reader’s technical question with his expert advice. You’ll learn a lot!
How do I check the drip tube on my Everchill fridge?
Dear Dave,
I have an Everchill refrigerator in my Forest River Puma fifth wheel. There is no outside access panel to check the drain tube. This unit also does not use a chimney. How do I check the drip tube for blockage or disconnection? —Al
Did you miss Dave’s column on Saturday where he answered the question: What is this leaky valve under my bathroom sink?
RVelectricity™ – This week’s J.A.M. (Just Ask Mike) Session
Can I charge my EV toad at a campground?
Dear Mike,
We’ve been anxiously following your GoGreenRV postings about EVs for towing (maybe a few years in the future) and EV toads (possibly sooner rather than later). So my husband and I are really thinking about some kind of small EV for towing behind our Class C RV. Do you have any info yet on possible candidates for an EV toad that can be towed 4-down? And what about charging them? Are any manufacturers designing them so your EV toad can be recharged while being towed? How about charging them at a campground? Can you simply plug an EV into a pedestal outlet overnight? Any info would be great! —Millie and Dan
Read more of Mike’s articles here.
Ten most popular vehicles towed behind motorhomes
With so many towed vehicle options, it helps to know what other RVers are choosing. Picking the right vehicle for your needs can be the difference between an “okay” trip and a great one. The customers of RVibrake.com recently told the company their towed vehicle model, which the company then put into a top ten list based on popularity. Is yours on the list?
Prevent crumbs or trash from falling through the seat cracks!
This is one brilliant product! The Drop Stop, the car seat gap filler, prevents anything from falling in front of, in between or behind your car or RV’s seats. It simply attaches to the seat belt catch and sits comfortably between your seat and the middle console. I think all of us here at RVtravel.com are going to go buy this 2-pack right now. How could we not?! Learn more or order.
Reader poll
Have you ever ridden in a helicopter?
Fly on over here and tell us.
Quick Tip
Egg cartons offer protection and stability
Place egg cartons on refrigerator shelves lengthwise, front to back and they will never fall out. Even if they vibrate toward the door, they won’t tumble out due to their length. Usually, the carton lid will protect the eggs if anything falls in the fridge while driving. Use the eggs from the rear of the carton first. This will provide stability when you lift the egg carton. Use some empty egg cartons as separators in your fridge. They will buffer and protect items. Thanks to Ron Jones, AboutRVing.com.
“Why I love my RV”
Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, RVtravel.com readers tell in their own words why they love their RVs.
From Henry Blosser
2015 Keystone Montana 3610RL
“We have pulled our 5th wheel more than 50,000 miles. It is the first 5th wheel I’ve ever towed and I wouldn’t go back to bumper pull. I love the way it tows on Interstate highways, especially the fact that it doesn’t sway. I love my 6-way automatic leveling. I can be set up in about 15 minutes and be perfectly level and solid. We’ve spent several months away from our home base without one bit of yearning for bigger space. I love watching TV in our two recliners with the fireplace turned on for atmosphere.”
Tell us about your RV. Come on, do a little bragging! Click here.
Big Rig RV owners! You need this!
If you aren’t carrying the 2022 Rand McNally Motor Carriers’ Road Atlas with you in your RV, you’re inviting trouble. This is the atlas that truckers rely on to plan their routes. It helps them get “there” the fastest while avoiding roads where they could get stuck with turns too tight or bridges too low to fit through without shaving off their roofs. Even if you have a GPS, this is an important resource! Learn more or order.
Website of the day
11 Halloween S’mores Perfect For the Campfire
Not only do these look delicious, but they’ll also impress everyone else at the campground!
Popular articles you may have missed at RVtravel.com
• Their propane “froze”! Wait … Can propane freeze?
• 10 of the most irritating campground rules
• RVer shares story of RV park bathhouse; crappy situation unfolds
Recipe of the Day
Hearty Herb and Cabernet Beef Stew
by Jennifer Darden from Virginia Beach, VA
On a chilly fall or winter evening, beef stew is a wonderful dinner. Add a fresh salad and some warm, crusty bread to complete the meal. After simmering, the beef is super tender. Cabernet wine adds a rich depth of flavor. Each layer of vegetables adds a different taste to the beef stew. This is a delicious bowl of stew.
We love a good beef stew! Get the recipe.
