Issue 1815
Welcome to RV Travel’s Daily Tips Newsletter, where you’ll find helpful RV-related tips from the pros, travel advice, product reviews and more. Thanks for joining us. Please tell your friends about us.
If you shop at Amazon.com we’d appreciate you using this link. We get an itty bitty commission if you buy something, but they add up and help us pay our bills (most importantly our hard-working writers!).
Why RVtravel.com exists and where you fit in: “RVs don’t break down. RV roofs do not leak.”
[activecampaign form=34]
Page Contents
Today’s thought
“The Road goes ever on and on
Down from the door where it began.
Now far ahead the Road has gone,
And I must follow, if I can,
Pursuing it with eager feet,
Until it joins some larger way
Where many paths and errands meet.
And whither then? I cannot say.” ―
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Oatmeal Nut Waffles Day!
On this day in history: 1702 – The Daily Courant, England’s first national daily newspaper, is published for the first time.
Tip of the Day
Trailer users – Here’s a front/rear leveling tip
By Dave Helgeson
When you’re logging long miles and pull into a campsite for the night, the last thing you want to do is take the time to unhitch, just to hitch back up to leave the next morning. If you have a level campsite you can just stay hooked up, but what do you do when the campsite slopes to the front or rear so much that you are unable to level the RV without unhitching?
Today’s RV review…
Forest River Coachmen Catalina Legacy Edition 283RKS
Tony writes, “… this is a larger travel trailer that’s well-suited for couples with the kitchen out back, a super slide and a really good layout if you like entertaining. There’s a couch opposite two free-standing recliners and the kitchen offers enough prep space that you can make a nice meal in here and still be in touch with those waiting to taste your famous chili. Or whatever it is.”
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.
How can I sanitize a collapsible hose for fresh water?
Dear Dave,
There is much written about the necessity and how to sanitize the potable water systems in the RV. I have only seen a few articles about sanitizing the potable hoses from the source to the RV. A bleach treatment in a “standard” hose makes sense to me. I am thinking of getting one of those collapsible hoses. With all the nooks and crannies when collapsed, can they as easily and safely be sanitized? —Kelly
The amazing disappearing sewer hose. Don’t let it happen to you!
We’ve all seen an RV driving down the road with half the stinky slinky flailing about as it snakes it way out of the bumper and onto the side of the road. This is one of the more universal challenges we RVers face — the vanishing sewer hose. So what do we do to prevent this from happening? Find out.
You may have missed these recent popular stories…
- Crowds, noise, trash force these work campers to “retire”
- Why many more Americans will choose RVs as their homes
- Keep mice out of your RV while in storage with the BoxKat
- Around the Campfire: Will rising RVing costs force RVers off the road?
Reader poll
When was the last time you finished a book?
Quick Tip
Use a fresh bleach solution when you set up camp
If you use bleach water to spray down water fittings when you set up camp, listen up. Diluted bleach has a short life, so it’s best to do a small batch for spraying each time you make camp, rather than relying on old diluted stuff to protect you from bugs.
“Why I love my RV”
Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, RVtravel.com readers tell in their own words why they love their RVs.
From Steven Perkinson
2015 Tiffin Allegro Open Road 32SA
“It is the perfect RV for us. We have a king bed, the TV is across from the couch (as it should be) with an electric fireplace underneath. Being 33 feet it is easy to maneuver in state parks and campgrounds. The layout is great for two people and we love it!”
Tell us about your RV. Come on, do a little bragging! Click here.
Website of the day
These 14 U.S. Destinations Are Just Right for Snorkeling
Snorkeling is such a magic activity. Who doesn’t want to gently glide alongside a sea turtle? This article from The Dyrt shows you the 14 best places to snorkel and where to camp nearby.
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
Irresistible Banana Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
by Jenny Wemple from Various places, MT
This is the ultimate chocolate chip cookie. There are so many flavors rolled into it. You have a chocolate chip cookie with banana and the texture of oatmeal. They’re a tender and chewy cake-like cookie. The flavor of bananas mixed with chocolate chips is amazing. Basically, these are banana bread chocolate chip oatmeal cookies.
[do_widget id=custom_html-21]
Trivia
Snail teeth, specifically the tiny teeth of the limpet, a type of marine snail, is the strongest biological substance found in nature. These small snails attach themselves to rocks and scrape nutrients and algae off with a tongue covered in teeth. To put it into perspective: If you scaled the teeth up to, say, the diameter of a strand of spaghetti, that piece of spaghetti would be capable of holding up a compact car like a Honda Civic without breaking. Wow!
*Where does the phrase “open a can of worms” come from? Yesterday’s trivia tells you.
Readers’ Pet of the Day
“Charley is a Standard Poodle. A great traveling partner. Loves to watch the world go by. We picked him out when he was 5 weeks old. He is one smart pup. Working on being a fine guard dog. He potty trained in the first two weeks. Charley was named after John Steinbeck’s dog in Steinbeck’s book, Travels with Charley. If you have read the book you would probably be able to guess the name of our coach, Rocinante.” —David Nestor
Editor’s note: If you’ve never read Travels With Charley, you’ll want to.
