Issue 1805
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
“Judge a man by his questions rather than by his answers.” ―
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Clam Chowder Day!
On this day in history: 1836 – Samuel Colt is granted a United States patent for his revolver firearm.
Tip of the Day
Propane leak tests—Here’s one from the Darwin Awards
By Russ and Tiña De Maris
Here’s another lesson from the Darwin Award files. A 79-year-old RVer in St. Amant, La., had a problem with his motorhome. Somewhere there was a gas leak, and he just needed to find it. You know the rest of the story—take out a cigarette lighter, strike off a flame, and KABOOM! While the RVer only flew 20 feet, some of his motorhome rocketed off nearly five times as far, damaging three nearby homes.
Today’s RV review…
In today’s column, industry insider Tony Barthel reviews the new Prime Time Tracer 200BHSLE bunkhouse travel trailer. As he reports, “This is essentially a basic smaller bunk model that doesn’t claim to be anything fancy but does offer some good features at a pretty reasonable price for a modern RV.”
For previous RV reviews, click here.
CONTEST! 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.
LED lights in camper worked at dealership. Why do they now flicker?
Dear Dave,
We recently purchased a 2005 Jayco Jay Series model 1206 “pop-up” camper. The previous owner replaced the ceiling lights with LED bulbs. When we first saw it the lights were bright and steady. It was plugged in to 30-amp service at the dealership and had a 12v deep cycle marine battery attached as well. In our driveway we have it plugged in with a 30-amp extension. The 12v is also attached and fully charged. Both sets of ceiling lights flicker. Hubby is concerned it may be a converter issue, as all was working normally when we bought it. Any advice you can offer is greatly appreciated. We have just retired and everything camping is new to us!! Thank you! —Theresa
Join Dave this weekend, Friday-Sunday, February 25-27, at the Pennsylvania RV Super Show in Harrisburg, PA. Learn more.
Here are the top 5 complaints to the RV park office
A variety of things make for not-so-happy campers. Have you ever wondered what campers complain about the most? Do other people share the same annoyances as you? We have answers. Here are the top five complaints the campground office gets from campers at one park.
You may have missed these recent popular stories…
- Around the Campfire: How old is too old to RV?
- New mail trucks don’t deliver, as EPA calls for investigation
- RVs reach cargo carrying capacity with just two passengers. Is your rig dangerously overweight?
- Are slide awnings a necessity or a waste of money?
Reader poll
Have you ever used your RV’s first aid kit in an emergency?
Quick Tip
Helpful advice in case of emergency while away from rig
Reader Pat Mitchell suggests if you’re concerned about being involved in an emergency situation while away from your rig, you could do what he does. “I usually just pick up a park brochure from the campground office to leave in our truck. It’s always handy, and if we are in an accident, the location of our camper and other details are right there with us.”
“Why I love my RV”
Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, RVtravel.com readers tell in their own words why they love their RVs.
From Tom Burns
Thor Four Winds 31W
“Thor FW 31W is excellent for my wife and me to enjoy getting away from home. With a full-wall slideout, the room is great to give you space to move and relax. On the road, you can access the needed areas to relieve yourself and cook lunch without the side out. It’s not too long (32′) to get into most of the places we want to stop along our ventures.”
Tell us about your RV. Come on, do a little bragging! Click here.
Website of the day
The Best Spring Break Trips for Families
For those who aren’t retired or don’t have the luxury of traveling during the off-season, traveling for Spring Break may be the only time for a quick escape. Here are some of the best places to go.
Hey, bike riders! This is the best bike seat cushion on Amazon, and it’s currently on sale!
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.
• 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.
• Road Trip Wizard: Make your RV road trip planning easier than ever.
Recipe of the Day
Cheeseburger and “Fries” Chowder
by Teresa Jacobson from New Orleans, LA
Wow! We really do think this tastes like a cheeseburger with a side of fries … only in chowder form. It’s full of rich, savory flavor with the perfect amount of seasoning. This chowder recipe is easy to prepare and cooks fast. We became instant fans of this full-flavored soup.
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Trivia
What liquid is considered the most expensive liquid on Earth? LSD? Printer ink? Insulin? Scorpion venom? Yup, it’s scorpion venom. While most of you probably aren’t out shopping for any of that, if you were it would cost you about $39 million for about a gallon of it. Why would you need scorpion venom? It stops you from aging! We’re kidding, obviously. No, we have no idea why you’d need scorpion venom.
Readers’ Pet of the Day
“Our feline, Hazel Mae, loves to travel! She is very protective of our ‘Lucy’ (our travel trailer). She has her own bunk for sleeping and keeping watch over our campsite. If she sees another cat through the window you can bet we will know about it! So cat burglars beware!” —John Gravenor
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.
?????? MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY ??????
We couldn’t pick just one of these to share with you, so we’re sending you to the whole category. These are great for keeping your brain sharp!
Leave here with a laugh
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Contact information
Editor: Emily Woodbury.
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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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I guess that is why I do not get boondocking. I would go insane without my full hookups. Why boondock. Might as well just sleep in a tent. That is all it is. So give me my full hook ups, a glass of wine and a nice quiet place to watch the birdies…..Ah need another glass…..
Folks in Dallas, the Dallas RV show, rows and rows of the same fifth wheeler and travel trailer, same manufacturers, different RV dealers.
Ha ha ha, yes Camping without full hookups was so funny and great!
The bicycle seat looks comfortable, but there is a reason most saddles are more narrow: Fat seats impede the back of your thigh from going all the way down when pedaling. Your leg should be almost completely extended on the downstroke.
All – as I keep saying here with some regularity, some people are really just too stupid to own and operate an rv. I reference the top story about the propane leak versus the cigarette lighter. Just too stupid. And it’s not experience, it’s just too stupid. Their ought to be a test.
For some people it’s sooner than day 5.
Now you’re getting personal!
The answer to your last sentence in today’s Trivia. …. https://aspiringyouths.com/general-knowledge/scorpion-venom/
I’d heard about some of these uses, but not several others. Thanks for sharing!