Issue 2016
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
“When we are young, the words are scattered all around us. As they are assembled by experience, so also are we, sentence by sentence, until the story takes shape.” ―
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is the first day of Hanukkah! Happy Hanukkah!
On this day in history: 1606 – The ships Susan Constant, Godspeed, and Discovery depart England carrying settlers who founded, at Jamestown, Virginia, the first of the thirteen colonies that became the United States.
Did you see the news? Click here to read the latest issue of the Sunday News for RVers.
Tip of the Day
Driving a Class A is not as scary as it looks
By Russ and Tiña De Maris
Many folks, on “thinking” about getting their first Class A motorhome, are a bit intimidated. After all, they’re so BIG! However do you pilot that big thing down the road? How could you ever get comfortable maneuvering so much mass? Here’s some advice from those who’ve made the big leap and now are proud pilots of those big coaches.
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.”
Does my RV still need a battery when connected to shore power?
Dear Dave,
I live in Montana. I remove my RV’s dual 12v batteries and bring them inside. I plug my trailer into shore power to run a small heater. I discovered that I cannot use my slide function without the batteries hooked up to the system. What is the purpose for wiring it that way? Shouldn’t it be set up to also work off shore power? —Mark, 2019 Northwood Arctic Fox 25W
In the RV Shop with Dustin
Cool Tools: The Magnetizer Demagnetizer
Every Wednesday we meet for a livestream called Talkin’ RV Tech. We not only answer technical questions, but we also share what we like to call “cool tools.” These are tools and gadgets that we actually use! We believe they will be helpful to you.
Here’s a clip of one of our latest videos where we discuss the Magnetizer Demagnetizer for Screwdriver Tips.
Video of the day
Are RV ramp levelers worth it? Andersen vs. Beech Lane levelers
By Cheri Sicard
In the video below, Joshua from Gander Flight takes a look at RV ramp levelers, also known as wedge levelers, shows you how they work and how to use them, and gives his opinion on whether or not this particular RV accessory is worth it.
Tiny space heater comes in handy in an RV
Chuck Woodbury has owned a tiny space heater now for 6 years, and he swears it’s one of the most useful gadgets he carries with him in his RV. It uses hardly any power and is perfect for the person who is “always cold,” or maybe just always has cold feet. Chuck uses it to keep the chill off in his bathroom. Read all about it.
Reader poll
If you’re traveling via RV for the holidays, are you en route to your destination yet?
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Quick Tip
Winterizing—more than just RV plumbing
Winterizing the RV’s plumbing system is what most people think about, but what about the rest of it? Here are a couple of other items to remember.
- Have you removed all the freezables from inside the coach?
- Is the inside clean and free of any food debris? Think mice.
- Have you removed or sealed any materials that can be made into nests? Think mice.
- Is the roof and its seals in good condition? Think melting snow in the spring.
- Have you covered your RV? This really helps to protect the RV and extend its life.
Website of the day
The 25 Best Wineries in the United States
Okay, wine drinkers, this one is for you! These 25 wineries look beautiful and their wines sound fantastic. We’ll meet you at one (or two) of them, deal?
Popular articles you may have missed at RVtravel.com
• You can do way more with leaf blowers than you think! Here are 6 other ways to use them
• Young nomads follow their dreams in homemade RV. What they can teach us
• 5 easy ways to make your own campfire starters
Recipe of the Day
Ham and Swiss Hot Bread Bowl Dip
by Renee W. from Somewhere In, MI
Ham and Swiss is a classic sandwich combination. This recipe takes those ingredients and turns them into a dip that’s baked in a yummy bread bowl. The dip is very creamy with bits of diced ham throughout the melted Swiss cheese. Green onions and ranch dressing mix add additional flavors. When the toasted bread pieces are gone for dipping, you can just eat the bread bowl. It’s delicious down to the very last bite. An easy appetizer for your next party.
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Trivia
It is illegal for the U.S. Treasury to print a living person on currency. So, if you have a dream of being on the newest bill, you may have to, well, you know, die first…
Readers’ Pet of the Day
“This is our favorite spot to walk the beach—Myrtle Beach, SC. Taylor the Sheltie loved to explore, dig, fetch a ball, or walk into the water as long as it was only up to his stomach; he just never fully understood why he couldn’t drink it!” —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!
?? MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY ??
These are, well, appropriate to say the least. It knows us too well…
Leave here with a laugh
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Contact information
Editor: Emily Woodbury
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Editorial (news): chuck@rvtravel.com
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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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Chuck when you first mentioned the MYHeater 6 years ago or maybe longer we purchased one and it has been used regularly and Helen loves it on her desk. It actually heats up a small office. Joe sometimes has to take off a sweater or sweatshirt.
It’s a good buy for only $29 now.
Joe
Was the laugh of the day posted just to make fun of me?
Yes. 😆 –Diane at RVtravel.com
Oh. I couldn’t remember what was on my to-do list today so I just tuned into RVTravel. Now I gotta think. I know she told me to do something today. ???
And then I didn’t catch the wrong date on the email alert, so that should add to your confusion regarding your to-do list for today, Kelly. And yes, I “multi-task” all day long, and not necessarily in a good way. 😯 Take care. 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
I’m afraid I can’t put my confusion on you. 1. I get up late enough that you have already made any corrections brought to your attention by the early birds. 2. I have never known what day, date, or hour that it was/is so the date on the newsletter could not confuse me. Living in the Twilight Zone, works just fine for me as long as I have my RVTravel to at least let me know another day has gone by. Keep warm out there.
