Issue 1766
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
“It is better to fail in originality than to succeed in imitation.” ―
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Chocolate Covered Cherry Day!
On this day in history: 1957 – The Hamilton Watch Company introduces the first electric watch.
Did you see the news? Click here to read the latest issue of the Sunday News for RVers.
Tip of the Day
It’s time to plan 2022 RV group trips now! Don’t wait!
With the influx of potentially hundreds of thousands of new RVers, you do not want to put off planning your 2022 RV group camping trips. Whether it’s a single reunion weekend, a few weekends in the summer, or a longer regional tour that takes weeks, the time to plan is now. Here are some tips to help you get started…
Today’s RV review…
In today’s column, industry insider Tony Barthel reviews the new 2022 Tiffin Wayfarer 25 RW. Tony writes, “The Tiffin Wayfarer 25 RW is that company’s entry into the Class C motorhome market and is based on the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter cutaway chassis. According to a few sources, this is one of the largest Class C motorhomes available on a Sprinter chassis, and that’s where we should stop and sit down and talk a moment.” What does he want to talk about? Hmmm.
Reviews from this weekend:
• A look at 2021’s best – and worst – RV features, Part 1
• A look at 2021’s best – and worst – RV features, Part 2
For previous RV reviews, click here.
Is this your RV?
Win a $25 Amazon gift certificate if today’s RV photo shows your rig
Every day we post a photo of an RV either submitted by its owner or by our editors as they move about the country.
Click here to see if your RV made it into today’s issue.
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.
Will my engine battery provide a boost to run my slide room?
Dear Dave,
If I run the engine of our Class C while operating the Schwintek slide, is it the same as a battery booster? We have a Forest River Sunseeker 3050S. Thanks. —Bob.
Did you miss Dave’s column on Saturday where he answered the question: My rig gets blown all over the road. What can I do?
Do you have questions for Dave about RV maintenance? Ask them on his new Forum.
NEW FEATURE
Our technical expert Dave Solberg is debuting a weekly video feature about the repair and maintenance of RVs featuring reader questions. He explains in this 37-second video. Just click to play. If you have a question for Dave, post it at his RVtravel.com forum.
RVelectricity™
with Mike Sokol
How to send a virtual recipe to distant loved ones
Making food for your family is one of the best ways to show them you love them. So adding a virtual cooking show for any special event (such as a birthday, Easter, or other important occasion) is a great way to spread the love. How about making your favorite holiday (or other special) meal and sharing it with your family virtually. That’s right, I’m suggesting that you video record making your own family-favorite meal or treat on your smartphone, and send it to your family who can’t be home for a special occasion. … Mike explains how to do it here.
• Do you have a question about RV electricity? Ask Mike on his new forum at RVtravel.com.
• Mike’s Saturday column: How much energy do you need to power RV appliances? Part 1
• Read more of Mike’s articles here.
Letter from 10-year-old RVer will touch your heart
You’ll fall in love with Poppy after reading this thoughtful letter she wrote to the new owners of the RV she had traveled in with her parents. We wish we could meet this wonderful girl. Read her letter.
Reader poll
When watching commercial TV, how do you most often treat commercials?
Don’t change the channel! Tell us here.
Bed sheet suspenders keep your sheets in place!
We have to admit, we just recently discovered these and wondered how we didn’t know about them sooner – they’re amazing! If you have bed sheets that don’t stay in place, these easy-to-use bed sheet fasteners or “suspenders” keep them in place – no more corners that won’t stay down! Learn more or order for a great price.
Quick Tip
Brighten your taillights
Taillights can get dim from dirty contacts. Make sure there’s no power to the taillights, then pull the bulbs. Use steel wool to clean bulb contacts and base; do the same for the contacts and base of the taillight fixture.
Editor: Please see Joe’s comment below for good advice.
“Why I love my RV”
Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, RVtravel.com readers tell in their own words why they love their RVs.
From Terry Monos
2011 Winnebago Sightseer 36V
“Our first Class A was a white Gelcoat with stripes and we always wanted a full body paint with a clear coat. I got this one and can really make it SHINE – something I enjoy! We have six grandkids. With their parents and us, we’re a total of 12. When we have family camping trips, everyone comes to our motorhome. It accommodates all 12 with no trouble – the floor plan is perfect. The unexpected was the quality of our Winnebago. From the fit of panels to access points for repairing, that they all need at some point, I was surprised. That’s having five other RVs over a 40-year period for comparison.”
Tell us about your RV. Come on, do a little bragging! Click here.
Website of the day
Exercise Plan for Seniors
Even if you’re not a senior, this page from healthline.com has a great workout plan everyone can benefit from.
?????? MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY ??????
Pedal your way into the New Year with this amazing thing. This is a brilliant way to lose weight like magic (and you don’t have to step foot outside)!
Popular articles you may have missed at RVtravel.com
• RVer miscalculates bridge height. Oh, not a pretty result!
• Stuckey’s, an American classic, is back and tastier than ever!
