Issue 1938
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
“Time is the longest distance between two places.” ―T
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Eat Outside Day!
On this day in history: 1897 – Thomas Edison patents the Kinetoscope, the first movie projector.
Tip of the Day
What’s In The Shop? RV suspension inspection and upgrade
By Dustin Simpson, California RV Specialists
In this “What’s In The Shop?” video, I provide a follow-up for a vehicle’s suspension that we recently inspected here at California RV Specialists. During that original inspection, we found a worn shackle link that was hanging on by a thread. This update shows the worn shackle links along with the worn-out bushing in the center equalizer found during repairs.
Today’s RV review…
No review from Tony today. He is just getting back from a looooong trip, has had some trailer troubles (i.e., fender bender on his way home), and is moving into a new house! He hopes you’ll forgive him.
For previous RV reviews, click here.
… But here’s a video from Josh Winters that might satisfy your craving for an RV review. It’s titled: Coachmen Chaparral 5th wheel RV may be underrated.
Photo Contest
The 18th edition of our photo contest is here. Click to see if your photo made the cut, then vote in our poll for your favorite photo. Remember, the winner wins a $50 Amazon gift card! Read the contest rules and/or submit your photo here.
Click here to vote for your favorite
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 RV batteries do you recommend for both chassis and house?
Dear Dave,
What RV batteries do you recommend for the chassis and house? My rig has sat in dry storage for two years and after a jump it doesn’t seem to be recharging. Do “any” Group 24 batteries work for the chassis and “any” Group 31 work for the house? There are two of each. —Kevin, 1999 Fleetwood Discovery
Video of the day
Amazing time lapse DIY truck camper build
By Cheri Sicard
This video channel is aptly named “Ambition Strikes”—as this DIY truck camper project is nothing if not ambitious. Especially when you consider the short amount of time that went into completing it! Although I suspect there was substantial research time before beginning…
It took a husband and wife team only two-and-a-half months to build the expedition off-road and off-grid “RV of their dreams.” But you get to watch the whole thing from start to finish in just eleven-and-a-half minutes.
Finally! A phone mount for car or RV that works and keeps us safe
I would never advocate someone looking at their phone while driving. But I will fully admit that, when a notice comes in, the urge to look is compelling, to say the least. While lots of folks might fault me for this temptation, I’m not alone. … Tony reviews the Nite Ize Steelie phone holders that really work, here.
Reader poll
Do you let the water run while you wash your hands?
Helpful resources
• CURRENT WILDFIRE REPORT
• CURRENT SMOKE AND FIRE REPORT
• NATIONAL TRAFFIC AND ROAD CLOSURE INFORMATION
• ROAD AND TRAFFIC CONDITIONS ACROSS THE NATION
• WEATHER ALERTS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
• LATEST RV RECALLS
• THE BEST RV TRIP PLANNER APPS AND TOOLS
Did you buy a lemon RV? Here’s more about RV lemons and lawyers who will represent you if you need help.
If you enjoy this newsletter, please help us spread the word! Learn more here. It’s fun!
Quick Tip
Clean up those RV power cord contacts
Readers may have heard a bit of back-and-forth about how to clean the brass contacts on your shore power cord connector. Please DON’T follow the suggestion made by one RV park that handed out a strip of coarse emery cloth to each guest, telling them to use it to clean up their contacts. Reader “D ‘n C” suggests something a little kinder, like a Scotch Brite pad. Resident electric specialist Mike Sokol adds: “For gold contacts on circuit boards we use pencil erasers. And I’ve used Mr. Clean Magic Eraser blocks for cleanup chores when I want to remove the crud, but not the metal beneath it. When you do need to resurface the metal, then 400-grit sandpaper is what I use.” Read a tutorial on this topic from Mike here.
On this day last year…
- Tip: These small insect screens keep wasps and bees from colonizing your RV
- RV review: Forest River Sabre 36BHQ Mid-room Fifth Wheel
- Ask Dave: How do I prepare a fresh water tank for use?
- Featured article: Add another room to your RV with this brilliant mod
- Recipe: “World Famous” Slow Cooker Meatballs
Website of the day
Could you survive a run-in with a bear?
Well, could you? Take this fun, interactive quiz and see what it says. Learn some useful tips to be bear-prepared!
