Issue 1891
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
“What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.” ―
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Ice Cream Cake Day!
On this day in history: 1898 – The first solo circumnavigation of the globe is completed by Joshua Slocum from Briar Island, Nova Scotia.
Did you see the news? Click here to read the latest issue of the Sunday News for RVers.
Tip of the Day
21 unusual but brilliant uses for Dawn dish soap in your RV
By Gail Marsh
I’ve used it for years. Maybe you have, too. Dawn dish soap (original blue formula) does a great job cleaning dishes, silverware, and cookware. In addition to cleaning dishes, there are many unusual uses for Dawn detergent while you RV, too.
Check out the brilliant ways Gail uses Dawn around her RV. Some of them include: making an ice pack, killing weeds, cleaning your BBQ grill, stopping ants, cleaning your tires and much, much more.
Today’s RV review…
2022 Keystone Cougar 23MLS Fifth Wheel
Tony writes, “Today’s review is of the 2022 Keystone Cougar 23MLS fifth wheel. Specifically, this is called a Keystone Cougar Half-Ton 23MLS. Kids, let’s gather around the campfire and start with a frank discussion of trucks, shall we?” He goes on to describe this RV’s great features and adds, “With the number of things that Keystone is doing right plus the usable packaging of this unit, this could be a great choice at a fairly affordable price that offers good interior function in a towable size.”
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.”
How do I drain the old DEF from RV’s tank and dispose of it?
Dear Dave,
What do you recommend to remove the DEF from the tank? Any recommendations? My RV has been sitting for quite some time (3 years) with the occasional short trip. I would like to remove what is in the tank, as I always keep the tank full, and then properly dispose of it. I am glad I saw your article in keeping the tank at low levels. —Richard, 2017 Thor 35SD
RVelectricity™
by Mike Sokol
Ketchup update: Popsicles?
Those goofy Canadians (and I do love my Canadian friends) have come up with something so strange, so off the wall, that I just have to cover it here.
As you probably know, I have strong feelings about ketchup and what not to put it on. So, ketchup on meatloaf is great… ketchup on hotdogs is a no-go. Ketchup on french fries is a necessity… ketchup on steak—OMG, NO! I’m still on the fence about ketchup on eggs, but I do like a little hot sauce on the side. So what’s all the controversy about? Read on and find out… (Then please participate in the poll.)
• Read more of Mike’s articles here.
Introducing the RVtravel.com Photo Contest
We have a new photo contest! Submit your photos for a chance to win a $50 Amazon gift card. Each Saturday, we’ll post five reader-submitted photos, and our readers will vote their favorite, which will earn their photographer the Amazon gift certificate. Read the rules and submit your photo here. Good luck!
Triple towing: Is it legal? Is it safe? Should you do it?
By Gail Marsh
The good news? We planned to travel to a warmer climate for the winter! The bad news? The transporter who had agreed to take our motorcycle to Florida backed out at the last minute. We really didn’t have the time to investigate another carrier, but we did consider triple towing. If you aren’t familiar with the term triple towing, you’re not alone. Everything you wanted to know about triple towing and then some … here.
Reader poll
Were you raised in a military family?
Quick Tip
Five tips for safer a safer downgrade trip
1. DO: Pay attention to road signs. When you see a mountain grade warning sign, prepare to change your driving habits. Get into the slow lane and let other drivers pass you while you ease off the gas pedal. 2. DON’T: Keep your foot on the brakes. Apply firm pressure to slow down a few miles per hour, release your brakes, then move on to downshifting. 3. DO: Downshift into a lower gear. Your goal is to be at least 10 miles per hour below posted speed limits. 4. DON’T: Let your transmission rev up too high. Sometimes downshifting into a lower gear when you’re going too fast will cause your transmission to rev up too high, which can also cause damage. That’s when using your RV’s brakes makes sense. Once again, apply firm but brief brake pressure until your transmission returns to safer operating levels. 5. DO: Put your ego aside, look for pull-outs and let others pass. From doityourselfrv.com.