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 think it’s very important that every single RVer has one of these! In fact, it’s so important that everyone, whether they’re an RVer or not, should have one!
Leave here with a laugh
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.
Won’t you help support us?
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.
Contact information
Editor: Emily Woodbury.
CONTACT US
Editorial (all but news): editor@rvtravel.com
Editorial (news): mikegast@rvtravel.com
Advertising: Advertising@rvtravel.com
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.
RVtravel.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. 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.
Mail us at 9792 Edmonds Way, #265, Edmonds, WA 98020.
This newsletter is copyright 2022 by RV Travel LLC.
Laugh of the day: Our Shell gas station ran out of gas two weeks ago for about two days. Today they are out of gas again, for about 2 weeks, according to the owner. I don’t understand the dynamics, but he said all Shell stations in the area are out of gas. This is in the Tampa FL area. Chevron across the street had Regular for $4.31 a gallon. Sorry, I’m not laughing today.
A local Shell station is selling at between 20 and 30c/litre CAD more than everyone else … guess where I’m not buying my gas!
Not sure the laugh of the day is funny
True of all pumps now!
Gorgeous Pup~ have had a few poodles & now a poodle mix. Such smart & fun companions!
I grew up with a Miniature Poodle. He was way smarter than we poor humans!
Concerning the personal breathalyzer: “Haters gonna hate”
If it isn’t for you, just move on down the line, just like at the (fill in the blank) cafeteria.
I am glad RVT thinks we should all have a PBT.
Will you deliver mine to my virtual mailbox?
Haha, part of my free subscription??
Just like smoking & seatbelts & DEF, soon you’ll have no choice! Alcohol lockouts are going to be standard on new vehicles…
I generally don’t drink away from home because DIP {pistol} level is .02 in most states. As usual Florida is a bit more open minded (and advanced) when it comes to letting adults make sensible decisions.
When I was in Germany in the 80’s, some of the bars had breathalyzer’s. Our group would test throughout the night to see who won the BAC for the night.
Some people are capping on personal ones, did you know there are many people who can be over the legal limit by just having a couple glasses of wine during a lunch or dinner? Especially if they don’t drink often. My wife has just one margarita for dinner out on occasion, yep, she is buzzing and def can’t drive. So it’s not just for drunks. And it could be a good thing to keep people from mistakes of drunk driving.
But your wife after 1 drink will not have a BAC above the legal limit unless she weighs around 50 pounds.
Point being you can be impaired and not be legally drunk.
When I was in Sweden few years back with work, had caught a cab and saw the driver blow in one of those gadgets. Asked what’s up with that. Said by law they have them and if the cab was in place more than I think 15 mins they had to blow to start. Said alcoholism is such a large problem there it’s required. Was reassuring at 11 in the morning.
All
A 10% bleach solution has a shelf life of 24 hours.
be safe
Dr. Mike
You should tell the people that’s an open air container where the bleach can gas off into the air.
Plus, after spraying the faucet, you need to let it sit for a while. Spraying the faucet and using the hose immediately does not solve the problem. The solution should be allowed to sit for 3-5 minutes and air dry.
So much vitriol for people with breathalyzers. I have one, used to use it when I went out to the bars on the weekend. I bought it to be responsible. While I was usually well under the .08 limit, there were a few times I was close, and would head back into the bar and drink Cokes for an hour. One of the things I learned is that it is very hard to tell your alcohol level without the breathalyzer. .07 doesn’t feel all that much different than .04. The breathalyzer probably kept me from driving legally drunk a few times. If you like to visit micro breweries on your travels, a breathalyzer is the responsible decision.
Or a responsible person could stop after one drink. Not much different in reaction time from .07 or .09 BAC.
We all hear the statement “Class A Only”. With manufacturers changing coach designs daily, what is the one true definition of a Class A? There are many “non Class A” that have better technology, more luxury options and lead in safety advances. It is time for industry to step up. Every “luxury rv resort”HMO hides behind their own version of the Class A. Chances are they do not even define it. The time has come for the old school thinking to update.
Have no use for a personal breathalyzer. I do not drink alcohol.
If you drink so much you have to have your own personal breathalyzer you have a serious problem. Knowing many drunks in my former in laws you’re not going to admit you need a test before you drive.
Not a great suggestion for the product of the day.
A personal breathalyzer? Really? If you need one it’s probably time to stay home and stop driving. Oh, now I get it, it’s a joke. But drunk driving is no way funny. I’ve put up with friends and family that had alcohol and drug issues.
Ditto, I had brothers in law that insisted buzz driving was not drunk driving until he had a wreck and was charged with DUI. Now he drives without a license drunk.
There should be a red flag law for drunks who don’t get it!
Take away his car!
Perfect reason to make ignition lockouts mandatory after the first incident. Stops them from driving the family car and the inconvenience of everyone in the family having to use it makes for an unhappy family. If they drive someone else’s vehicle and gets caught, it should be one heck of a hefty fine, mandatory jail time and a DUI driving course. Now a family member would have to drive them to the classes.