• Top 6 reasons to love and 6 reasons to hate RVing
Recipe of the Day
Easy Healthy Banana Bread
by Caroline Mgawe from Zermatt, Wallis
Banana bread is great for breakfast or afternoon tea and this is a very moist, tasty recipe. Bananas make the bread sweet so you don’t notice that there is only a little sugar added. We added macadamia nuts to the bread and liked the crunch and coconut flavor. Dense and filling, no one will believe you when you say it’s healthy.
We’ll give it a try! Get the recipe here.
Recipes from this weekend:
• Parmesan Crusted Ranch Tilapia
• Low Carb low Fat Asian Lettuce Wraps With Dipping Sauce
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Trivia
In Venezuela, where the Catatumbo River meets Lake Maracaibo, you’ll find one of the most electrically active places on Earth. About 300 nights out of the year, lightning strikes across the sky almost continually all night. Lightning flashes occur more than 500 times per square mile per year! Wow!
Readers’ Pet of the Day
“Georgia is a 4-year-old rescue and she loves to go hiking when we go camping.” —Joanne Reed
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 First Aid: The basic kit you should carry with you at all times. This is important!
Stop guessing! This water meter won’t let you overfill tanks
Kate Doherty has found a way to make sure you won’t accidentally overfill your tanks. She uses the Save A Drop P3 Water Meter to add water to her black water tank with precise measurements each time. Read more about it here, then you’ll surely want to order one for yourself.
Leave here with a laugh
Words of wisdom from this book:
Trust your instincts.
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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Contact information
Editor: Emily Woodbury.
CONTACT US
Editorial (all but news): editor@rvtravel.com
Editorial (news): mikegast@rvtravel.com
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Help desk: Contact us.
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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I frequently do the “Leave Here With A Laugh” routine. Turning down the radio lessens the distractions and allows me to recognize helpful landmarks or more accurately recall directions. It also improves my ability to communicate with my co-pilot (that is, hear my dear wife’s instructions correctly and execute them).
The tip of the day is NOT how you should clean electrical contacts. Please, please avoid using steel wool on any electrical contacts. The small strands of steel wool can break off and get between the hot and the ground causing a short which should blow a fuse, the operative word is should! Instead use a piece of scotch-bright inside of the socket and also to the bulb, a squirt of contact cleaner such as deoxit will help to flush the debris away and then follow up with a extremely light coating of bulb or electrical contact grease.
Thank you for the information, Joe. We’ll update our tip accordingly. Have a healthy and terrific 2022! 🙂 –Diane
Leave here with a laugh… There is a bit of truth. Playing the radio or CD or USB or cell phone music or having a long conversations while driving or reading a book is distracting and can lower the level of focus on the job at hand which is to be constantly monitoring the traffic on all sides, and rear plus watching the road for pot holes or debris. We see distracted driving in the extreme with people texting or talking on their phone. I have seen this demonstrated with someone trying to pass a Field Sobriety Test while talking on the phone. They either fail the sobriety test or can not tell you what the conversation on the phone was about.
In January 3rd’s daily tips column, there was advice to clean the contacts on taillight bulbs with steel wool. One thing I’ve been doing is putting a small amount of dielectric grease on the contacts. This is available at auto parts stores. It protects the contacts from corrosion and provides a better electrical connection. Most of the bulbs on my vehicles that have “died” over the last 20 plus years have been fixed with a dab of this.
Great idea! Thanks!
Good for small batteries also. You won’t have to hit your flashlight so much either!
Georgia is so cute, her photograph could be a beautiful professional poster!
and yes, there are still pure bred dogs. We lost our precious dog of 13 years, Sadie, a Brittany. We could not find one in all of California or a half dozen western states. We found a sweet American Brittany in Douglas, Georgia and flew from Central California to get our precious puppy, Vada, a white and orange Brittany to bring home. Such a smart, fun and beautiful doggie! When she is through all of her shots, Vada will go RVing with us too!
Good report on yet another Sprinter based motorhome having minimal CCC no matter who the manufacturer. Nice bling, but no room for real cargo. BTW……the floor plan diagram is not the 25RW layout being discussed. Another case of quality control?
Are there any dogs that aren’t a rescue ? Everyone I see says ” I got him/ her as a rescue.Great , but someday that will be a breed. No more purebred.
I love Georgia’s ears!
Website of the day… excellent! You don’t have to run, jump or be athletic to follow the exercises and become healthier.
Leave here with a laugh is so true. I used to laugh at my dad when he did it, I now find myself doing it quite often…lol, why is that?
+1
Easier to concentrate. Especially if there are 2 of you. Don’t need a “3rd” voice in between us.
Old!
It’s all about focus, focus, focus the mind.
The pet of the day is one of the best I’ve seen in this newsletter. Rescues make the most loyal and friendly companions.
My daughter belongs to the ACDR and transports and finds homes for the Australian Cattle Dogs. They are high energy dogs, but love to hike, walk and play. And then snuggle up at the end of the day.
After cleaning, grease up the tail light contacts so they won’t corrode.