Issue 1847
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.
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Page Contents
Today’s thought
“If you ever find yourself in the wrong story, leave.” ―
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Pretzel Day!
On this day in history: 1956 – The SS Ideal X, the world’s first truly successful commercial container ship, leaves Port Newark, New Jersey, for Houston, Texas.
Tip of the Day
This battery fire serves as a maintenance reminder!
By Dustin Simpson, California RV Specialists
Properly maintained deep-cycle batteries should last for six years or more. Unfortunately, some RV owners replace RV batteries every year or two. Extending battery life is not difficult—it just requires some basic care and maintenance.
Today’s RV review…
CrossRoads RV Sunset Trail Super Lite SS253RB
Tony writes, “There’s a lot to like in this unit and it’s generally well-executed. Whether you stop in the bathroom first or the bedroom first, this could be the rig for you. However, you won’t be stopping in the bathroom with the slide in—but this probably isn’t a deal breaker for a lot of buyers..”
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 get my RV’s frameless windows to open more?
Dear Dave,
Our TT has frameless windows that only open a few inches for air flow. Is there a way to modify the opening mechanism so that we can open and extend the windows farther and get more air? —Robyn, 2021 Coachmen Apex
Thor CEO tells about personal RV dumping “horror story”
The CEO of Thor Industries, Bob Martin, is a real-life RVer, a rarity among his peers. He’s even had some of the same experiences as most other RVers, including a tale about a dumping experience that went wrong. You’ll get a kick out of this (or maybe it will remind you of a similar experience).
Reader poll
Does your RV have a spare tire?
Quick Tip
Keep insects out of your RV
While RVing, our RV got inundated with large black ants. Upon inspecting just HOW they were getting in, I found I was the culprit! I made it easy for them by creating “highways” to the RV. The water hose, TV cable, and power cable all became expressways to the RV by allowing these crawly guys a direct path to us. I got some dry chemical, Triazicide, and buried the hose and cables in it. I also got some Ortho Home Defense spray for the cables. This kills them on contact. Great for ant nests. So, FYI, do not help them get in. Be prepared! —Thanks to Mike Palmer!
[Editor: If you want to go this route, Ortho Home Defense spray and Triazicide are available on Amazon]
????? MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY ??????
This is not something we ever thought we’d want, but the more we look at it, the more we want it…
Website of the day
An A to Z Guide to Not Killing the Planet When You Travel
This page from Conde Nast Traveler is informative, sure, but it’s also incredibly entertaining and done in a very fun way. Check it out and perhaps make some small changes in your day-to-day travels.
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:
• 18 percent think the U.S. should do away with dollar bills and replace them with dollar coins (like in Canada).
• The majority of voters, 55 percent, say the most popular type of pant they wear are jeans. The next most popular pant type are shorts, followed by sweat/athletic pants, then cargo pants.
• 12 percent earn money from a part-time hobby.
Recent poll: Have you ever stayed longer than planned in a campground due to bad weather?
Recipe of the Day
Buttery Soft Pretzels
by Christina Haley from Union City, TN
It’s National Pretzel Day, remember? These are buttery and so delicious!!! Have them with your favorite dipping sauce as a snack or appetizer. They are sure to be a party favorite. With the different variations you have some options to flavor and shapes. Kids would have fun making their own special shapes too. It really is an easy recipe and besides the dough proofing time, they do not take that long to make. Give them a try—you will not be disappointed! Enjoy!
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Trivia
Ever wonder where the “baker’s dozen” originated? If you’ve ever ordered doughnuts, bagels, breads or other pastries, you’ll know that if you order a dozen, you’re usually given 13 for the “baker’s dozen.” Well, during the medieval era, it was thought that bakers were tampering with food and short-changing their customers. Since bakers couldn’t do much to fight these rumors, they began giving their customers 13 items, not 12, in their “dozen” orders. That way, if any of the loaves were underweight, the bonus loaf would certainly make up the difference.
*Why are marathons 26.219 miles? It’s a very fascinating story! Find it in yesterday’s trivia.
Readers’ Pet of the Day
“Dixie is our little rescue from Yuma, Arizona. We adopted her in February of 2021 and we think she’s a little over 1 year old. She’s our little princess and a girly girl who loves having bows on her ears! Dixie is now a very happy girl who loves to travel all over the country! We’re very lucky to have found such a beautiful fur baby!” —Patti Marler
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!
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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Why do I not get an answer to my question? I have asked the last week and a half. I have not heard an answer from noone. I submitted that was my motorhome on April 12 2022. Still have not got any confirmation from any one. Do I ever get mt $25.00 gift card from Amazon or not? I have loved reading the articled from this news letter. I guess I will not get an answer from anybody from here. Thanks for your help and newsletter but I will not support or promote your articles anymore. I can not support something that does not follow through with their what they say. I am done thanks for nothing. Jack Palma
Hey, Jack. Thanks for writing. We’re always so good about getting back to those who win the contest and I’m so sorry we haven’t gotten a message from you! I checked our email inbox and see you submitted your RV a few times in April, but haven’t seen any emails from you regarding winning. Can you please send me an email to editor@rvtravel.com? I’ll get it into the right hands to confirm your RV and make sure you win your gift card. Thank you! –Emily
Hi, Jack. I did reply, promptly, to your previous comment about not receiving your gift card. Jessica, the Special Projects Director, has emailed you directly (but never received a reply), and has also sent the Amazon Gift Card to you twice (which the records indicate has not been claimed). Either the email and gift cards are being sent to the wrong address (we have 3 for you, BTW, but have used the one which shows up with your comments as well as in your requests to claim the prize), or they’re ending up in your Spam folder (which I suggested previously that you check). We apologize for the inconvenience, but we are trying, and have been trying, to get your prize to you. As Emily suggested, please write to her at editor@rvtravel.com and she will get this straightened out. –Diane
Since Jack is done can I have his card 😉
😆 Have a good afternoon/evening, Ed. 😀 –Diane
Dixie is a cutie. She is so lucky she found a forever home.
