Issue 1880
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!).
[activecampaign form=34]
Page Contents
Today’s thought
“Don’t gain the world and lose your soul, wisdom is better than silver or gold.” ―
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Iced Tea Day!
On this day in history: 1793 – The Jardin des Plantes museum opens in Paris. A year later, it becomes the first public zoo.
Tip of the Day
Five benefits of taking an RV vacation
By Gail Marsh
With fuel hitting all-time highs, many RVing families are reconsidering their summer vacations. In order to save money, folks are thinking they’ll simply forgo a vacation this year. That could be a big mistake. Even dangerous. Here are five reasons why you should take an RV vacation this year.
Relationship benefits
Covid. Masks. Social distancing. School closings. Work from home. Covid variants. Return to school. Masks? Return to work. I think we can all agree that the last couple of years have been exhausting. And pressure-filled.
This year’s RV vacation can help rebuild or strengthen your relationship with your spouse and/or your children. Time away from the daily pressures of work and hectic family routines is essential. A vacation gives you a chance to see your significant other and kids in a whole new light. A vacation provides the opportunity for you to experience new (and favorite) things together. These memories often last a lifetime. And time away offers a chance for the family to talk—really communicate—about their thoughts, dreams, and plans for the future.
COMING IN TOMORROW’S SATURDAY NEWSLETTER
The man who drove campers loopy
Today’s RV review…
2022 Forest River Cherokee Arctic Wolf 261RK fifth wheel
Tony writes, “The Arctic Wolf 261RK is a smaller fifth wheel with a rear kitchen and a nice, livable space. It lives more at the upper end of the travel trailer price spectrum but offers many of the big-time fifth wheel features, including fifth wheel towability.”
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.”
What should I use to clean and protect RV’s fiberglass roof?
Dear Dave,
What do you recommend to clean and protect my RV’s fiberglass roof? I have used Dawn dishwashing liquid and warm water with a soft brush to clean the tent material, but the top seems like it needs something stronger and maybe a stiff brush. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks. —John Bilbrey, 2021 Forest River Flagstaff 206STSE pop-up camper
She’s collected 90,000 postcards. These trailer postcards will make you smile
By Colleen Weum
When you visit that national park gift shop, the souvenir store, the little grocery stop while on your RV adventure, do you notice the rack of postcards? Maybe you even buy a couple to mail or keep as a memento. … Some folks, like myself, have taken it a bit further and collect postcards, including vintage postcards. Read all about the hobby of deltiology and check out some really cool vintage travel trailer postcards here.
You may have missed these recent popular stories…
- Expect a lot of turnover in campground ownership this year
- Safely carry LP cylinders in your pickup with this clever mod
- Yet another tiny house village debuts at RV park
- RV boo-boos: RV industry poster child. NOT!
Reader poll
Have you ever ridden a horse?
?????? MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY ??????
Not only will you score points with your friends and family by having this (literally), but you also don’t need glasses to see it—yay!
If you enjoy this newsletter, please help us spread the word! Learn more here. It’s fun!
Quick Tip
Maintain your equalizer hitch: Change the chains
Probably one of the least thought-of maintenance items for the travel trailer crowd is keeping an eye on your weight distribution hitch. But think about it: Every turn you make, the chain links at both the spring bars and at the lift assembly “wear” a little bit. After a few years, those points can fail, leaving you in a dicey position. So, recommends reader George Bliss, it’s wise to replace the EQ chains, and the U-bolts that go through the spring bars. Says George, “I know when I had my travel trailer I found the links, especially at the spring bar ‘U’ bolts were half worn through. Kind of scary.” Thanks, George for helping us keep safe from the weak link!
NEW! On this day last year…
- Tip: Ways to keep the cool air IN the RV and the hot air OUT!
- RV Review: Work and Play 27LT Toy Hauler
- Featured article: How to prepare easy, delicious meals in an RV
- Recipe: Loaded Buffalo Chicken Baked Potato Salad
Website of the day
The 25 Best Distilleries in the U.S.
Even if your partying days are over, visiting local businesses such as distilleries is a great way to experience local culture.
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
Mozzarella Jalapeno Popper Biscuits
by Wendy Cook from Salem, OR
Serve these jalapeno popper biscuits as an appetizer or a side dish. They’re so good! They taste like crescent rolls with a creamy and spicy middle. Adjust the amount of jalapenos added to the filling based on your taste buds. They’d make a great game day appetizer that you can make in no time. But, they’d also be good dipped into a Mexican soup. Yum!
[do_widget id=custom_html-21]
Trivia
You can thank actor Cary Grant for that chocolate on your hotel pillow. As the story is told, in the 1950s, Grant would frequent the Mayfair Hotel in St. Louis, where he would sometimes use strategically placed sweets in this room to endear himself to the ladies. The staff learned of Grant’s romantic ploy and adopted the gesture, which caught on in other hotels, and is still popular today.
Readers’ Pet of the Day
“My husband and I adopted Suzie from the Yavapai Humane Society. She is 14 months old. She is a Cattle Dog mix. Loves to be with us and hike.” —Janet Blaes
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!
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): chuck@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.
Kinda figures that yelp did the distillery list. Two of the oldest and best aren’t on it. Jack Daniel’s is the oldest and one of the best tours. George Dickel also has a fine tour, both just miles apart in Tennessee.
The article on Equalizer hitch chain replacement, always buy a good quality chain. All chains aren’t created equal.
A comment on Dave’s discussion of fiberglass roof care. Washing is good for it but I would suggest waxing it is looking for trouble. If you walk on your roof to clean it, work on it, or just as a high vantage point, wax is likely to give you a quick trip back to the ground. I learned this on a boat, when I waxed the front deck (one time only), which was slightly pitched (like many roofs). I was not just embarrassed by sliding off the bow into the water, but there was no one else on board and the boat was not tied up. Fortunately I never did that when the engine was in gear, so I was able to swim to the stern and crawl back in on the transom. Falling onto a concrete/gravel parking pad might not be so forgiving – a friend had that experience resulting in a femur fracture.
You were lucky the boat motor wasn’t running! And you’re lucky it was a boat you fell off of. I had a boss in the late ’60s who fell off a ladder while cleaning a gutter. He was paralyzed from the waist down for the rest of his life. Doesn’t take much to change a life forever. Have a good afternoon. 🙂 –Diane
Suzie looks like she might have Dalmatian in her with her brown nose and spots on her ears.. she is cute!! Thank you for rescuing her
Don’t know about Suzie’s heritage but have to agree with you Patty, she sure is cute!