Issue 2055
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.
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Today’s thought
“You normally have to be bashed about a bit by life to see the point of daffodils, sunsets and uneventful nice days.”—Alain de Botton
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Umbrella Day!
On this day in history: 1940 – Cartoon characters Tom and Jerry make their debut with “Puss Gets the Boot.”
Tip of the Day
RVs and WD-40: Unusual combinations that work!
By Russ and Tiña De Maris
Seems like every RV has at least a can or two of WD-40 for lubricating various parts. But there’s more use for WD-40 than just the occasional thread loosening. Here are a few tips that may make for slicker RV trips.
Galley and household tricks
Why on earth do RV manufacturers use light-colored carpets in RVs? Maybe they’re in cahoots with the carpet cleaning industry. But if you have ink or other hard-to-lift stains in the carpet, here’s something to try: Hit the stain with a squirt of WD-40, let it stand for a couple of minutes, then use a sponge and warm soapy water to work over the stain. You may need to repeat a few times.
Still need a Valentine’s Day gift?
If you still need a Valentine’s Day gift for your special lady, this earring and necklace combo is perfect! (Or, ladies, you can just buy this adorable combo for yourself!) We think all the ladies of the RVtravel.com staff need this… Learn more or order here. (Trust us. You’ll get major brownie points.)
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.”
What are the types of house batteries and what do the acronyms stand for?
Dear Dave,
Readers appreciate very much your RV tech wisdom. Could you provide an article on the various battery types available for RVs, those useful for solar power when off-grid and what all the acronyms mean? Thanks. —Colin, 2020 Jayco 26.7
Video of the day
Discover Colorado’s UFO hotspot
By Cheri Sicard
This report from Channel 7 in Denver, Colorado, tells about the UFO Watchtower, a beacon that draws the curious from all over the world. It seems like there is a lot to investigate in Saguache County, allegedly known as Colorado’s UFO hotspot.
This place is out of this world! Check it out.
For Lovers Only…
To: Sweet Heart
From: Devil or Angel
“You are like a rose, which in my garden grows, so soft and gentle to my touch, that’s why I love you oh so much.”
To: Kudles
From: DT
“To the love of my life. Forever and ever. Amen.”
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.
RVer asks: Do we have to recertify motorhome LP tanks?
By Russ and Tiña De Maris
“RVer run over at Tractor Supply!” OK, not literally. But an RVtravel.com reader had her day ruined by overzealous gas-passers at a Tractor Supply outlet in Fort Myers, Florida. Linda W. rolled into the lot with her 2007 Class C motorhome, in need of LP. The outfit’s propane guy told Linda the motorhome’s tank was too old and needed to be recertified. While he did fill the tank anyway, it still left Linda in the lurch. Worried about her tank, she hasn’t been able to find anyone to recertify her motorhome LP tank. Continue reading.
?? MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY ??
The most accurate, most hilarious, card we’ve ever seen. If this doesn’t speak volumes…
You may have missed these recent popular stories…
- Former repair and manufacturing worker shares dirt: ‘Here’s what’s really wrong with the RV industry’
- Great job numbers, but not for RVers
- Caught in the scary Texas ice storms; winter RVing at its worst!
- Life expectancy calculator gives me sobering number: 16.9 years left to live. What to do with that precious time?
Reader poll
Do you have a campsite reservation this summer at a U.S. National Park?
Quick Tip
Must-have safety equipment
Prepare for a breakdown or flat on the roadside – carry a set of warning triangles like commercial truckers use. Folding ones don’t take much space, but their reflectors help out at night. Be sure to place them well behind your rig to give traffic plenty of warning of your presence. Thanks to George B., retired RCMP, for the tip! (Editor: Here are some at Amazon.)
On this day last year…
- RV Review: Grand Design Transcend XPLOR 240ML
- Ask Dave: Are new trailers designed for proper weight distribution?
- Featured article: Newsreel from 1954: Pint-sized trailer is towed by scooter and sidecar
- Recipe: Blackened Chicken Breast With Fettuccine Alfredo
Website of the day
50 Romantic Valentine’s Day Recipes for Staying in With Your Special Someone
Okay, love birds. Listen up. Valentine’s Day is just a few meals away, so this weekend is the perfect time to stock up on ingredients you may need to make that special someone a very special meal!
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.
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Recipe of the Day
Greek Beef Gyros
by Amanda Smith from Dunlap, IL
This is a quick and easy way to enjoy gyros… Great flavor, healthy ingredients!
Trivia
Google Images came about because millions of people were searching for photos of Jennifer Lopez’s dress at the 2000 Grammy Awards. Before then, Google Images did not exist! So many people searched Google for the green Versace dress Lopez wore to the award show that engineers realized a dedicated image search tool would better serve their customers. Thanks, J.Lo!
*Lakes formed by meteor impacts are called what? And where is the largest one located? Find out in yesterday’s trivia.
Readers’ Pets of the Day
“This is a photo of my boys, Simba and T. Rex, on our trip to the German Shepherd nationals for agility in Ocala, Florida, from New Jersey in October 2022. They are both such great travelers!” —Mary Masters
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!
RVers who carry a firearm should pack this along to save them from trouble
A new edition of the annual Traveler’s Guide to the Firearm Laws of the Fifty States is hot off the press. This 2023 edition covers all the basics for armed travel. What is legal in one state could be a felony in another. This book should be used as a reference before entering a new state so you know what to expect as you approach. Clear writing gives you the basics for every state. Plus, each state is rated for its relative freedom, based on its gun laws, from zero to 100. Read more about the book here.
Leave here with a laugh
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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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Unfortunate food photo today! Doesn’t look too appetizing!
Ha! I agree. It looks like a dog tore open a pillow. 🫢
What they said.
Looks like there is way more feta topping than meat in the Gyro which is unfortunate.
Actually its not feta but Tzatziki Sauce. I make it myself and have found an organic blend of it at local grocers.
I buy a kit for gyros at any grocery store or sams club. As for laugh of the day? O I bet that parent got an hour of quiet time. Love it.
Nice laugh of the day. Parents teaching children to lie at an early age, that should turn out really well.
I suspect there is no lie involved, and the children were staged to create a “humorous” photo and caption.
Get a life. Maybe we should tell them the truth about Santa. Give me a break
Wait, what…… what’s the news about Santa?
alive and well and jogging around near Bar Harbor Maine. I saw him last summer.
On the question about batteries, the column about lithium batteries might be a little incorrect. You don’t want constant 14.6 charging. At least that is what I was told about mine. It takes 14.6 for full charge but needs to go down to about 13.6 please correct me if I’m wrong. Thanks.
Two things accelerate aging in Li batteries – charging when the internal temperature is high (greater than 100F) and full charging and keeping the battery on the charger. They shouldn’t be trickle-charged like lead-acid batteries. In storage, I keep my Li battery at around 13.4V using a solar panel-powered system. I’ll move that up to 14.6V when I’m traveling since it will be going up and down in voltage as I use it.
Pets of the day: You can tell who runs the roost. Cat on the bed and the Shepard on the floor.
As a grandma, I loved LWAF.