Issue 1930
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.
Page Contents
Today’s thought
“Scared is what you’re feeling. Brave is what you’re doing.” ―
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Potato Day!
On this day in history: 1848 – California Gold Rush: The New York Herald breaks the news to the East Coast of the United States about the gold strike in California (although the “gold rush” itself started in January).
Tip of the Day
Why coyotes pose a threat to your pet in campgrounds
By Chuck Woodbury
National parks require pets to be leashed to protect the local wildlife. But where coyotes roam it’s the pets that need protection. As in many expanding suburbs, coyotes in national parks have become so accustomed to people that they often forage in plain view.
Cats and small dogs are easy prey for the quick, powerful predators when left tethered to an RV in a campground. One ranger at Death Valley National Park almost lost his cat when a coyote grabbed it outside his residence. He chased the animal, which dropped the cat and ran off before inflicting serious injury.
Today’s RV review…
No RV review again today, folks. Sorry. Tony has a lot going on right now. (We tried to tell him that he’s only one person, but he wouldn’t listen.) But the good news is that he’s out touring tons of RVs to write about! He’ll be back soon!
In the meantime, ever wonder what Tony’s second-most popular post/review was in the last year? Check it out here.
For other RV reviews, click here.
Tony’s RV reviews also appear daily on Facebook.
Did you see the results of our poll where we asked…
Would you buy an RV made in China if the quality was equal to one made in the USA, but priced significantly less? Find out.
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.”
Our RV’s entry door is not flush with the frame. How can I fix it?
Dear Dave,
It appears that our RV’s entry door is not plumb. When the lower left corner of the door is flush with the frame, the door edge of the upper left corner is still 1/2–5/8 inch from the frame. The hinges look tight and consistent/straight. Picture attached. Any ideas on how to correct it? Continuing to slam the door shut does not seem a good solution. —Gary, 2016 Tiffin Allegro 34TGA
Video of the day
Does your RV stink? It might be RV gray water tank odor
By Cheri Sicard
RV gray water tank odor is a problem I had in my old RV. The couple in the video from Changing Lanes had it, and if your RV is stinky and you can’t figure out why, you might be having it too.
I remember when I dealt with this problem. It was making me crazy. I had dumped and cleaned my black water tank. Yet my RV was always smelling stinky. At one point it kind of smelled like a propane leak, yet I could find no such leak. I finally asked my trusty mobile RV repair guy what could be going on. He said, “It’s probably your gray water tank.”
Stay overnight on lava fields in Grants, New Mexico
By Nanci Dixon
A fun and informative stop on our recent travels was the lava fields in Grants, New Mexico. The huge rocks and slabs of lava that oozed out and blew out of volcanoes 3,000 – 5,000 years ago surround the interstate. We stopped for the night at the local KOA and, although the campground was not much different than any small town overnight-only spot, they were situated on a lava field. Read more about this very unique location.
You may have missed these recent popular stories…
- Could lawsuit against Walmart doom overnight RV parking?
- Our founder reflects: ‘What decades of RVing have taught me’
- The stupidest tourist trick we’ve ever seen
- Help from a popular auto parts store gone wrong—battery bust!
?????? MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY ??????
Stop smoking! Stop biting your nails! Quit drinking all those sugary drinks! Quit nagging on your partner! What do all these things have in common? Well, here’s how to stop them. (And seriously, check out those reviews. Wow!)
Reader poll
Have you ever been bitten by a tick that you had to remove from your body?
If you enjoy this newsletter, please help us spread the word! Learn more here. It’s fun!
Quick Tip
Store a fire extinguisher in closet
Use a Velcro fastener strap to hold a large-size fire extinguisher in the back corner (or corners) of your closet. The hanging clothes will also help keep it upright. This enables you to store the extinguisher completely out of the way but still easily accessible from the bedroom and bathroom areas. Thanks to Ron Jones, AboutRVing.com.
On this day last year…
- Tip: Zoning in your brake controller for optimum trailer braking
- RV review: 2021 NeXus Viper 25V B+ Motorhome
- Ask Dave: Why does the check engine light come on intermittently?
- Featured article: RV Travel reader offers advice about buying an RV
- Recipe: Mexican Street Corn
Website of the day
GetMyBoat
Want to go on a boat but don’t own one? This is the site for you! GetMyBoat lets you rent boats across the U.S. Have fun and be safe!