I woke up this morning thinking it was Sunday. 🙄 I think I’m also in the Twilight Zone, Kelly. Staying warm in my cozy office, looking out at the snow. 😀 –Diane
My cheap wine didn’t make the cut but I can tell you it tastes magnificent in my RVTravel.com mug!!!
Everything (well, almost) should taste “magnificent” in an RVtravel.com mug. 😆 Thanks, Cee. Have a Very Merry Christmas and a Terrific 2023! 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
Thank you Diane! Also wishing you a Merry Christmas and the Best in the New Year!!
Thanks, Cee! 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
Those slippers would be perfect for DW if there was a picture of a can of Diet Coke rather than one of a cup of coffee. 🙂
I didn’t read the wine article. Did Boones Farm Strawberry Hill or Mad Dog 20/20 make the list??? 😉 🙂
Spike, neither of them are mentioned. On such a long article, if you want to see a specific word ie: Mad Dog and you have a laptop, hold down the Ctrl button and press and release the letter “F” button. You should get a pop-up window. Type in the word “Mad Dog”. It will tell you how many times that word appears in the article. Click on the little arrow and the page will advance to each time that word appears.
Or on a modern computer just type it in the “search” box…
I think you missed the joke.
But it was still very helpful information. Thanks, Impavid. Both of you have a great day. 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
That brought back some memories! I like your sense of humor, Spike.
Funny I was looking for Annie Green Springs or Boone’s Farm! ;D
Wineries in Virginia, Texas, Michigan??? sorry guys, your writer may love staying at wineries, but hasn’t a clue what good wine should taste like. CA, OR & WA are the only states making truly great wine. She seriously short-changed the latter two in her effort to be politically correct. Sorry…
Well you missed New York! Here is one:
Wagner Vineyards Estate Winery is one of the oldest and most recognized wineries in the Finger Lakes Region. Family owned and operated, the fourth and fifth generation Wagners are in the vineyards and in the cellar to bring you the best quality Finger Lakes wine
Hahaha. Northern Michigan wines are winning awards all the time.
A friend of our daughter grew up near the Rhine River in Germany – World’s Riesling capital. While she thought most of the U.S. Rieslings were (speaking politely) of poor quality – she thought one of the wineries in the northern part of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula was excellent.
As the Texas grown grape crops mature, there is some excellent wine coming from that area. [and to be fair, not so good stuff also – but the good stuff is very, very good], We winter in the middle of the Texas wine region. Love the good stuff from CA, OR & WA but those who think the best only comes from those areas? Well, I’ll be politically correct and stop typing here.
Clueless.
New Mexico is oldest winemaking region in the US (400 years, 1629), long before California
We had a saying when I worked in the motorcycle industry…anyone can write a magazine article !
Too many California wineries. Since every state probably has wineries, There has to be more better wineries than California.
The reason California has so many wineries is it has the same Mediterranean climate as the great vineyards of Italy, Spain, Portugal in Europe. Hard to grow grapes in Montana.
But can they make Ice wine. ( grapes picked after being frozen ) like they do in Wisconsin and Michigan?
Excellent point regarding an excellent wine!
And in Germany!
Pssst. The lead page says “Monday, December 18, 2022”. I think it’s really December 19, 2022. It did make me check my watch and a calendar on the wall. Kinda scared me for a moment. I thought I took the trash can down to the road on the wrong day. Again.
Isn’t that called “multi-tasking”?
Oops. Sorry ’bout that, Dan. Have a great day, whatever it is. 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
I wonder how many other people scrolled up to check the date on what they were reading? Of course I didn’t(;))
😆 Dang! I sure didn’t notice the date on there when I was proofing the email alert. I was too focused on the link someone put in for this coming Wednesday’s newsletter (instead of today’s). Got that fixed, and skipped right over the date. Que sera, sera. (Or, Cue Sarah, Sarah, as I say.) (Shoot! Now that song will be in my head all day!) Have a great day, Chuck, and a Very Merry Christmas and Healthy and Happy 2023! 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
This newsletter is now mostly links to others’ videos.
I don’t know if it’s “mostly” or not, but I don’t watch/use/enjoy the videos. One per issue is plenty!
The laugh of the day exactly describes my life.
I have to comment that the Wineries shown in the article are definitely NOT the 25 “best” Wineries in the USA! Some of them were first class but NOT the best 25 in the USA! That is just one persons opinion on the Wineries that she, personally, has visited.
That’s probably a figure of speech picked out of the air for the writing of the article! A journalist doesn’t need facts, just a subject and a keyboard.
That is true Bob.
Yes, that’s how it works – if you write the article, you get to express your opinions.
I believe I remember that RV Travel Mag is looking to add new writers so this may be an opportunity for those persons like Ed who may have a different take on certain subjects and be a writer for the magazine.
No Stephanie, I do not need to become a writer to call BS, when I read it. Your problem is, you can’t accept that someone has a different opinion.
Ed, I never said that you “need” to become a writer for the magazine, I was merely pointing out that an opportunity to become a writer exists which could be an avenue to convey a different take on certain subjects. Also, I never said that I did not accept that someone has a different opinion.
You are right, you should not become a writer.
Thanks. MERRY CHRISTMAS Stephanie!
Well Steve. I could accept her saying that here are 25 Great wineries in these areas! Not the 25 best in the Country! Also, she did not express that as an opinion!
Totally agree. But that’s OK! My wineries won’t be as crowded. LOL!
I agree Ran!
The taste and quality of wine is in the eyes of the beholder! It is always subjective, as are our opinions. Happy holidays to everyone!
That is a fact Cat! Merry Christmas to you and yours!