Issue 2015
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
“Wanting to be someone else is a waste of the person you are.” ―
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Ugly Christmas Sweater Day!
On this day in history: 1937 – Theodore Cole and Ralph Roe attempt to escape from the American federal prison on Alcatraz Island in San Francisco Bay; neither is ever seen again.
The latest news published on RVtravel.com
Tip of the Day
Keeping camper countertops clutter-free
By Gail Marsh
It’s a problem—a big problem—at least three times a day. Those three times are when RVers want to prep a meal and can’t find a clear countertop space to do so. If this describes your RV galley’s situation, perhaps these tips and tricks to keeping camper countertops clutter-free can help.
Cleaning pros often advise that you begin with the place you think may be easiest. For me, it was clearing the very limited countertop space nearest the stovetop. Since this was a small space and one where we really, really needed room for food prep, I decided to start there.
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 and writers 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.”
Can I “exercise” my generator while plugged into shore power?
Dear Dave,
I am trying to figure out if it is OK to start my generator on my toy hauler while it is plugged into 50-amp service shore power. Since I bought the trailer in Dec. 2021, it was plugged into a 120v outlet for the first two months (Jan. and Feb. 2022) just to charge and have minimal power. As of mid-Feb. 2022, I’ve been living in the trailer at an RV park while working and have barely even used the generator at all. I am concerned if I don’t run the generator for a while soon it could cause problems with the battery or the small amount of fuel the dealership had placed in it. …
Read the rest of the question and Dave’s answer
Have a question for Dave? Click today’s Ask Dave article and scroll down to fill out the form. He’ll get back to you!
In the RV Shop with Dustin
What should I do with this bubble on my RV side wall?
You may have seen our series “What’s in the Shop?” Now, we’re sharing “What’s in the RV Group?” This is where we share posts and direct messages from Y-O-U. In this episode, Dustin shares how delamination occurs and most importantly how you can prevent it.
RV wall construction
I’ve seen many RV owners throughout my years in the industry try and heat the delaminated area and glue it back down. There is a reason why these jobs never look decent. Take a look at the below RV wall cut out. Your RV wall is made of the following:
- Filon: Thin as a credit card
- Luan: 1/8″ – 1/4″ thin
- Styrofoam: 1″ – 1.25″
Video of the day
10 common ‘barndominium’ problems
By Cheri Sicard
For many RVers, especially full-timers and most-timers, building a “barndominium”, aka a “barndo,” is becoming a popular idea. These large structures house RVs inside or under a canopy and have a small (or sometimes large) bricks-and-sticks home and/or workspace attached. But like any construction project, building a barndominium comes with potential barndominium problems.
In the video below, the team from Texas Best Construction covers 10 common barndominium problems builders or DIYers might need to deal with. These guys build barndos for a living, so they’ve encountered it all.
Three amazing women, three amazing landmarks worth a stop
By Chris Epting
There are so many interesting and important landmarks around the country that were inspired by and/or dedicated to famed female legends. I thought I would share three of my favorites today… Continue reading about Helen Keller, Rosa Parks and Betsy Ross here.
You may have missed these recent popular stories…
- Opinion: Living in your RV on private property is not the government’s business
- Master RV tech says, ‘It’s a wonder any [RVs] function at all’
- Has slowdown in RV sales helped with campground crowding?
- How full-time and extended-travel RVers get their mail
?? MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY ??
You’d have a lot of fun with this! You have to use it responsibly, of course, but boy, it would be neat to get a different perspective!
It’s National Ugly Christmas Sweater Day and that deserves a celebration! Here are 12 of the absolute BEST RV-themed Ugly Christmas sweaters. You’ll love these!
Reader poll
Have you ever gotten food poisoning from dining in a restaurant?
Quick Tip
More air from your ducts?
“We have a 2016 Jayco Jay Flight and our best friend has a 2015 Jayco North Point, both with ducted A/C. In the course of helping my friend troubleshoot poor air flow and cooling, we found the round ceiling vents have 2″-long collars on them that were protruding halfway to the top of the duct, blocking most of the air flow into the room. Measuring from the face of the ceiling to the inside edge of the duct work on most of them we found 1¼” to 1½” made them even with the interior edge of the duct. We cut them down with one of us holding a Dremel tool with a disc cutter while the other rotated the vent to easily cut them down. Just make sure you don’t cut it short and blow air between the ceiling and the duct work. What a difference!! Greatly improved airflow that we estimate is up to 50% increase!” Thanks to Gene C.
On this day last year…
- Tip: Keeping your powder—er, paper—dry in a wet bath
- RV Review: Rockwood Mini Lite 2514S
- Ask Dave: How can I get internet service in my RV?
- Featured article: It’s all about the light: Easy tips for taking better photos
- Recipe: Orange Coca Cola Ham
Makes a great gift!
