Issue 2012
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
“Intelligence plus character—that is the goal of true education.” ―
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is the National Guard’s Birthday. It’s also National Cocoa Day!
On this day in history: 1962 – NASA launches Relay 1, the first active repeater communications satellite in orbit.
Tip of the Day
RV fridge door pop open? Here’s a “quick and dirty” fix
By Russ and Tiña De Maris
If you’re the proud owner of a well-loved older RV, you’ll have run across the old “orphan parts” issue. Either the company doesn’t stock your part anymore, or the company doesn’t exist. Either way, when repair issues appear, sometimes you’re left getting creative.
Here’s a previous issue for us. At day’s end, we’d open the trailer door to find our favorite beverage cans rolling around on the floor. Evidently the weight of the cans in the refrigerator door, coupled with the force exerted by making corners, would cause the fridge door to pop open, and the pop to pop out. Not only did it present us with dented cola cans, but too often the door wouldn’t be kind enough to close itself, and the interior of the cooler would be anything but cool.
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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.”
My brand-new Dometic fridge won’t stop beeping!
Dear Dave,
I have a problem with my Dometic fridge. I have replaced the eyebrow or control panel with a new one. It gets 12v to the back of the fridge. I have had a technician inspect it and he said it was the control panel, but it still continues to beep. When it does, it switches back and forth from propane to electric like it’s confused. This fridge is new and has been used for only one month. The beeping all the time is killing me! It’s a Dometic DM2672RBf4. —Steve, 2022 Jayco 22RB
Live chat tomorrow about RV repair and maintenance
Dave Solberg and Dustin Simpson return Wednesday at 4 p.m. Pacific time (7 p.m. in the East), for their weekly, live one-hour video program “Talkin’ RV Tech”. Stop by and ask these RV experts a question or just soak up all the great information about RV repair and maintenance. The program appears on several YouTube Channels and Facebook groups including the RV Travel YouTube channel.
Missed last week’s program? Watch the recorded program here.
Video of the day
RV rubber roof treatment and care
By Cheri Sicard
RV rubber roofs are awesome in that they don’t need as much care and maintenance as regular roofs that need to be resealed every year or two, but that does not mean that a rubber RV roof does not need any care.
Your RVs rubber roof is still exposed to damaging elements like sun, wind, and rain. With time it can get dirty and grimy and lose its supple condition.
In the video below, The RV Guys, who repair RVs for a living, show how they clean and condition an RV rubber roof, using a motorhome that belongs to a client as an example.
Got enough battery to power that inverter?
If you’re considering adding an inverter to your rig, or already have one, it’s important to keep in mind the battery power you have available. Nothing can ruin a spot of boondocking quicker than killing off your “house” batteries. Replacing deep-cycle batteries is an expensive proposition, and a bit of quick math can help you prevent the problem. Read more.
It’s time to clean your CPAP machine!
53% of RVtravel.com readers or their partners use a CPAP machine. Wow! When was the last time your machine was cleaned thoroughly? They get very dirty! This highly-rated cleaning kit will get out all those yucky germs and bacteria. The extendable brush expands to 7 feet, but folds up into a small plastic bag to save space. If you use a CPAP, you’ll want to order this here.
Reader poll
Do you use your RV primarily for taking vacations?
Quick Tip
More holding tank surprises
“To save yourself from pranks, failing to close the valves after dumping and small leaks, I leave a clear 45-degree extension on my sewer outlet with the cap on so that I can see if there are any surprises waiting for me! If there are, I rotate the extension up before attaching the hose.” Thanks to Phil W.
On this day last year…
- Tip: Prevent mold with these simple tricks to cut down humidity inside your RV
- RV Review: Grey Wolf Black Label 18RR toy hauler
- Ask Dave: Can I tow my Ford F-150 with my Tiffin RV?
- Featured article: Shield your tires from exhaust heatBaked Chicken Fajitas
- Recipe:
?? MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY ??