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Website of the day
23 of the Most Beautiful Gardens in America
These gardens really are stunning! ‘Tis the season to be outside and admire Mother Nature, so get out to some of these gardens and be prepared to be amazed. (And get your camera out so you can submit a photo to our photo contest!)
?????? MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY ??????
The 4th of July is coming up, and this is surely a way to show your patriotism. In fact, we’re not sure you could get any more patriotic than this… wow!
Popular articles you may have missed at RVtravel.com
• RV water filtration; and water system maintenance after a trip
• We got into an accident. Here’s what we learned that may help you
• New to RVing? Here’s what experienced RVers want newbie RVers to know
Recipe of the Day
Mexican Cornbread Casserole
by Angela (Grammy) Derby from Charlotte, NC
Definitely add this Mexican cornbread casserole to your dinner menu. It’s quick to throw together and easy on the budget. The meat is full of flavor from the taco seasoning and a little punch from the Rotel. Corn and cheese help to mellow the flavors and not make this very spicy. Sweet cornbread on top is perfect and marries together to make a wonderful casserole with a Mexican flair. This is the perfect size for a family, but if you have hearty eaters you may want to double the recipe.
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Trivia
A spider discovered in 2012 by biologist Phil Torres in the Amazon jungle builds decoys of itself. It’s hard to believe, but it’s true. The spider uses debris and silk to build decoy spiders hanging from their webs. The decoy resembles the spider almost identically with a central body and eight legs. Read this story to learn more—it’s incredible!
Readers’ Pets of the Day
“Here are Beau (front) and Lana wondering if they’re about to get a treat while relaxing on the sofa in our trailer. They get along great, and both love scent-smelling while we’re sightseeing.” —Roger Biery
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
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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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and the cat says uh huh you try loosing weight at our age. Otherwise switch on the soaps and bring on the snacks. I love it.
The patriotic item of the day comes to you from, ya you guessed it China. Not to mention the rules for displaying the flag do not include clothing.
Easiest way for a safe downgrade drive?
Have a truck that is equipped with an engine brake. Safest way. I seldom use my brakes on any downgrade less than 6 degrees.
I was not raised with parents in the military but my kids were.
I enjoyed the tip of the day.
Re: your “quick tip” – your transmission isn’t revving too high. The gear you select may cause your ENGINE to rev too high, and that’s what you’re trying to avoid. It’s a small point, but one that your readers really need to understand…
Regarding engine braking on a downhill grade. Read your owners manual for maximum RPMs allowed. I do not recall the exact numbers, bot for the Duramax diesel the maximum RPMs allowed for engine braking (when using the optional compression brake) is significantly higher than the maximum RPMs allowed pulling a load.
Tips for downhill mountain driving, ” keep your foot on the brake ” !!! NOT ME
Look again. It’s preceded by a bolded “DON’T”
“Don’t let your transmission rev up too high”? What? You’ll want to watch ENGINE r.p.m., yes. Transmission “revving” not so much, though it’s a cute idea the article writer just made up.
Kind of sounds like a Johnny Robot article to me.
Johnny Robot
Doesn’t R.P.M. stand for Revs (Revolutions) per Minute?
OK, transmission…I got it!
There are way too many ads in the Reader’s Digest parks article. Please preview your links and disregard those that are nearly impossible to use. While I clearly understand the need to monetize an article, this one goes way over the line. From ads that have been inserted between almost every section of the article to the pop-up that won’t die (and covers part of the article on my tablet), this link should not have been a prominent part of your newsletter.
Thank you
I wanted to read the spider story on Wired you linked to, but each time I clicked on the link I would get a Wired subscription pop up box that I couldn’t get rid of without closing the entire window.
I did too, but I didn’t touch the popup window (which took up the bottom half of the page) and just scrolled through the article on the top half of the page.
There was a down arrow on the popup that reduced it to a much smaller band across the bottom of the screen.