Issue 1894
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Page Contents
Today’s thought
“If things start happening, don’t worry, don’t stew, just go right along and you’ll start happening too.” ―
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Handshake Day!
On this day in history: 1936 – Margaret Mitchell’s “Gone with the Wind,” one of the best-selling novels of all time and the basis for a blockbuster 1939 movie, is published. Did you know that Mitchell did not write the book from front to back, but in random chapters and then stitched them together later to form the book? True!
Tip of the Day
Sparkling-clean RV window screens without water
By Jim Twamley
To thoroughly clean my RV window screens I remove them and wash them with soap and water. But if they are merely dusty, a microfiber towel will do a great job without using water. Simply wipe the dry towel across the surface of the screen and it will pick up the dust. I couldn’t believe how easy it was to clean the screens the first time I tried it.
Read more, including more uses for microfiber cloths
Today’s RV review…
ATC Game Changer PRO 4023 fifth wheel—appropriately named
Tony writes, “I have to say, I really, really like the things ATC builds for a variety of reasons. But the quality of the materials and the design of things make the name ‘Game Changer’ quite appropriate. This is a huge trailer and you might even think about a commercial truck to move it around. But that also means you get the air horn and trucker-level of cool.
“Definitely something different. And a rig I would appreciate, for sure.”
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 is up with small RV ovens?
Dear Dave,
What is up with these small RV ovens? You can barely put a pizza in them! —Sharon, Grand Design Imagine XLS 22RBE
RV awnings: Everything you need to know
By Tony Barthel
An awning seems so simple, especially on newer RVs where it opens at the touch of a button. There are a few basic tips to keeping your awning in top shape and looking great. There are armless awnings, manual awnings, and many other styles, but virtually all the mainstream RVs come with the power awning with the arms on the side of the coach. That’s the one I want to focus on today…. Learn all about types of awnings, care and cleaning of awnings, awning “rules,” cool upgrades, awning myths, and much more, here.
Reader poll
Pet owners: Do you prepare your pet(s) special meals?
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?????? MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY ??????
Forget the view out the front dash, you’re going to want to sit in the back with this! This is great (and we’re so happy to be learning about it now instead of later!)
Quick Tip
Fresh water fill mod keeps you dry
“I was having no success with the fresh water fill. I’d get more water on me than in the tank. I think there may be a dip in the fill hose and/or vent hose acting as a water trap. In any event, I cut three or four feet off the end of a garden hose and snaked the cut end down the fill hose and right into the fresh water tank. Now I connect my supply hose directly to the garden hose and no more mess. I probably should have used one of those white hoses that’s made for drinking water. But we keep the water chlorinated and don’t drink it anyway. After a little whittling on the plastic fill housing, I was able to stuff the hose coupling far enough back to close the hatch.” From jeff-z.com.
Website of the day
The 30 Best Drive-In Movie Theaters in America
Drive-in theaters have made a comeback! And hey, who says you can’t park your RV in the back row (well, maybe some theaters have rules against it… but not all of them!).
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:
• 44 percent say their RV has a traditional oven. 28 percent have a convection, and 16 percent have both. 12 percent do not have an oven in their RV.
• 52 percent paid cash for their RV and do not have a loan on it.
• 11 percent have never attended a professional basketball game.
Recent poll: How likely would it be for you to stay in a campground that involves a 3-mile drive on a dirt road?
Recipe of the Day
Steak-n-Cheese Stuffed Biscuits
by Brenda Savage from Indianapolis, IN
In the Test Kitchen, this recipe reminds us of a Philly cheesesteak stuffed inside a biscuit. It’s a great handheld snack packed with flavor. Quick and easy to make, these are perfect for your next tailgate or football party. Yummy!
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Trivia
From 2004 to 2020, the U.S. lost 2,100 newspapers—about one in four—often leaving communities without access to reliable local news. Those that still exist are often ghosts of their former selves.
Readers’ Pets of the Day
“Kitty Cat hated Buffy before we hit the road. Now they’ve become best friends. Buffy loves the new smells at every new site and is always anxious to make new doggy friends.” —Linda Gray
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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Editor: Emily Woodbury
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Today’s thought sounds like it came directly from our current government administration.
Just saw the Wholesale Warranties ad above which annoys me and makes me feel gullible for believing their hype. I purchased a 2 year old 25′ MH and the dealer said I would be foolish if didn’t buy a service warranty. I didn’t buy his $8000 warranty but I did spend $4200 for a service contract with Wholesale Warranties that will cover EVERYTHING bumper to bumper including the chassis. I found out he lied to me when several issues came up and each time they said no, we don’t cover that. I know better now & won’t repeat that mistake. What I did right was hire a certified technician to check out everything… took 6 hours, highly recommend it if you are buying.
Regarding today’s thought: Wha—? We will remember this, especially regarding our tire inflation and hitching up procedures.
We do not use any of the water in the fresh water tank for cooking or feeding pets. It is used strictly for flushing and/or bathing.
Because changing water sources can upset our pets, we use only bottled water in their water bowls. No upset tummies!
Your trivia concerning local newspapers. Our local newspapers aren’t worth buying any more. Theirs not much news in them and they keep getting thinner. One is mostly ads. I also blame newspapers and the news media for helping tear Americans apart and making criminals seem like celebrities. Especially with mass shootings.
I empathize with the fresh fill problem. I got a small 12vdc pump at Tractor Supply and put some plastic tubing on both the in and out ports. I can stick one tube in my water container and the other end down the fresh fill port. The pump sucks the water up and into the fresh tank in no time. And we too do not drink the fresh tank water.
Another great alternative. 👍
I did something similar to the fresh water fill mod. I added a female hose connector to a 1 foot section of clear vinyl fresh water tubing. I keep it in the storage compartment and insert as needed. This also allows various adapters to use things like a water thief etc.
That’s a great alternative solution. 👍
Regarding the “fresh water fill solution “: It’s his solution to his problem. If you don’t agree or have a different setup, move along. If you have a better solution, feel free to iterate that solution.
Agreed, you can please some of the people all of the time & all of the people some of the time, but not all of the people all of the time!
Snoopy
That fresh water fill does not seal to the outside elements. The plastic flap will not stop insects or contaminated water, driving in the rain, from entering. My fresh water fill has a screw on cap.
Plus, stuffing the hose down the fill tube may destroy the flexible tube.
“Today’a thought”- best one in a long time…
Garden hoses are not safe for drinking water even though I’ve gotten a drink from one many times as a kid. I don’t think it’s a good idea using a section of garden hose down inside the fresh water tank fill port. The different chemicals used today to make garden hoses may be harmful especially the quantity of a water tank.
They said they don’t drink it!
Contact time is key. Run the stale water out of a hose and drink or fill your tank right away. Plastics don’t leach components instantaneously.