We’ve seen quite a few of these, but never these exact ones. They may be our favorite! What do you think?
Website of the day
Edible mushrooms in the U.S. (and how to tell they’re not toxic)
Instead of buying mushrooms at a grocery store, go forage for them yourself! Here’s a list of 11 edible mushrooms you can find across the U.S. Yum!
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:
• 10 percent always bring golf clubs when they travel with their RV. An additional 10 percent sometimes do.
• 28 percent say they’ve been turned away from an RV park or service center because their RV is 10 years or older.
• 32 percent have an extended warranty for their RV.
Recent poll: Have you ever seen a UFO?
Recipe of the Day
Peppermint Hot Chocolate Cookies
by Tammy Brownlow from Dallas, TX
We love the intense chocolate and mint flavors in this chocolate cookie. It really is like hot chocolate in cookie form. They’re soft and chewy. We highly recommend enjoying them warm out of the oven while the marshmallows are at prime gooeyness. Chocolatey-minty goodness.
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Trivia
According to international recycling provider TerraCycle, Americans throw away 25% more trash during the holiday season than at any other time of year, amounting to nearly 25 million tons of excess waste.
*What is the official muffin of Minnesota? Find out in yesterday’s trivia.
Readers’ Pet of the Day
“Capt. Jack giving me, or getting from me, final instructions prior to starting as a volunteer camp host.” —Ken Knobel
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!
Easily check the tire pressure on your inner dual tires
Do you have trouble reading the tire pressure on your RV’s inner duals? This dual head tire pressure gauge with an extension steel shaft will reach where a standard gauge won’t. Be sure you know the pressure of all your tires, or risk a potentially dangerous blowout. No batteries required. Learn more or order.
Leave here with a laugh
How much does Santa have to pay for parking on Christmas?
Nothing. It’s on the house!
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Contact information
Editor: Emily Woodbury
CONTACT US
Editorial (all but news): editor@rvtravel.com
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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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OK here are a few clean Xmas jokes.
How does Santa take pictures?
With a pole aroid camera of course
What’s every parents favorite Christmas Carol?
Silent Night…..goes without saying
Happy Holidays everyone!!!
I’d bet Captain Jack is GIVING the orders! I know our Minnie (Chihuahua Mix) certainly rules our kingdom!! We are so lucky, aren’t we Ken!!
Captain Jack and Ken, Best Friends Buddies! The Love between you two is obvious. Safe Travels and always enjoy life.
Today’s Thought should be printed on bill boards, and t-shirts everywhere! Share, share, share!
Where do Santa’s elves go to vote?
The North Poll.
Just wondering: Are they legally allowed to vote?
Yes, on whether you are “naughty” or “nice”.
That’s Funny! Thank you for sharing.
The only “regular” roof should be a solid aluminum one. I’ll pay the extra money, and advertising it would sell more coaches.
My 1985 Coachman had an aluminum roof. Worst thing you could do. FULL of pinholes. They said acid rain caused it. We installed a rubber roof to get the leaks to stop
Alternative to Santa being on the house. He may find it over the roof these days.
Well, I give today’s newsletter FIVE stars; thank you!
I would also IF they still had the star system installed.
Thanks, Lindalee and Neal. We’re having an in-person meeting tomorrow. I have it on my list to ask about the status of getting another rating program that doesn’t interfere with our other stuff. Have a good night. 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
“RV rubber roofs are awesome in that they don’t need as much care and maintenance as regular roofs that need to be resealed every year or two”
Huh??? What’s a “regular roof?” I found the various “rubber” roof materials I’ve had on numerous campers to require a lot of maintenance vs fiberglass. Single piece aluminum roofs also seemed to be pretty maintenance free. Hence my question of what “regular” roofing material is.
My thoughts as well.
I had a 24 ft Prowler with an aluminum roof that was in 4 ft sections. I had to reseal the joints every two years. I also had a 36 ft Coachmen with a single 36 ft aluminum roof. I only had reseal the joints. A lot less effort.