Issue 1887
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
“I cannot teach anybody anything. I can only make them think” ―
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is the first day of summer!
On this day in history: 1788 – New Hampshire becomes the ninth state to ratify the Constitution of the United States.
Tip of the Day
Dometic RV water heater and refrigerator maintenance
With Dustin Simpson, California RV Specialists
If you would like to learn about Dometic RV water heater and refrigerator maintenance, this video is for you. It doesn’t matter the brand or the manufacturer of your unit.
Join Dustin as he goes over Dometic RV water heater and refrigerator maintenance that will be performed on this 2019 Grand Design Imagine 2400BH. Dustin shows you where the model and serial numbers are located on these appliances and shows you what he and his team are looking for when they perform these service menu items.
Continue reading and watch the video
Today’s RV review…
2023 Thor Sequence 20A Class B Motorhome
Tony writes, “I can see this making a lot of sense for a lot of families or even couples as a true multi-purpose vehicle. Heck, you might even be able to use this for trips to the hardware store, so now you don’t even need a pickup…”
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.”
All about DEF shelf life and how long it lasts in the tank
There have been many questions regarding diesel exhaust fluid (DEF), that is required in diesel units since 2010. Recently we had questions from several readers about the shelf life of DEF. I believe an article written for RVtravel.com suggested DEF had a shelf life of only one year. So the questions started pouring in about what to do if you don’t use all the DEF in your motorhome and tow truck? Do you need to somehow get all the existing DEF out of your tank when the clock strikes one year? And how do you do that since there is no drain valve on the bottom, and you can’t just dump DEF out on the ground?
Readers say THIS is the worst kind of road to drive. We offer tips
By Nanci Dixon
In one RVtravel.com poll, we asked our readers “What kind of roads do you dread driving down the most?” Of those who voted in our poll, the highest percentage answered that they dread driving down icy/snowy roads the most. But what were the others they named? Read this very thorough article with comments from our readers and important tips to safely drive on all types of roads and in different conditions.
Reader poll
Do you play Pickleball?
If you enjoy this newsletter, please help us spread the word! Learn more here. It’s fun!
?????? MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY ??????
This is what came up when we typed in “summer gift” and we SO LOVE THIS IDEA! Heck, you could sell these at the campground and start your own very successful business!
Quick Tip
Site inspection advice
Doing a “walk around” inspection before pulling your rig into an RV site is always a good idea. Joe Bulger adds a pointer as to something else to look out for: “Before backing or pulling into an RV site, I always walk around to check for low branches, obstructions, power, water pedestal, etc. However, I never looked down until after my wife saw a few pieces of metal on the ground. The picture shows what we found. I plan on buying a long magnet on a stick at a lumber box store and use it to check the area before backing in. It won’t pick up aluminum or glass, but it’s better than nothing. This was at a private, very expensive campground in Key Largo.” Thanks, Joe!
Reminder: Your input on RV quality wanted for upcoming panel discussion
At RVtravel.com we will soon be launching a “live to tape” event that will feature leading experts within the RV industry, including RVIA certified technicians, technicians from RV parts suppliers, and even RV owners. We would like to invite you to join us in the discussion with your questions and comments prior to the event on the specific topic. Our first topic will focus on RV quality and, more specifically, why we see so many repairs and adjustments needed during the first few months of ownership.
On this day last year…
- Tip: These are the home remedies we swear by for bug bite itching
- RV Review: Oliver Legacy Elite Travel Trailers for boondocking
- Featured article: OK to use cruise control while towing?
- Recipe: Chicken Pineapple Kabobs
Website of the day
Our 43 Best Summer Cocktails
We don’t know about you, but we’ve had a very dreary, wet spring up here in the Pacific Northwest. We’re so excited that it’s the first day of summer today that we’re doing all we can to celebrate, and that includes a cocktail (or two!). Join us, won’t you? Cheers!
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:
• 52 percent believe that scientists will find evidence of life on Mars (either previously or currently) within the next five years.
• 47 percent prefer dark chocolate, while 29 percent prefer milk chocolate. Only 5 percent prefer white, and 18 percent can’t choose—they like them all equally.
