Issue 2078
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
“To get back to my youth I would do anything in the world, except exercise, get up early, or be respectable.” —Oscar Wilde
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Kansas Day!
On this day in history: 1906 – Rolls-Royce Limited is incorporated.
Tip of the Day
When RV parts are discontinued, DIY projects to the rescue!
By Nanci Dixon
When motorhome parts are discontinued, it is time for a DIY fix. Our 2017 motorhome has a unique living area wall light—a sconce that was slowly getting dimmer until it only flicked on every once in a while.
After several discussions with the RV manufacturer about getting the bulb replaced, it turns out that the LED bulb is not removable or replaceable. Who makes a light that has a bulb that can’t be replaced? And the even better question, who puts it in a motorhome?
When it was less than two-and-a-half years old, the entire $100 light needed to be replaced. I was not happy. But, we needed the light so I finally decided to bite the proverbial bullet and order another one. Two times they sent the wrong light and it wasn’t until after the second wrong light that I found out the original light was discontinued. No replacement was available from the manufacturer, online or anywhere.
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.”
RV’s batteries charge with solar but drain overnight when plugged in. Why?
Dear Dave,
It seems my two 6v in-house batteries only charge through the solar controller. The battery voltage is fine during the day but they drain during the night while parked with no use. That occurs whether it’s plugged into shore power at 30 or 50 amps. I also plug into standard house power 115v at home to maintain the batteries, but it doesn’t work. Help. —Reno, 2022 Thor Magnitude BT36
In the RV shop with Dustin
Don’t let physical limitations stop you from enjoying the RV lifestyle!
Some of our customers experience physical limitations that could stop them from enjoying the RV lifestyle. RVs are made to be compact, but there are some modifications that can be made to make life on the road more accommodating.
The entry door
The entrance to your rig is the first thing to consider when making an RV more accessible. There are various handles and assist rails on the market that will help those with physical limitations enter and exit their rig with ease. A popular version we install at my repair facility is available in two different sizes and colors.
Live today: RV repair and maintenance advice
Dave and Dustin answer your questions about RV repair and maintenance
Dave and Dustin answer questions from viewers about RV repair and maintenance in this one-hour live program from 4-5 p.m. Pacific time (7-8 p.m. 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
Kitchen creativity with innovative cast iron pan recipes
By Cheri Sicard
The team from Pro Home Cooks put together a great video titled “Stop Being Lazy With Your Cast Iron Pan.” In it, they include some innovative iron pan recipes you may not have thought about, but you should. I thought this video especially apropos to include in this column as so many of our readers cited their cast iron pans as essential RV kitchenware in our recent poll.
Have RVs become too complicated?
By Dave Helgeson
“I was born into the RV industry, as my dad managed my grandparents’ RV dealership which was established in 1937. Of course, back then the term ‘RV’ hadn’t been coined yet… My current 2010 model travel trailer operates pretty much as the three that preceded it. With all the recent advancements in the name of convenience, I am concerned the trailer that replaces it will likely be too complicated for what I want, understand, or possess the ability to repair. Am I the only RVer who feels this way or are there others?” Read more, including some of the more than 180 comments Dave received when he posed this question on social media.
Reader poll
When shopping online, which device do you use most often?
?? MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY ??
We’ve always enjoyed the other ones of these, but this one came out last year and is aimed right at us RVers! *Added to cart*
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
Another way to ease new fittings onto sewer hose
Putting new fittings onto your sewer hose? We’ve all heard the idea of dipping the hose in hot water to make the fittings slip on easier. Here’s the polar opposite: Stick the new fittings into your freezer for a few minutes – they’ll contract and slip in the hose easier.
On this day last year…
- Tip: Replace or repair RV’s window glazing seals to prevent glass damage
- RV Review: Hoosier Custom Cruiser B+ is what your family would build
- Ask Dave: Should I condition my rubber roof or recoat it?
- Recipe: Irish Soda Bread and Guinness Butter
At last! A directory of where to camp on public lands!
The Bureau of Land Management Camping book describes 1,273 camping areas managed by the BLM in 14 Western states. Details for each camping area include the number of campsites, amenities, facilities, fees, reservation information, GPS coordinates, and more. You’ll want this book if you camp or are interested in camping on BLM land. Learn more or order.
