Issue 2063
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
“Heard melodies are sweet, but those unheard, are sweeter” ―
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Cook A Sweet Potato Day!
On this day in history: 1878 – In Utica, New York, Frank Woolworth opens the first of many five-and-dime Woolworth stores.
Tip of the Day
Handy tips and tricks for using TV trays while RVing
By Gail Marsh
You may remember the metal or wood folding trays from your childhood. You may still have them, but I’ll bet you’d never guess the many ways for using TV trays while RVing.
Brief history
No one knows for sure who invented the first folding TV tray, but historians claim to know why. It’s right there in the tray name: TV. Yes, by the mid-1950s folks were enamored with television. In 1952, the first advertisement for the ingenious, folding, mini table debuted on (you guessed it) television! It was touted as the perfect place to put snacks and a drink while watching TV.
Then, just two years later, in 1954, Swanson & Sons introduced an all-in-one frozen meal. Each meal was packaged on an aluminum picnic-like tray, with separate places for meat, potatoes, and veggies. All homemakers needed to do was remove the outer packaging and bake the meal in the oven. Afterward, family members could take their supper to the living room and watch TV as they ate. TV dinners were a smashing success! And the folding TV tray became a necessity for many American households across the country.
Continue reading; these ideas are great!
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.”
Nightmare Dometic refrigerator journey!
Dear Dave,
The refrigerator on propane mode will, all at the same time, shut off flame, click motherboard and check light comes on beeping continuously. When on auto, the refrigerator will beep and motherboard clicks. —Steve, 2022 Jayco 22RB
Read more of this saga and Dave’s answers
In the RV Shop with Dustin
Prevent buyer’s remorse: The importance of getting an RV buyer inspection
A Facebook group member recently shared their buyer’s remorse. They shared their experience purchasing a brand-new trailer in November 2022. Approximately 6-7 weeks later, the owner found that the undercarriage was significantly “rusted like the Titanic….” As they described, “Anything that can rust is rusted: screws, bolts, nuts, brackets, slides, springs, wheels, axles, etc.” This member stressed the importance of getting an RV buyer inspection prior to taking the unit into possession, whether it’s brand-new or used.
Live today: RV repair and maintenance advice
Dave, Dustin and Zach answer your questions about RV repair and maintenance
Dave, Dustin and Zach answer questions from viewers about RV repair and maintenance in this one-hour program from 4-5 p.m. PST time (7-8 in the East). Ask questions or just sit back, relax and soak up all the helpful information from these RVing experts. You will learn soooooooo much!
Watch and ask questions here. RV Travel on YouTube • RV Travel on Facebook • California RV Specialists on YouTube • RV Travel on Linkedin
Video of the day
10 camper hacks and tips for you to try
By Cheri Sicard
The team from HGTV Handmade has compiled a quick little video of camper hacks and RV tips. You are definitely going to want to try some of these.
There’s no dialogue, just a quick run-through showing these camper hacks in action.
For Lovers Only…
To: HLB
From: MSB
“40 years later and every day I think to myself, ‘I’m so happy we found each other.’ You are the love of my life. I love everything about you. You are the kindest person I know, are always helping others, a wonderful wife, mom, and grandmother. We Love Around the World and Back Again.”
To: Stinky
From: Dumb Daddy D.
“For over 56 years, Stinky, you have made my life anything but Stinky. Wonderful and rewarding are better descriptors. I love you. Let’s go camping!”
[Note from Diane: Love that nickname. My dad didn’t like my mom’s name, Frances, so he gave her the choice of being called “Stinky” or “Butchie.” Then he lovingly called her Butchie for the next 60 years.]
Even though Valentine’s Day is over, we’ll continue this feature throughout the month since we got so many submissions. No more new submissions will be accepted, though.
Wrinkles are much more than lines. They tell the story of adventures I am glad to have had
By Nanci Dixon
When I look directly into the mirror lately, I am startled by the person staring back at me. She looks familiar but nothing like the me I remember. She’s wrinkled, lined and sagging. When the heck did that happen? … Find out what Nanci said after her husband asked her if she would like to get a facelift, and why she responded the way she did, here.
Reader poll
How important is it that your RV is available to you in an emergency?
?? MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY ??
This is the #1 best-selling… well, we won’t tell you the category, but you’ll probably want it (and you’ll also want to go to all these places!).
Helpful resources
• NATIONAL TRAFFIC AND ROAD CLOSURE INFORMATION
• ROAD AND TRAFFIC CONDITIONS ACROSS THE NATION
• WEATHER ALERTS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
• LATEST RV RECALLS
• DIRECTORY OF RV PARKS WITH STORM SHELTERS
• THE BEST RV TRIP PLANNER APPS AND TOOLS
Did you buy a lemon RV? Here’s more about RV lemons and lawyers who will represent you if you need help.
Quick Tip
Make sure your pet is comfortable when traveling
Introducing Rover or Fluffy to RV travel? Make sure they have a comfortable bed for traveling. If you’re headed for cold or damp country with an older pet, consider springing for a heated pet bed. Whatever you choose, let your pal get used to it at home before traveling.
On this day last year…
- RV Review: Western Range Camps
- Ask Dave: Why will only one of my RV stovetop burners light?
- Featured article: RV packing on the pounds? Try these 10 steps to shed some rig weight
- Recipe: Sweet Potato Fajitas
Don’t take a break on your brakes!
Every RVer needs one of these!