• 50 percent say they were 15 or younger when they got their first romantic kiss.
Recent poll: How likely is it that you will buy an electric car/truck in the next year?
Recipe of the Day
Tasty Keto Lasagna
by Deni Elwood from The Villages, FL
If you’re following a low-carb diet, add this Keto zucchini lasagna to your weekly menu. You don’t even miss the noodles. It has a delicious balance of Italian flavors. Italian sausage adds another flavor dimension to the dish. You could easily substitute with your favorite sausage. Add all the layers of cheesy goodness and you have a tasty low-carb lasagna.
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YOU MIGHT LIKE: Let the sun do your cooking with a solar oven.
Trivia
A few weeks ago in this newsletter, we ran a trivia item about cereal photography that read:
“The next time you watch a cereal commercial, take note. You’ll notice, and perhaps you remember, that the milk looks oddly… perfect. Well, that’s because it’s not milk. It’s Elmer’s glue. For years food stylists have used the popular Elmer’s glue in place of milk in cereal ads and commercials. And, actually, it runs kind of full circle. You may recall that the Elmer’s logo is of a bull, Elmer, the mate of Borden’s advertising mascot Elsie the Cow. The original formula for Elmer’s used casein, a byproduct of milk.”
Well, Nanci Dixon, a long-time food photographer for General Mills, is here to disprove this apparent internet myth. Read the true story here.
Readers’ Pet of the Day
“Kya is an English Coonhound/Shepard, 1 1/2 years old. Loves to go RVing. Just say, ‘Kya, wanna go camping?’ and she’ll break the door down to get in! She’s a great companion…next to the wife and kids…but such a great pet. Only trouble is she’s in the real queen’s seat and has to get tucked in next to me.” —Bruce Baker
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
(And did you notice the spelling of his first name?)
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Contact information
Editor: Emily Woodbury
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Editorial (all but news): editor@rvtravel.com
Editorial (news): chuck@rvtravel.com
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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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For Steven (with a PH)
I believe it was Archie Bunker that pronounced it as “whores ovaries”.
Site Inspection also includes checking the fire ring. Some jerk left chicken bones that my dog found and was busily chewing away when my wife discovered them.
I posted this on Dave’s article, but thought I might add it here to. The subject of DEF and the question he posted at the beginning of his article was never answered. Here is (and I quote) his questions: “what to do if you don’t use all the DEF in your motorhome and tow truck? Do you need to somehow get all the existing DEF out of your tank? And how do you do that since there is no drain valve on the bottom, and you can’t just dump DEF out on the ground?”
So how do you get old stuff out and what do you do with it????
Go to harbor freight type store and get a drill powered pump some long enough tubing and pump it or siphon it out into another container.
I have done exactly that only with a HF hand pump….that was not my point. My point was that Dave didn’t answer the questions that he himself posted. He went on a rant about what DEF is, how it is used, why it is use, how long shelf life it could have…..but never answered the question.
He seems to do that quite often. He takes off on tangent and really never answers the actual question.
There are a lot of variables discussed on other sites. Temperature is the biggest problem. Most say two years shelf like from the date code, but they don’t really say how long it last in the tank.
Not the first time!
Drain it in the container in came in,and then mixing it with fresh DEF next year, say 12 to 20 oz at a time.
Again….that was not what I asked. Dave posted a question and never answered it and I wanted to know why he didn’t….
Those pieces of metal found on the campsite were left behind by an inconsiderate metal detector.
Wow! The number of comments here seems to have dropped off a lot recently. I guess cutting out the political comments has made quite a difference. 😱
That’s just fine by me!
Polly-Ticks, just another blood sucker.
Tony, it’s making a difference. Some people just have a chip on their shoulder and want to prove over and over again that only they know what is right and what is wrong. Then there are the name callers, who come right out and belittle or make fun of readers who disagree with them. And then there are the political geniuses who believe their party should be the only party and those of the other party are their enemies. Well, we do not need these people here. And the results are already showing with a more intelligent, open-minded discussion.
AGREED!! Thanks much!
You have my thanks too, Chuck. And give a big “Thanks” to Nancy Dixon
for that terrific sorting out of the cereal commercials. Great article!