Issue 2056
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
“The question is not what you look at, but what you see.” ―
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Cheddar Day! It was created by the Tillamook County (OR) Creamery Cooperation in 2019 to celebrate its 110th birthday. Cheddar cheese hails from the city of Cheddar in Somerset, South England. It accounts for more than a third of all the cheese sold in the United States.
On this day in history: 1914 – Copyright: In New York City the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers is established to protect the copyrighted musical compositions of its members.
Did you see the news? Click here to read the latest issue of the Sunday News for RVers.
An alternative to Amazon for RV parts and accessories. Visit Dyers. Great selection and service.
Tip of the Day
Believe it or not, tennis balls come in very handy
Perhaps you play tennis, perhaps you have a tennis ball-obsessed dog, or perhaps you find an old tennis ball at the campground. Well, don’t toss them out! Try these tips for reusing tennis balls while RVing or in and around your home.
- Cleaner. Slide a tennis ball on the handle end of your RV broom. It will help catch and remove cobwebs that form in your rig’s ceiling corners and other hard-to-reach areas. The tennis ball will always be right at hand to help you remove black scuff marks from your RV floors, too. The ball simply erases the marks away.
- Wiper keeper. Put a ball under each windshield wiper arm to keep the rubber away from the hot glass or to keep them from freezing to the windshield in cold weather.
- Laundry helper. Tennis balls will help fluff linens as they dry in your RV’s dryer. You can also wrap the ball in aluminum foil to lessen clothing static.
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.”
My inverter only powers one outlet. How can I rewire it to add more?
Dear Dave,
I have an inverter in my new camper and despite repeated requests I cannot get a wiring diagram for the camper. The inverter only seems to power one poorly placed plug—not even the one for the shaver in the bathroom! The inverter is basically useless. I’m planning on rewiring it. (I’m the son of an electrician and an electrical engineer—so I probably won’t electrocute myself. 🙂 ) But I wonder why the manufacturer won’t give me an electrical diagram. Apparently even the dealer can’t get one. Any helpful info? Thanks! —Tom, 2021 Heartland Mallard Pathfinder
Video of the day
Ditching the dinette for an RV lithium battery upgrade
By Cheri Sicard
The Wandering Wagners are remodeling their rig. Namely, they are removing their dinette, which they don’t use often enough, and replacing it with storage for an RV lithium battery upgrade.
Of course, the job begins with removing the old dinette. This exposed a whole lot of dirt and dog hair that needed to be cleaned (I shudder to think what mine would look like), and a few bolt holes that they needed to deal with.
For Lovers Only…
To: Tumbleweed
From: Little Zeke
“44 years together next month and I love you more each day.”
To: Blue eyes
From: Anonymous
“You are the one for me and always have been. We’ve had 45 wonderful adventurous years together so let’s have more. Where ever we go I want you with me. Love always.”
Listen up, romantics. Valentine’s Day is TOMORROW. 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.
Hubby is a night owl, wife is an early riser. Different sleep schedules hard to manage in RV
By Gail Marsh
“Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.” Or so the saying goes. But what happens when your hubby is the night owl and you are the early riser? Or the reverse? And what happens when the two of you try to navigate your different sleep rhythms while living in a 34-foot RV, or even less square footage? Yipes! Continue reading for an explanation of what causes different sleep schedules, some suggestions to deal with this situation, and then please add your comments to the conversation.
Reader poll
Do you prefer an RV park that allows or does not allow dogs?
Quick Tip
Electrical circuit not working?
Got an electrical circuit in your RV that stubbornly refuses to work? You’ve checked the circuit breaker and it’s fine, but still “no juice”? Check in the bathroom and verify that the ground fault interrupter doesn’t need to be reset. Don’t ask how we know about this one.
?? MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY ??
Even though this is funny, it’s very serious! Do NOT do this! You do not want to pet the… well… you’ll see.
Website of the day
U.S. National Parks by size
This list of largest to smallest National Parks by size (measured by acres) might surprise you. We would’ve guessed some of these would’ve been higher on the list!