Wonder what it would be like to have your brakes go out while you’re going down a long, steep grade? You might find out if your brake fluid is moisture-contaminated. Water in brake fluid boils and can wipe out your braking ability! Buy yourself a brake-fluid tester for about $10 that warns you if there’s too much water in your fluid. Simply dip the tester into your rig’s brake fluid and you’ll be able to see where you stand. Learn more or order.
Website of the day
YouTube: RV Emergency Preparedness
If, like in today’s poll, it’s important that your RV is available to you in an emergency, check out these pages (and pages and pages) of YouTube videos. They’ll help you make sure your RV is ready for anything!
Popular articles you may have missed at RVtravel.com
• 7 things to ask yourself before planning an RV remodel
• Are slide awnings a necessity or a waste of money?
• The story of Airstream, NASA and the space program’s Mobile Quarantine Facility
Recipe of the Day
Sweet Potato Banana Bread
by Teresa Jacobson from New Orleans, LA
This quick bread is a twist on plain banana bread that’s full of flavor. Nuts add a nice crunch. This recipe uses bananas and mashed sweet potatoes which make the bread extremely moist and tender. The bread is not overly sweet so the glaze on top adds sweetness to the bread. Perfect for breakfast or an afternoon snack.
Trivia
Did you know that leafcutter ants don’t actually eat the leaves? Instead, the leaves are food for the ant’s extensive underground fungus system. For tens of millions of years, leafcutter ants have tended these fungus farms, which provide nutrients for the ant larvae in the colony. This fungus is so important to the colony that when a new queen sets out to form a brand new colony, she takes a starter fungus (in a tiny pocket within her mouth) with her to start seeding a new colony. Amazing!
*What’s the most popular town name in the U.S. and how many towns are there named that? Guess, then see if you’re right by checking yesterday’s trivia.
Readers’ Pets of the Day
“Eevee and Lexi are Collie/Red Heeler cross and Blue Heeler pup. Couldn’t ask for better companions. They are settled down for the ride after a long morning hike.” —Beverly Chaba
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!
Leave here with a laugh
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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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Today is Margarita Day, not sweet potato day (yuck).
Facts.
When did you take pictures of my dog?
Oh, he didn’t “notify” you that strangers were out in your backyard taking pictures of him? Oops! And we were wondering why he got so excited all of a sudden. Musta been the potato chip you dropped! 😆 Have a great day, Lil John. 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
Couldn’t have been more timely. We just got a new puppy. Yep, training and training and will we finally secede? Last time I swore it would be the last time.
Congratulations on the new puppy, Kelly! I’m wondering if you’re going to “secede” or maybe “succeed”? You may just “secede” (withdraw) if you don’t succeed in training him/her. 😆 But you’ll have fun with your new companion, I’m sure! Enjoy! 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
Ha! I try very hard to check my spelling and meanings. It looks as though I screwed up and I ended up with a play on words anyway. I’m better than I thought. I’m not Norm Crosby yet, but working on it. Darn editors won’t even give a dyslectic guy a break. lol
Just gotta give you a hard time, Kelly, since your autocorrect very rarely gets one past you. I figure it was probably the puppy’s fault for distracting you. But I’ll give you a gold star because I think that’s the first time in 10 years that I’ve seen that word in our comments, or even in one of our newsletters or posts, for that matter. But since I don’t know how to insert a gold star in here, you’ll just have to imagine it. 😉 Have a good night. 😀 –Diane, the darn editor 😆
Is the newsletter targeted at those 55 years of age and older a new newsletter? When do you anticipate it beginning? I think that I signed up for it twice, but have not seen it yet. Thank you!
Huh?
Same newsletter, Neal. The majority of our audience is 55 or better, so we’re just letting them know that we’re keeping them in mind. Have a great day! 😀 –Diane (“55+21” 😆 ) at RVtravel.com
I grew up in Oneida NY. We had a Woolworth store and they had a lunch counter. They had balloons with prices inside. We would pop a balloon and whatever number was inside is what we would pay for a banana split. It was never more than the menu price and sometimes it was free. Oh how we enjoyed a banana split no matter what we paid.
Remember those too! You are right…a banana split was something special! Nothing beat sitting at the lunch counter at Wollies with a friend…like being all grown up! A joy today’s kids will never know! Thanks for the memory.
Woolworths was one of the only stores in my town in Florida in the 1950s that had air conditioning. It had a picture of a penguin in the window. I loved spinning around on the counter stools.
Today’s thought — “Heard melodies are sweet, but those unheard, are sweeter” ―John Keats
If he hadn’t heard the melody how would he know it was sweeter? 😉
Silence is pretty sweet
My exact same thought, volnavy007.
Read the great poem “Ode on a Grecian Urn” here:
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/44477/ode-on-a-grecian-urn
On day in history, my husband grew up near Utica, few miles away., and knows the story. They had several Woolworth stores in Central NY, another one use to be in Norwich, NY, our family knew who ran it, tho I think I’d only been in it once when I was real young.
I was a manager for Woolworths in Florida for 14 years.
Mike
#4 pic is the permanent state of Jack Russell Terriers
Just curious. Who checked the new queen ant’s mouth and found the fungus?
Probably someone who applied for (and received) a $500,000 government grant to study the habits of ants.
And I blew it all on booze and broads!
🙂 🙂 🙂
LOL 😅🤣
Probably more like 5 million dollar grant!!
It’s the same guy who checked the comments section for troll bait.
Agreed