Issue 2067
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
“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” ― Maya Angelou
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Chocolate Souffle Day!
On this day in history: 1953 – James Watson and Francis Crick announce to friends that they have determined the chemical structure of DNA; the formal announcement takes place on April 25 following publication in April’s Nature.
Tip of the Day
Your ice cube tray does a lot more than just make ice
By Gail Marsh
When we purchased our most recent RV, I was pleased to find an automatic ice maker. I was also happy to discover many wonderful uses for the ice cube trays that we no longer needed for making ice. Below are a few that I know work. Try them out and let me know how they work for you.
Note: Not all ice cube trays are the same. You can purchase oversized ice cube trays from Amazon if you prefer to freeze food items in larger amounts.
Tomato paste. I hated wasting the tomato paste that remained in the can after scooping out the tablespoon of paste needed for a recipe. Well over half the can remained! Now I keep that extra tomato paste—by freezing it! I measure out one tablespoon of paste per each ice cube section. I put the tray into the freezer and when the tomato paste is frozen, I pop the cubes out and put them into a freezer bag. I note the individual cube measurement (one tablespoon each) on the bag. Then the bag goes back into the freezer. Now when a recipe calls for tomato paste, I can go to the RV freezer rather than to the store. (Hint: You can also freeze your homemade pesto or other sauces this way, too.)
Continue reading more great tips
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Ask Dave
Dave Solberg is a leading expert in the RV industry and author of the “RV Handbook.”
When RV heat is on, cabinets and counters get hot. Why?
Dear Dave,
The drawers and countertops in/on the cabinet that houses the heater for the camper get very warm when the RV heater runs. Is this normal or is there a blockage somewhere that is causing this? We leave the drawers open when the heater is on. —Jeff, Highland Ridge Open Range Light 275RLS
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.
Watch a replay of last week’s program.
Video of the day
Holy federal film permit, Batman! NPS calls out YouTube and TikTok users
By Cheri Sicard
Here is a little legal detail I bet a lot of folks are unaware of: Federal law requires a permit to film on national land for commercial purposes, regardless of how large or small your operation is.
Yes, that includes your YouTube or TikTok accounts, provided you are deriving income from them.
Wildlife safety: Your dog(s) can harm wildlife and natural habitats
By Karel Carnohan, DVM
It is a wonderful image – a dog running freely in the woods with his human strolling the path, both free to enjoy the nature around them. Actually, it is a dangerous image because dogs can do much harm to wildlife if allowed to run free. Not only is it a danger to the wild animals, but it is a danger to the dog and its owner. In fact, it is illegal to allow your dog to harass wildlife. You and your dog need to practice wildlife safety. Continue reading this important message.
Reader poll
Do you take a vitamin every day?
Quick Tip
Secure your RV awning while traveling
Reader Mark W. says he gets peace of mind regarding his RV awning while traveling. How? “I use a large piece of Velcro wound several times around each arm of the awning up near the top. I have to use a picnic table or ladder to get it there, but it takes away the worry.” Thanks, Mark.
NOT WHAT HE WANTED TO HEAR: A young cowhand was walking a pretty girl home from the Saturday night dance on a romantic, moonlit Nevada evening. The bashful cowboy finally said: “Sally, I’ll bet you’ve been out with a lot worse looking fellows than me.” She didn’t answer. The cowboy tried again. “I said I bet you’ve been out with a lot uglier fellows than me.” “Will you keep quiet,” Sally said. “I’m trying to think.”
On this day last year…
- Tip: Is RVer stuck with sticky black water valve?
- RV Review: 2022 Wildwood X-Lite 28VBXL
- Ask Dave: Why can’t I get power through my Smart Surge Protector?
- Featured article: My two favorite black tank dumpin’ gadgets
- Recipe: Workday Breakfast Burritos
Website of the day
The Best Waterfall in Every U.S. State
We’d guess the majority of you enjoy visiting waterfalls. How could you not? They’re so beautiful and majestic! Here’s the best one in each state. We want to visit them all!
VERY QUICK TIP: Empty Tic Tac containers are a terrific place to store spices and save storage space.
?? MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY ??
Oh, shucks. We hate when we get sucked into wanting (and sometimes buying) the products we present here, but this one is just too eggcellent to pass up!
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:
• 10 percent have never seen the movie “It’s a Wonderful Life.”
• 31 percent perform volunteer work on a regular basis. (Thank you!)
• 92 percent will not ski this winter.
Recent poll: When you travel to a new place, what do you most like to do first?
Recipe of the Day
Spicy Grilled Shrimp Taco
by Chantell Byrd
Spice up your Taco Tuesdays with these grilled shrimp tacos. Individually, each component is tasty. Once assembled, they’re delicious. The seasoned grilled shrimp have a slight kick and are full of flavor. Slightly tangy, jalapeno adds a punch of flavor to the cabbage slaw. On top is a smoky chipotle and adobo crema that’s fabulous on its own. Warming the tortillas on the grill is an excellent idea. Once assembled, these are made-at-home restaurant-quality shrimp tacos your family will love.
Trivia
Roosters have earplugs! Well, sort of… If you’ve ever been woken up by a rooster at the crack of dawn, you know how loud they can be. So how come roosters don’t go deaf at their own crowing? The smarter-than-you-think animal has developed a way to plug its ears when it opens its mouth. The canal shrinks and the soft tissue inside covers the eardrum, reducing the alarming sound of its crowing by more than half! Darn smart roosters!
*What liquid is the most expensive on Earth? You’ll never guess… Find out in yesterday’s trivia.
Readers’ Pets of the Day
“Chocolate Lab, Boone, and Dalmatian, Charity, were always smiling happily on a trailer trip! Loved boating too! Sadly, Boone passed last year at 12 years old.” —Carol Coburn
(Look at Charity’s smile—that’s hilarious!)
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!
Don’t miss the latest installment of Dr. Karel’s Krazy Kritter Korner: A noble ‘Prime Mouser’ cat, a doggie condo, and a wonderful three-legged school project
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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Keep an eye on the other dog. Dogs do grieve harder then humans. 30 years and I have seen it at its worse. We almost lost our one after Teddy passed away. Our little girl of almost 14 is at the gate of the bridge and well, just realizing it happens. Still hoping for another year.
Carol Coburn,
I am so sorry for your loss! Maybe get another pup for Charity – they grieve too, you know.
Is RVTravel still getting money from Amazon if we use your link? They have stopped their Amazon Smile program which gave money to charities. I would assume yours is more like an affiliate program?
Hi, Karen, thanks for asking. Yes, we get a tiny commission each time you use an Amazon link from our site. It’s too bad they stopped the Smile program, but yes, we operate as an affiliate so it’s different. Thank you for your support! –Emily
re: heated drawers and counters
I bought a used RV once and the dining room area was noticeably colder than other areas when heat & blower were on. I turned heater/fan on and felt around all of the heater exits. The one under the dining room table seat had almost nothing coming out of it. Took seat cover off [sort of like picture #1 in article] and what I found was that the FACTORY never hooked up the flexible duct to the duct itself. Slid flex duct work on and used the unused clamp and all was fixed.
Leave here with a laugh, today is hilarious. I couldn`t stop laughing.
Boone’s eyes say it all. What beautiful pooches!
The problem National Parks have that they don’t ever address with Drones are that the operator can be miles away flying it. There is no way if they “see” a drone to know who’s flying it and from where basically. I also think most drone photographers aren’t interested in flying it nearby people etc. They are interested in making their video of scenery without people in it. And keep mind if they are flying and a Ranger is looking at drone the operator can be looking at Ranger and knows to leave the area. But overall I don’t think they are the “ nuisance” they were made out to be when they first came out.
From Today’s Thought, it seems people didn’t forget what Maya Angelou said or it wouldn’t have been printed here.
Google isn’t “people”
Google didn’t choose this quote we inserted in today’s newsletter (or any day, for that matter). A real live person did. But, granted, we had to look it up online. Have a great day, Bill. 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
Boone must of had a fun life. Too soon we lose them.
Isn’t THAT the truth? They should live as long as we do!