If I were looking to adopt a dog I would have snapped her up in a heart beat.
I haven’t been to a bakery in my 79 years that put an extra donut in the box.
On the survey about the dollar coin, that’s been tried twice with failures both times. I don’t have any info to back it up but I know in our case we don’t carry change in our pockets or purse, we have a change can that catches all our change every time we return from shopping. The first dollar was almost the size of the quarter and would work in some vending machines as a quarter. My late wife collected 25 of the second coin as souvenirs which I gave to our granddaughters on her passing which were probably spent rapidly as they meant nothing to them except money.
Someone not editing with “how to save the planet while you travel” an inch below “ I bury my umbilical cords in poison”
Hi, Traveler. Was that on our page or on the website we linked to? Either way, it wasn’t anything we put in there. Very strange topic, however. 😯 Take care. 🙂 –Diane
Oh thanks for reminding me about the squirrels! I have about 20 pictures of the aftermath of one which got locked into our class A for about a week (before it died!), and another week before I found him under a bed pillow! We’ve not even had a mouse – except in the brake lites! The squirrel apparently got into an outside compartment I had open while checking batts and then I closed it all up – and it was trapped – unknown to either it or me!
How about telling your Congress man/women or senator get rid of pennies too. It cost more than they are worth. Prime example of government waste. Canada got rid if them.
Dixie is such a lovely doggie and it is a blessing this nice family adopted her!!!!
Well, Brian, you beat me to it (that’s what I get for finally getting around to reading my RVTravel. com newsletter at 11:48 at night). I wanted to say that Dixie is really pretty (especially with the pink bow on her ear) and that I’m so happy that this nice family adopted her! Both are super lucky (rescues are the BEST)!
Insecticides have their place but around the RV and especially in the wild not as much as at home. Allow me to suggest an alternative to the “keep insects out of your RV” article. Instead of using poisons like those listed, purchase some peppermint oil (on line you can get it by the pint much cheaper than at the health food store). Mix it roughly 50/50 with rubbing alcohol and put it in a heavy duty spray bottle (found at Home Depot etc). Use this to spray around your tires, on your cords and water hoses etc. and even in your basement areas (mice, rats and roaches don’t like it either). It will keep the insects and other pests away PLUS make your site and MH smell good too. Yes you will have to respray every 3-5 days but the environment will thank you.
I’ve used peppermint oil and the only good result…it smells nice. But did nothing to keep the ants at bay. This is what I do when setting up; survey the area for ant hills and spray them with wasp spray. Works great and have never had an ant inside. Sometimes chemical warfare is the answer.
I’m a beekeeper. Ants like to nest above the top board in a hive. We sprinkle cinnamon on the board to keep them out.
I don’t use pesticides anymore because it could deteriate your cables besides other effects. Now i wrap them where they leave the ground with packing tape wrapped backwards .The critters get stuck cliimbing. After use I peel the tape off and move on. It doesn’t take much or long to apply.
Dixie looks like a great pal!
Why would anyone pay $15.00 for a hot pad or mitten?
Dixie is a very lucky girl. As are all rescues. 4 rescue cats!
When our son grew up and was no longer a cuddler, we “rescued” a cat for my wife. He is quite the lover and a welcome addition to our family.
One rescue dog and three rescue cats here! All lovable and loving! Dixie is lucky and pretty, too!
Here is one that needs a answer. If this Bob Martin is a rver then why does his company put out the worst built rvs?
Interesting question, but what constitutes the worst built RVs? I’m not defending Mr. Martin or his company, but if people would refuse to purchase shoddy products, any company responsible for them would quickly fold. I think it’s called a boycott! There is a gamut of products in today’s marketplace that are poorly constructed and cannot hold a candle to their predecessors, e.g., washing machines, refrigerators, power tools, etc., yet people continue to purchase without demanding quality improvement.
Well said.
I keep seeing articles and videos talking about the crap RVs out there. I have never seen one where they name names. Not one has come out and said “don’t buy X brand, they’re crap.” You can’t boycott what you don’t know… On a related note, huge spike in RV deliveries to dealers in March vs. last year. I’m guessing build quality isn’t getting better right now.
Because most people have a Walmart attitude on products it’s all low prices with no thought of the lack of quality.
Robert,
I don’t think Bob pays any attention to it beyond what the annual reports show.
Probably has a different brand 😁
Shareholders and the bottom line. Always has been and always will be. That’s capitalism.
Greed is the word you’re looking for, not capitalism. Or would you prefer socialism or communism over capitalism?
Tailgating at a Purdue football game then rushing to the airport does not constitute being an Rver.
Yep, I didn’t get that one either.