Popular articles you may have missed at RVtravel.com
• Why you don’t have to be a minimalist to be an RVer
• Important lessons learned from RVing apply to other parts of life too
Recipe of the Day
Chocolate & Raspberry Bars
by Kathryn Brown from Woodbridge, NJ
These homemade brownie bars have a raspberry layer in the middle. Sounds like a simple dessert, but they are a brownie bar like no other. Very chewy and soft, they have a wonderful sweet chocolate flavor that’s mixed with the layer of tart raspberry fruit spread. Melted dark chocolate is drizzled over them and topped with a fresh raspberry. Bite into these chocolate and raspberry bars and your taste buds will swoon.
Trivia
If you grew up in the U.S., you most likely told another child they have “cooties.” The term “cooties” first appeared in English from British World War I soldiers that referred to the lice that ran rampant in battlefield trenches. It is believed to be derived from the Philippine, Malaysian-Indonesian, and Maori word kuto or kutu, which refers to a biting insect.
Readers’ Pet of the Day
“Zoe is 18 and has been RVing with us since she was a kitten. She is definitely a camping kitty and occasionally she likes to help with the driving.” —Alana O’Ke
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!
Is having pet insurance a good idea? Find out here.
Motion-sensor light ideal for drawers, closets and bedside tables
These small, motion-sensor portable LED lights are perfect to stick in your RV’s drawers, cabinets, bedside tables or closets. The rechargeable light automatically turns on when a drawer, cabinet or door is opened, lighting up the space you need to get into. They’re incredibly handy in an RV, where small places can be dim. Learn more or order this 2-pack.
Leave here with a laugh
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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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People who take their dogs camping then put them in the RV and leave for the day aren’t around to hear all the barking. I don’t know why they don’t care about their pet’s state of mind. There isn’t a good reason to leave them behind.
We are in a rv resort and the couple behind us have 2 yippy/ barking dachshunds. They have built a corral for them so they are outside all day. A person walking or biking in the road sets them off.. They have been warned by management but that’s where it stops, dogs continue to bark. Obviously the owners are stone deaf. Shy of shooting the owners,???
I wouldn’t hurt the dogs.
I enjoyed Zoe’s picture & the fact she has been an RVer for 18 years. Camping with cats rock!
We love dogs, tho we have chosen not to have one. We have issues more with the owners then the actual dogs. Don’t bring your pet on my site to pee or poop, don’t leave it out unattended as to get it to start barking. Keep leash on it, so doesn’t come over on our site and chase squirrels or what ever under our rig or go after our visitors. Owners just follow the rules, that’s all we ask!
We have dogs and agree and abide with everything you say. Well thought!
Us too! We wished more of us dog(s) owners would be more disciplined and aware of obvious safety and consideration to everyone.
As a kid waaaaay back, I remember having a game called Cootie.
I can still fold up a paper to make a “cootie catcher” ! Such fun with kids.
Oh dear, Tommy, I too remember a game called Cootie! You had a “torso” and had to play to add legs (all plastic, of course). I don’t remember anything else about the game except you were supposed to be the first one to complete your Cootie!
That’s it, Lindalee!
I know people love their pets and bring them camping.
As long as they keep them on a leash and clean up after
them I’m okay with it.
I also agree that some breeds should not be allowed in a campground.
I know people say any dog could bite someone, but I would rather take my
chance against a small dog rather than a 100 lbs monster with gigantic teeth.
I agree, big dogs can inflict a lot of damage in spite of anything you do. A swift kick can usually deter a small dog.
Wonder if that’d work on their handlers?
They just need a swifter kick, out of the park.
The “experts” claim dogs have an understanding of 200 words their owners speak. I don’t know how many a cat can understand. Our Maltese is almost 12 years old and we believe he must understand more than 200 words as we can be talking and he’ll respond. He also watches TV more than I do, especially if it is a western or has animals in the show.
Don’t be fooled. Cats can understand too, they just choose not to. lol
We are dog people. Our daughter became a cat person through marriage and we take care of the cats on occasion. In talking to our dog, we get a reply of: “Ohhh … , Okayyy Mom (Dad)” When we go over to feed the cats and talk to them, they reply with: “Oh, you think so? It took you long enough to figure that out.”
I think, that due to the changing demographic in RV parks, I’ve encountered humans with a 200 word vocabulary!
now that’s funny
And half of those are directly from the sewer. Ugh!