Issue 2052
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.
Today’s thought
“Open a book this minute and start reading. Don’t move until you’ve reached page fifty. Until you’ve buried your thoughts in print. Cover yourself with words. Wash yourself away. Dissolve.” ―
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Fettuccine Alfredo Day!
On this day in history: 1940 – The second full-length animated Walt Disney film, “Pinocchio,” premieres.
Tip of the Day
Dump your holding tanks in your home septic system?
We often see RVers give advice that dumping holding tanks at home is not a problem – even into septic systems, rather than a city sewer system. Here are a couple of points to keep in mind.
Home septic systems are generally tasked to handle a relatively low flow of sewage over a period of hours. Dumping a large amount of RV waste at once could lead to disturbing the layer of sludge in a home septic tank – possibly causing it to break up and move out into the leach field. That can lead to an expensive clogged system. If you have both full black and gray water tanks, it might be best to dump one at a time, spacing the dumping out over a couple of days.
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.”
How can my RV’s roof air conditioner run more efficiently?
Dear Dave,
I’d like to improve the efficiency of our rooftop air conditioners. The factory shrouds are black. I’d like to paint them white. Second, I’d like to insulate the pipe from the compressor to the evaporator. Thanks. —Joe, 2019 Coachmen Pursuit
Tomorrow: RV repair and maintenance advice
Our experts answer your RV repair and maintenance questions on live webcast
Our tech experts, Dave, Dustin and Zach will answer your questions about RV Repair and Maintenance LIVE tomorrow from 4-5 p.m. Pacific time (7-8 p.m. in the East). So pick their brains via chat. Ask questions about RV repair and maintenance or just lurk and soak up all the valuable information. Learn where to watch in tomorrow’s newsletter.
Video of the day
RV generator safety tips you NEED to know
By Cheri Sicard
The team from the Long Long Honeymoon (a favorite RV YouTube channel in our reader’s poll) produced an important video on a topic that a lot of people have questions about, and that is RV generator safety.
The video begins by sharing the four reasons generators can be dangerous:
- Electricity
- Fire
- Carbon monoxide
- Injuries by dropping
Continue reading and watch the video
For Lovers Only…
To: Thelma
From: Louise
“Happy Valentine’s Day and here’s to many more! I promise not to lead you up any more dead-end roads; however, you did become an amazing backer!”
To: HoneySweety
From: Silly Wabbit
“I knew when I first saw you that I wanted to share the rest of my life with you.”
Listen up, romantics. Valentine’s Day is coming up. If you have a special someone you’d like to surprise with a secret message right here on this website (could be your wife, husband, partner, child, neighbor, friend, etc.) submit it to us here. Don’t use their real names, use a special name that only they’ll recognize. Oh, how fun it will be when they read it! You’ll make their day! We’ll feature these in our upcoming newsletters, so check back often and see if yours has been featured.
Historic markers along the road: Standing where Teddy Roosevelt got inspired
By Chris Epting
“Historic marker, 500 feet.” You know the feeling, right? No matter what it is, you sort of have to stop. It’s almost as if, since someone was thoughtful enough to mark it, you owe it to yourself to reward their efforts with at least a brief stop. Maybe it doesn’t always feel rewarding. Maybe it’s actually not that interesting. But still, if somebody thought to put a plaque or a marker there, there’s just something about it that’s worth your time. At least that’s how I feel. Can you relate? Continue reading.
Reader poll
How often will you typically wear jeans before washing them?
Quick Tip
Important “rest stop” safety checks
Do a safety walk-around at every “rest stop”: Thump your tires – they should all “sound” the same. Feel the wheel hubs – excessive heat is a warning. Check lighting, hitch, safety chains, breakaway cable. Look for “loose stuff,” like a bumper-stored dump hose. Save time, save money, maybe save someone’s life.
?? MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY ??
This one made us laugh out loud. Anyone who has ever cooked for another person will laugh too!
On this day last year…
- Tip: A 10-minute daily clean will make a world of difference in your RV
- RV Review: Outfitter Juno
- Ask Dave: Why does Lance Camper’s slide room creep out?
- Recipe: Crock Pot Ranch Pork Chops
Website of the day
The coolest thing to do in each Northern California county
Everyone knows it’s hard to believe that Northern California and Southern California are part of the same state, they’re so different! Get yourself up to Northern Cali and explore some of these beautiful and interesting areas.
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:
• 11 percent do not enjoy visiting small-town museums.
• 28 percent have read John Steinbeck’s book “Travels with Charley.”
• 11 percent have been in an auto accident that sent them to the hospital for more than 24 hours.
Recent poll: Have you ever stayed overnight in your RV in a Sam’s Club store parking lot?
Recipe of the Day
Crock Pot Caramelized Onions, Beer & Cheese Bisque
by Nancy Manlove from Texas City, TX
This is a really tasty and hearty soup and perfect for a cool night. This soup reminds me of a French onion soup… a GOOD French onion soup. I can’t wait to serve this one at my next dinner party.
Trivia
Kocs is a town in northwest Hungary where craftsmen once built the best wagons of their time. From the name of their community came our word “coach.”
*What U.S. company is the largest consumer of fireworks? Guess, then see if you’re right. The answer is in yesterday’s trivia.
Readers’ Pet of the Day
“Meet Zoe. Rescued at age 2, she’s traveled with us for the last 11 years, enjoying the scenery from all over the country. She especially likes when we volunteer in state or national parks because of all the animal traffic.” —Tim Slack
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!
Here’s everything to do if you lose your pet. This is an excellent resource!
Leave here with a laugh
Click to enlarge.
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Contact information
Editor: Emily Woodbury
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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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I so totally agree with being a 100. I might even start at 80. I have 40 years left to go.
Hmmm – Mystery Product Chef’s Apron – that you thot to be a laugh. That is printed on every shirt that my wife wears around the house. Another Hmmm – I think now after all these decades – I get it! Or at least I better get it. I do learn something from RVT every day.
The cat photo is stunning.
Emma’s so right on this except my choice would be Belize.
Yep, I’m not that close to 100 years old, but getting closer, and I do have occasional days like that.
When I was in the Air Force stationed in California. It was a beautiful place and people seemed ok. Now they couldn’t pay me to visit California. They seem to have a weird way of thinking and making changes to laws and policies that make peoples life’s difficult.
Been in California for 76 years. Not planning on leaving. Associating with people is what you make of it. I’ve always found that with the right intro, and with the right attitude, 99.9% of people are great. Works on traveling too, no matter what state I’m in. Attitude is everything. Life is too short already! Positive communication does wonders. Enjoy your day!!!
BobM, maybe they are right, something is in the California WATER, and it affects their thinking? Maybe it is LEAD, as most of their regulations and LABELS IMPLY?
Nice photo of Zoe!
Today “Leave Here With a Laugh”, George Burns reportedly said after his 100th birthday, ” When you reach 100 you’ve got life made. Very few people die after 100″.
Regarding Chris Epting article on historic markers: https://www.hmdb.org/
Maybe I got this from you, but I don’t remember.
The pork chop recipe is the best…..
Dang, I must have missed it, even went back & checked & still can’t find it! We love pork chops in our house especially BBQ’ed!
Snoopy