Issue 1946
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
“You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated. In fact, it may be necessary to encounter the defeats, so you can know who you are, what you can rise from, how you can still come out of it.” ―
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Chocolate Milkshake Day!
On this day in history: 1959 – Bonanza premieres, the first regularly scheduled TV program presented in color.
Did you see the news? Click here to read the latest issue of the Sunday News for RVers.
Tip of the Day
Here’s how to make boondocking fun for the partner who hates it
By Nanci Dixon
I love boondocking, everything about it: the challenge, the isolation, ruggedness, sense of self-sufficiency… but my husband hates it. We are currently in a regional park with 50-amp electric hookups, amazing showers, and dishwashing stations. His comment: “I hate boondocking.” I wanted to respond: “Just wait until we get to the Harvest Hosts free-range pig farm next week…”—but I refrained.
My goal is now to make it as painless as possible for him and happy for me. Here are a few steps that may seem counter to true boondocking but are a good way to ease into hard-core boondocking, or at least keep the family happy.
Today’s RV review…
Alliance Paradigm 385FL for 2023
Tony writes, “Today’s RV review is a renewed look at the Alliance Paradigm 385FL, a front living fifth wheel. I got a chance to look at the 2022 version in person last year at the Quartzsite Sports, Vacation & RV Show. There have been enough changes to it that I thought we should have a renewed look. … Seeing the changes for 2023, which aren’t overly significant but still reflect a refinement of the product, it makes me think this is a brand worth watching. For those for whom this makes a difference, Alliance is also an independent company—in other words, not part of Thor, Forest River or Winnebago.”
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.”
Quick RV Tech Tip: Are lithium batteries good for full-time RVers?
Dave,
We’re going full-time RVing next year and will need to have a pretty good solar package. Does it make sense to start with a couple good LiFePO4s and whatever charge controller is needed, then later add an inverter, panels, and any other hardware? It is impossible to find a qualified RV solar installer here in Western NY. Even the local RV dealers don’t know as much as they should. I can do the first part myself, then have it finished off while on the road at a pro shop. Your thoughts? —Bob, 2017 Coachmen Leprechaun 317SA
RVelectricity™
Do coiled extension cords heat up from inductive heating?
Dear Mike,
Our all-electric coach has a 36-foot-long 50-amp cable wound up on a motorized cable reel. Is it necessary to completely unwind it before plugging it into a power outlet? I’ve heard that practice recommended to prevent overheating from electromagnetic induction, but wasn’t sure if, say, 20 feet of cable left on a reel would cause much electromagnetic induction heating. Piling an extra 20 feet of cable on the ground is a pain if not needed! Thanks for any insight. —Bruce
• Read more of Mike’s articles here.
Video of the day
Incredible cargo trailer RV conversion in just 4 weeks!
OK, this cargo trailer RV conversion build was MOSTLY completed in 4 weeks.
The video below says they still plan for some additional small improvements, like adding an awning over the outdoor kitchen, making a slider for the camp stove, one more window, and some table adjustments. But still, what they did build in 4 weeks in a 17-foot cargo trailer is pretty incredible.
Alas, another RV burns to a crisp. How to avoid this happening to you
Here’s another example of an RV that has traveled its last mile, at least on its own power. We present this photo (that we spotted on Facebook) for our newbie RVer readers who are not aware that RVs burn about as fast as any product on earth, a perfect fuel. RV manufacturers and dealers don’t talk about this because it might scare some buyers away. Continue reading.
?? MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY ??
Let your imagination soar… No, really, what the heck would you do with this? It is pretty cool, but…
Reader poll
What do you use to set a reminder to do/complete things?
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Quick Tip
Ups and downs on RV ladder safety
Many RVs have a built-on roof access ladder. Here’s Tony K.’s take on the situation: “I don’t trust those flimsy RV ladders anymore. I bought a collapsible ladder rated for my weight. I put it along the side of the flimsy ladder and use it to hang onto as I climb up. When I get head high to the roof I stop and twist a piece of Romex copper wiring around both ladders before I proceed up on the roof. Knowing the ladder can’t shift sideways going up or down makes all the difference in the world. I spent a whole career building freeway bridges working on ladders. But at my age now I feel I can’t afford to have an accident as it would surely interrupt my RV fun/travels!” Thanks, Tony!
Website of the day
Memory Games
This page on improvememory.org lists a bunch of games you can play online for free that will help improve your memory.
Popular articles you may have missed at RVtravel.com
• Take your ice cream cone out of your pocket! It’s illegal!
• RV Tire Safety: Are tire pressure recommendations changing?
• These are the home remedies we swear by for bug bite itching
Recipe of the Day
Gouda Bacon Cheeseburger
by James McGraw from Kansas City, KS
Bacon, Gouda cheese, and a creamy sauce… what more could you want on a burger? We loved the smoky Gouda cheese with the applewood bacon. The sauce is absolutely delicious and perfect on the burger. It’s like Thousand Island dressing with a nice kick. A nice treat if you normally just put ketchup on your burger. If you’re not a huge raw onion fan, then leave it out of the dressing mixture. It will be just as delish!
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Trivia
When looking at or into a large crowd, the human eye and mind can only recognize two faces at a time, according to a study published in the Psychonomic Bulletin & Review. You can read more about the study here.
Readers’ Pet of the Day
“This is our little adopted Sheltie forever friend, Noel (born on Christmas Eve), who is 14 years old but still thinks she’s a puppy. She is definitely a keeper!” —Dean Fickbohm
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
You know … In case the plain ol’ flat highway is just too boring. 😆 Thanks to Tom Hart for this!
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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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I will never think of a round about the same way again. Thanks for the thought. No thanks, I will go around it….
Drooling over the gouda burger. We buy a round log of smoked gouda from Sam’s Club. Awesome on burgers or shredded in an omelet.
Try brie next time. OMG
For the mystery product, fill it with helium, put a note in a plastic bottle, tie it to the feet and let it go! Just saying
Dean, I love your little Sheltie! My Chihuahua Mix was born on Christmas DAY! She is also a rescue and will be 9 in 2022! She too thinks she is still just a puppy when she is actually almost middle-aged LOL!!
Inflatable skunk, 30″ long ! Oh, what fun we could have, set it over by the tent campers…
Loved the Sheltie, reminded me of our 5 Shelties.
Also, can’t wait for the new roundabout in our city. I am getting tired of the ones we have.
Loved the little Sheltie!!
I think I was on that round about in Atlanta yesterday
Loved the Pet of the day, reminded me of the sheltie I got from a rescue when she was 8, lived to be 16.
The only thing I use the rear ladder for nowadays is to sling our Dish Playmaker up there. And then to take it down as well.
I got the malware message also on the game link
When I went into the website of the day, I got a message that it has been reported as containing malware from my security software. You may want to be careful opening it.
Haha! You left out an option for me. I put things I need to remember on the phone, written on a paper calendar AND if getting ready to leave on an RV trip, a daily to do before departure list! You may have guessed, I ain’t no spring chicken!