Trivia
You don’t need to go to Athens, Greece, to see the Parthenon! Well, to see the real one you do. But if you want to see what it would be like to stand next to the real Parthenon, visit Centennial Park in Nashville, Tennessee, to see a 1:1 replica. The building was constructed for the 1897 Tennessee Centennial Exposition. Today, the building is an art museum.
Readers’ Pet of the Day
“Chai is living the dream. A fanatical ball retriever, on the road in Maine.” —Roy Smith
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!
Pet owners: Here are a few excellent resources to find a veterinarian while on the road. Keep this handy!
?????? MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY ??????
Oh, this would be too cruel to look at all day! Come on!
Leave here with a laugh
Five tips for a woman:
- It is important that a man helps you around the house and has a good job.
- It is important that a man makes you laugh.
- It is important to find a man that you can count on and who won’t lie to you.
- It is important that a man loves and spoils you.
- It is important that these four men don’t know each other.
(Gents, we mean no harm. But this one did make the ladies of the staff chuckle!)
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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RVtravel.com Staff
Publisher: Chuck Woodbury. Editor: Emily Woodbury. Associate editor: Diane McGovern. Senior editors: Russ and Tiña De Maris. Senior writers: Nanci Dixon, Tony Barthel, Mike Gast. Contributors: Mike Sokol, Gail Marsh, Roger Marble, Dave Solberg, Dave Helgeson, Janet Groene, Julianne Crane, Chris Guld, Machelle James, James Raia, Kate Doherty, Randall Brink, J.R. Montigel, Clint Norrell, Chris Epting and Karel Carnohan, DVM. Podcast host and producer: Scott Linden. Special projects director: Jessica Sarvis. Moderators: Gary Gilmore, Linda Brady. Financial affairs director: Gail Meyring. IT wrangler: Kim Christiansen.
Honorary Correspondents: Loyal readers who regularly email us leads about news stories and other information and resources that aid our own news-gathering efforts.
Tom and Lois Speirs • Mike Sherman • George Bliss • Steve Barnes • Tom Hart + others who we will add later.
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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XP was definitely the best os they ever had. The programs were easy to access and use. There was a scanner and picture tool that was so easy to use. When my XP machine died about six years ago a piece of me went along with it I think.
I got the “drop stops” advertised above. They worked ok until about a month later when I found that they had dropped into the gap too! Not so great.
Emily’s advise about changing your voice mail is all wrong. Changing your voice mail means you must have decent cell service to make that work. Also it uses up valuable battery life.
Much better is to place your phone on airplane mode. This inhibits the phone from constantly searching for a cell tower. Then compose a text message with your known location to the best of your ability. Once composed turn off airplane mode and send the text message to all your contacts. Sending a text message takes a lot less battery energy than any voice (talking) does. Also if you are lost with a vehicle, stay with the vehicle as that large object is much easier to find than some person wandering around.
To the RV Daily staff, I sent you an email regarding the Tip of the Day today about changing out your cell phone message if you are in an emergency. This is not supported from the rescue folks’ perspective. This is not the only search and rescue team that has made posts about this. So has the Lane County Sheriffs Office Search and Rescue team. For readers, here is their FB link: https://www.facebook.com/scsosar Scroll down to find the article.
I find it amazing that this publication would allow some writer to submit an article containing pure rubbish! The review of the Entegra coach calling out the “issues” with the Cummins L9 engine is totally false. The L9 engine has been professionally shown to be one of the best engines on the market. I personally have owned L9 engines in 6 boats and 2 Class A coaches with thousands of hours on each with zero problems. This author obviously did zero research before dissing Cummins and offered zero evidence supporting his position. The only issues with any Diesel engine is the lack of owner preventative maintenance. This level of journalism is in keeping with the lack of professionalism, ethics and credibility being exhibited today.
Tell us how you really feel.😁
Just sick and tired of reading “opinions” that are portrayed as facts without any evidence….then people making a buying decision based on an opinion, by a person obviously unqualified…..
The Dump Buddy only works on waste dumps that have been installed TOO high. A properly installed waste dump should be as close to ground level as possible. If built too high then you have to “walk the hose” in order to remove all of the contents. Frankly I use a Camco 3-in-1 Flexible Sewer Hose Seal. Cheaper, faster & easier to use. https://tinyurl.com/2uhb7yxt
I prefer using the tool I find at 4 out of 5 camp dump stations I use … a large flat rock. Totally free and lasts for millennia. Shipping costs can be high though. 🙂