Website of the day
Where and when to see cherry blossoms in 2023: 10 best places in the U.S.
It’s cherry blossom season! The little pink flowers are popping up everywhere and boy, are we happy to see them! Here are some of the best places to see them across the U.S.
Popular articles you may have missed at RVtravel.com
- Working remotely from an RV: Taking the first step
- A new RV for under $6,000? Not a pop-up—It’s a KLEOX!
- A fun, unique Harvest Hosts location: RVing at Sawdust Alpacas
Recipe of the Day
Corned Beef and Cabbage (Slow Cooker)
by Sandy Williams from Salt Lake City, UT
Corned beef and cabbage isn’t just for St. Patrick’s Day. This slow cooker recipe is so easy you’ll make it year-round. The dish has all the classic flavors you expect but the hardest part is peeling the potatoes. Fresh onion in the bottom permeates and gives a wonderful flavor to the meat. The corned beef is tender and melts in your mouth. Since the cabbage is on top and not completely submerged, it doesn’t get soggy. This recipe is warm, comforting, and the easiest way to prepare corned beef and cabbage.
Trivia
Adding cream to your coffee will actually keep it warmer longer. Wait, what? It seems counterintuitive, but it’s true! Think about this: The higher the temperature, the faster it sheds heat, right? Adding cream initially lowers the temperature of the coffee, and then further slows the release of heat since the fats in the cream act as an insulator. This makes the cup of coffee stay warmer longer, even though it spends less time at its maximum temperature.
*What letter appears once a year on the moon? Yesterday’s trivia tells you about this fascinating phenomenon.
Readers’ Pet of the Day
“Finn is ten weeks old and is the new boss of the family. It’s been over a year since we had a fur baby. So excited to take him on his first camping trip.” —Steve Taylor
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!
Pet First Aid: The basic kit you should carry with you at all times. This is important!
Leave here with a laugh
A cop stopped a man for speeding. He said, “Do you know how fast you were going?”
“I was trying to keep up with traffic,” the guy replied.
The cop said, “But there is no traffic.”
And the guy answered, “That’s how far behind I am.”
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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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I am going to give you a heads up on Finn. Watch with watchful eye on him. Hawks love little dogs. I know. We had an eagle with its eye on one of ours. Otherwise he is such a cutie. Enjoy. Looks like a chihuahua mix. We just adopted a little girl and she is a handful. As for RV handicap accessible I was told on the one model we currently have we could not make it accessible because the door was too small to do it in. Sadly she passed before we could figure out how to help her do one last camping trip. But we went in her memory. Now I am snowbirding and enjoying it. Looking at the next RV that is handicap accessible.
Thanks for To-Day’s Thought. Replied to a person in PEI & can say To-Day’s thought brought back some good memories of where we grew up & know we got some Exercise thru playing Hockey, Baseball & even some Football; which we always played by CFL Rules & somewhere along the line we learned Respect!! & that is the positive.
Good comment day, great daily, and awesome puppy!
Trivia reminds me of a friend of mine who was convinced that putting hot water in an ice cube tray would freeze faster than cold water. I could never square that circle!
Here’s a kitchen tip for a quick cup of tea: Boil your water ahead of time and freeze it in ice cube trays.Then just pop out few for your second cup! 🤔😂
Great letter, Thanks
Finn is so cute and adorable! May I ask what kind of dog he is?
He is a mixed breed and a handful
The trivia is ridiculous!
If you have a plain cup of coffee that starts at 140 degrees, let’s say it takes 10 minutes to cool to 120 degrees. Now you have another cup starting at 140 degrees and add creamer IMMEDIATELY cooling it to 120 degrees. Side by side from that point, with both at 120 degrees and all other things equal, those two cups now cool at the same rate!
Adding creamer gave you ten FEWER minutes of hot coffee!
Did Johnny Robot do the thinking on that one!!! 🙂
Is it still coffee if you add cream? My first 12 oz cup of coffee stays hot all day – microwave.
Finn is so cute. Happy traveling with your new buddy it ought to be awesome 😊
Now THATs an adorable pup!
Finn is such a cutie! I hope you have years of fun with him!
Add cream fat to your coffee, so it can move to your waist.
Or somewhere else further South.
I don’t really like coffee, I only drink it for the 1/2 & 1/2. 🙂