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
Healthy Chicken Tacos
by Sena Wilson from Lake Jackson, TX
This guilt-free taco is yummy! The avocado salad is fresh and creamy. Tomatoes add a pop of sweetness. Lemon pepper seasoning really adds a lovely citrus flavor to the salad and chicken – it’s a must. We loved lightly frying the tortillas. It adds a crisp texture to the tacos that pairs with the creamy filling. Add your favorite toppings and you have a tasty, healthy weeknight meal.
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Trivia
Next time you pass a Harley-Davidson motorcycle on the road, think about a blue whale’s heart. Their hearts are about as big as that motorcycle, measuring on average 5 x 4 x 5 feet. Their hearts weigh about 400 pounds.
*What are the top 10 activities that contribute most to U.S. lightning fatalities? Find out in yesterday’s trivia.
Readers’ Pet of the Day
“Midnight was a stray cat we took in about 10-11 years ago. He first ran the household in Idaho City, ID, but after our retirement, he runs the household of our motorcoach that we full-time explore our beautiful country in. It’s a tough job, but someone has to do it!!” —Jane Burgman
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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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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The leave here with a laugh reminds me of x- chocks. Mine have a warning sticker on them not to use them to chock your wheels.
That’s crazy. You’d think they would have used a more accurate name (or at least a less inaccurate name) for their product. But I’ve heard they work really well for what they do (keep the trailer more stable when you’re walking around inside). Have a good night, Roger. 😀 –Diane
Fire Extinquisher in closet you can grab at night may suppress the fire enough to get out. May not save RV but if it give you more time it is worth it.
On storing a fire extinguisher in the closet isn’t such a great idea as out of sight out of mind! I like to be able to see ours easily as to see that the gauge is in the green zone. I actually pick them up once in a while & turn them upside down to shake them as after a while they get all caked up from bouncing around in the motor home! Without routine shaking and mixing, settling occurs and reduces the amount of powder dispensed when you pull the pin. What should be done to prevent fire extinguisher from clumping. Every month, you should turn them upside down and shake them vigorously.
https://becomeafirefighterhq.net/extinguish/do-i-need-to-shake-my-fire-extinguisher.html
Snoopy
And also ensure you mount them so the gauge is visible while wall mounted.
On fire extinguishers, a friend of mine had an engine compartment fire. He exhausted two large fire extinguishers. Fire dept was 1/2 mile away,at another accident. RV was completely gutted by the fire.
Get out of the burning vehicle, including pets. Let it burn. You can always get another RV. Another life is not granted to you.
On the main page, the article about odors from the gray tanks says, “The couple in the video from The Learning Banks…”. However, the video is from Chad and Terra of Changing Lanes. I’ve seen that one, but I thought that it might be something new, from the main page description.
Thanks, Tom. I changed it to Changing Lanes on the post itself, after confirming that with Cheri, but I forgot to update the reference to it in the newsletter. It’s been corrected. Have a great day! 😀 -Diane
Miss Tony Barthel‘s RV reviews. Always look forward to them.
Wish there was a index for all he done.
Hi, Chuck and Bob. Here’s the link to get to Tony’s 800+ posts: https://www.rvtravel.com/author/tony/ And he’s back tomorrow. Woo hoo! Have a good night. 😀 –Diane
Harleys weigh twice that, and the chopping board made in china will probably fall apart if you use it for chopping..
Not everything made in China is junk as not everything made in the USA is the best. Often their translation to english doesn’t sense as it should have said Cutting Board, then the warning Do Not Use as a Chopping Board.
I think that you should keep your fire extinguisher close to the exit door so you can open the door and grab it. Most times that they are needed are outside and you will need quick access to it, it’s not like it’s a long ways from anywhere inside the camper. My 2 cents worth of advice.
Hi Bobby that’s a great idea, I recently added a 5 lb. ABC fire extinguisher to an un-locked compartment so to have it easily accessible. It’s stored in the propane bay & has a sticker on the door that says “Fire extinguisher inside”.
Snoopy
If you want to see lava flows, you ought to try Craters of the Moon just outside Idaho Falls, ID. It will give you a much clearer picture of the desolation, devastation, and magnitude of volcanic activity. You can walk the lava tube tunnels if you wish. Miles and miles of them. Truly impressive.
Agreed! And several accessible paved paths for those with mobility issues