Popular articles you may have missed at RVtravel.com
• Ways to keep the cool air IN the RV and the hot air OUT!
• Camper’s death could have been prevented with a satellite messenger. Don’t let it happen to you!
• No power? No hookups? You’d better be prepared!
Recipe of the Day
Grill Chicken Thighs w/ White Barbecue Sauce
by Missy Wimpelberg from Franklin, TN
Tender and juicy, these grilled chicken thighs are an affordable meal. The seasoned skin is perfectly crisp while the meat stays juicy and tender. We loved the white barbecue sauce. It’s slightly tangy with just a little bite. It’s delicious alongside the grilled chicken thighs.
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Trivia
The first European travelers in a hot air balloon were a sheep, a duck and a rooster. Joseph and Jacques Montgolfier, the French brothers who invented the hot air balloon, made this first successful launch and eight-minute flight in 1783 in the presence of King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette. All three animals survived.
*How many types of fungi are on each of your feet? You might not want to know, but if you do, you can find the answer in yesterday’s trivia.
Readers’ Pets of the Day
“Arthur and Bibi have been full-timers most of their lives. They travel well, except Bibi likes to give unexpected yowls once in a while when I am driving. They enjoy sitting on the steps watching whatever is outside.” —Kathleen Gallie
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!
?? MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY ??
You’ve never going to believe it… but this is what came up when we typed in “helpful RV tool.” You can see proof in the search bar! Don’t hate us for showing you this—you’ve got to have a sense of humor!
Leave here with a laugh
A ghost walks into a bar and orders a whiskey. The bartender says, “Sorry, we don’t serve spirits here.”
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.
Facebook Groups of Interest
Towing Behind a Motorhome • RV Advice • RVing with Dogs • RV Tires • Budget RV Travel • RV Buying Advice • Free RV Campgrounds • Casino Camping • RVing Full-time • Trucks for RV Towing • RV Enthusiast • RV Travel • RVing Over 60
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Contact information
Editor: Emily Woodbury
CONTACT US
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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.
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This newsletter is copyright 2022 by RV Travel LLC.
“Helpful RV Tool” Are you sure you didn’t type in Helpful pRiVy Tool?
I had to go to the RVTravel website to access last Saturday’s and today’s newsletters. The other days, I’ve gotten the emails with the links in them. Any idea why?
Hi, Russ. We are sorry that you’re not receiving the email alerts, as we call them, with the link to the current newsletter. We are aware of the issue and are working on it with our mail service. Hopefully it will get fixed soon. We appreciate your patience in the meantime. Have a great day. 😀 –Diane
Wouldn’t it be nice that the maker of an Rv spend the little extra to install the Dexter spring system rather than go for cheap crap that will need expensive repairs? I installed Dexter and never had anymore trouble
The original fell apart Noway to grease
After replacing shackles, give em a shot of grease and good for another season.
The manufacturer isn’t going to benefit any by going cheap unless he has an agreement with repair facilities. They only get the original sale and will they get repeat sale? Not from me
What, and cut into their exorbitant profits. Surely you jest!
There are a number of advertisements embedded in this publication. Not sure if any are endorsed by the publishers but today there is one for Bugs Off Pads. Beware owners if you have paint protection film on the front end of your RV. These pads will destroy the finish.
Oh my, what is “Paint Protection”? Is that the same thing as a clear coat finish?
A dealer ripoff.
Probably ceramic polish
It’s really good but $30 and your time gets you a BIG SAVINGS
Of course not everyone has the time or desire to do it themselves
And for many money is no object
Five days, 3 cans of 3M adhesive remover, 3 cans of Goo-Off, 3 sets of Plastic Chisels, more patience than normal and a large # of ” expletive deleted” comments and another day of waxing the now clean front cap of our RV the dealer installed option was removed. Now I am not ashamed to pull into our destination without RV acne all over the front cap.
Good job, Jesse! So all of that hard work and aggravation was worth it in the long run (i.e., you can enjoy it from here on out and be proud of the great job you did). Yay!!! Take care. 😀 –Diane
PPF. Protective Paint Film. Many high end sports car owners have it professionally applied to the front or most of their cars. Look up 3M Expel. It’s a thin film of clear plastic.
Good stuff but not cheap. It’s not dealer installed on cars.