The most festive RVing shirt of all time!
This shirt has a Christmas tree made out of RVs – you’ll get so many compliments! Every RVer who celebrates Christmas needs this! It comes in men’s, women’s, and youth sizes in many different colors so you can get one for everyone in the family! The solid colors are 100% cotton so it’ll only get softer the more you wear it. It also comes as a long sleeve shirt and a sweatshirt. Order one (or more) before Christmas!
Our staff and writers’ favorite RV gadgets of 2022
Awhile ago we sent out an email to all of our staff and writers. It asked, “What are your favorite RV gadgets/items? It can be anything from the best thing you use around the RV, to your favorite RV décor, to the thing that has the most uses around your RV. Your if-you-had-to-tell-a-new-RVer-
Website of the day
35 Easy and Festive Christmas Crafts for Kids That Will Keep Them Busy Until Santa’s Arrival
We try to avoid posting too many websites like this because you may not have kids or grandkids and you may not celebrate Christmas, but there are some easy craft ideas on here that are too cute not to share!
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.
• RV LIFE Trip Wizard: Make your RV road trip planning easier than ever.
Recipe of the Day
Stuffed Chicken Breast
by Sara Andrea from Eugene, OR
We can see why friends and family request this stuffed chicken … it’s delicious! The chicken stays super moist while the cheesy cream cheese stuffing is ooey gooey good. Bacon and green onions on top add an extra pop of flavor.
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Trivia
The well-known Chinese food takeout containers were originally designed to hold what? Hint: It wasn’t Chinese food! Although the little funny-shaped containers are now mostly associated with take-out Chinese food, Frederick Weeks Wilcox originally designed the little pails in 1890 as a mass-produced substitute for wooden oyster pails. Yup, they were designed to bring oysters home from the market and the waterproof, waxed-lined containers helped make that possible! It wasn’t until after WWII that the container was widely adopted by restaurants for take-out food.
*Do avocados ripen on or off the tree? Take a guess and see if you’re right by checking yesterday’s trivia.
Readers’ Pet of the Day
“This ‘loaf,’ Stutz the Corgi, is a back-talking teenager in dog form! He loves traveling and chasing his little brother (a Chihuahua). BUT he loves food more than anything!” —Elizabeth Cashdollar
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!
15 camping games and puzzles that make the perfect last-minute gift!
Wondering what to give to the families on your holiday gift list? Face it, the kids already have too many toys, and gifts for teens can be tricky. Most adults buy what they want when they want it! So, what’s left? The perfect gift: the gift of time together. Check out these 15 games and puzzles that will be a blast for everyone!
If you want to have a wonderful day, send $10, $50 or $100 to a local food bank. We have just heard on the news that donations to Food Lifeline (a member of Feeding America) are down 75% this year. Millions of our fellow citizens, including little kids, are going hungry. If you have ever considered donating, now is the time. If you contribute regularly, thank you! You will feel so good if you contribute — helping people less fortunate than you go to bed without the pain of an empty stomach. Find a local food bank here.
Leave here with a laugh
We don’t know if this is true, but here’s the claim: “My brother, tired of being a taxidermist after 15 years, went to veterinarian school. His new business never got off the ground so he decided to operate both his taxidermy and vet business together to save money. His new slogan was ‘No Matter What Happens – You Get Your Cat Back!’”
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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 like Stutz the Corgi! Our Chihuahua Mix is also a teenager in dog form even though she will only be 9 on Christmas Day! She rules the roost around here (3 cats are her domain) plus two 70+-year-old parents LOL! Stutz looks loved and that is all that counts! God Bless you and Merry Christmas & Happy New Year to ALL – staff and readers alike!
Thanks, Lindalee. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and yours, and all of our wonderful readers, as well as Happy Hanukkah and Joyous Kwanzaa. (Sorry if I left out anyone.) 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
I remember when I was a young kid (I’m 75) that if you got a goldfish from the local 5&10 store, you would take it home in one of those Chinese food take out type containers. Remember?
In the article for improving air flow in your ductwork, after trimming put the foil tape used in HVAC around the edge of each trimmed piece. This helps prevent the air from going into the insulation rather than the room.
I did the quick tip on our Montana. But I also used the aluminum duct foil tape to seal between the round collar and the duct to keep the air in the duct from escaping into the roof area out side the duct. Really made a big difference in the air volume coming out into the room.
The poster on “Ask Dave” was asking if he can start his generator while plugged into 120v outlet. He really means if he can start his generator while plugged into a 15amp outlet as even the outlets in his 5’ver are 120v. All outlet powers are determined by their amperage, as all outlets are 120vac. I’m surprised that Dave didn’t mention this.
And the same type of take out containers are used for live bait!!
Make sure they weren’t recycled.
Poor advice for peeling and deveining shrimp. Get a small shrimp peeler and deveiner. Much faster and easier.