Issue 2085
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
“Many people will walk in and out of your life, but only true friends will leave footprints in your heart.” ―
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Cocktail Day! Cheers!
On this day in history: 1882 – Robert Koch announces the discovery of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacterium responsible for tuberculosis.
Tip of the Day
Tips to avoid ticks and other creepy crawlers
By Gail Marsh
Winter is melting into the warm days of spring. I love the emergence of wildflowers and the fresh, cool air that the season brings. The warmer temperatures awake more than daffodils, however. Ticks, spiders, chiggers, and other creepy crawlies are also ready to spring forth. Everyone who spends time outdoors may want to review these tips and gadgets to help avoid bites from ticks and other creepy crawlies.
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.
Please note: This contest will end at the end of this month. It simply does not generate enough interest for our staff to continue putting their time into it. We’ve enjoyed it (and loved seeing all of your RVs!) and know those of you who have participated have, too. We apologize to those whose RVs weren’t randomly chosen out of the thousands of submissions. Now we’re off to think of another contest idea…
Ask Dave
Dave Solberg is a leading expert in the RV industry and author of the “RV Handbook.”
How can I keep my truck and trailer from bouncing down the road?
Dear Dave,
I’m using a 2020 Chevy Silverado 2500HD Custom to tow. My problem is after going over any type of dip in the road the truck bounces. Do I need new shocks? Heavier-duty ones? I’m at a loss. —Dan, 2019 Cougar 5th wheel 1/2 towable
Video of the day
Have you found bent trees in the forest? Here’s what they mean!
According to the producers at Watch Jojo, if you stumble across a bent tree in the forest, you might have also stumbled upon an ancient secret.
The video features Dennis Downes, a man who grew up exploring the forests of Michigan near the Wisconsin and Illinois borders.
Legend has it that Native Americans had created the strange trees in order to help navigate their way through the woods. But in his early 20s, Downes started to look for actual evidence that would back up the legend.
This is incredibly fascinating!
WHAT DO YOU THINK? We asked RVtravel.com readers if anything had ever been stolen from their campsite. More than 3,200 readers voted. What percent do you think had something stolen? 11 percent, 23 percent or 39 percent? Find out here.
Wacky RVs: These space junkies are ready for blast-off!
By Sandi Sturm
Our previous (and our first) travel trailer was 20 years old when we sold it and traded up. RV parks were starting to refuse us because of its age, while others allowed us to send images to prove it didn’t look like, you know, a 20-year-old trailer. That brings a big question to mind: How do you answer when they ask how long your unit is and how old it is when they look like these? Check out these far-out RVs here.
Reader poll
Did you buy any Girl Scout Cookies this year?
Quick Tip
Handy picture hangers
Can’t figure out how to hang pictures in your RV? Check out “Command Strips” from 3M. These adhesive-back strips are strong, and allow you to change out the pictures when you want.
?? MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY ??
Sometimes we wish we were the inventor of some of these products. This is one of them. It’s brilliant and a wonderful way to spark creativity!
On this day last year…
- Tip: This RV is in the shop for slide-out damage. Don’t let this happen!
- RV Review: 2022 Keystone Montana 3813MS fifth wheel
- Ask Dave: Water heater works on 120-volt but not on LP. What to check?
- Featured article: 10 tips for staying safe while hiking or walking in the desert
- Recipe: Bruschetta Caprese With Balsamic Vinegar Reduction
Website of the day
Top 10 Gay Campgrounds in America
For our LGBTQ+ readers out there, check out some of these fun campgrounds and resorts. (By the way, we hope you all know this already, but ALL are welcome here on RVtravel.com. If you leave a negative comment suggesting otherwise, it will be deleted. Thank you.)
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.
Recipe of the Day
Spinach Pie (Spanakopita Casserole)
by Jolyn Barrow from Johns Creek, GA
Popeye was on to something… Spinach can pack a pretty tasty punch! This spinach pie recipe may look fancy once it hits the table, but it’s relatively easy to prepare. Full of flavor and with flaky layers, it’s well worth the effort.
Trivia
If you’re experiencing somnambulism, what are you experiencing? Sleepwalking! Yup, that’s the medical term for it. Did you know that sleepwalking is thought to be genetic? If both parents are sleepwalkers, there’s about a 60 percent chance their children will experience it too.
*What do you call kernels of popcorn that have been popped? Hint: It’s not “popcorn”! Find the answer in yesterday’s trivia.
RV Store at Amazon!
Just about anything and everything you need for your RV at great prices. Visit now.
Readers’ Pet of the Day
“Sadie the SaintBernaDoodle. Her dad is a pure black Standard Poodle, mom is half Saint Bernard and half Bernese Mountain Dog. At 86 pounds and 17 months old, she is absolutely one of the sweetest dogs we have had. She took over my recliner in our home and loves to travel in our MH. She lays between us once in a while and barks at trucks. She absolutely loves the snow and cold weather. She would play in the snow until she is too tired to move.” —Gary Gueck
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
CONTACT US
Editorial (all but news): editor@rvtravel.com
Editorial (news): chuck@rvtravel.com
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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This newsletter is copyright 2023 by RV Travel LLC.
So sad.
So sorry to hear your sad today Dan. How can I help?
If you are sad at Leave Here With a Laugh, yep, that makes me sad too.
The “Ask Dave” page was interesting. I have put shocks on several trailers over the years, including fifth wheels. Some of the better trailer manufacturers put them on at the factory. They make a whale of a difference. No more bouncy, bouncy in the dips. Just a thought.
Loved the video on bent trees! We have come across one (or two?) and wondered about them…now we know! Made my day!! 😉
Sadie sure is gorgeous! Happy Safe Travels.
Pantyhose, worn under pants will keep ticks off you as well and makes for easy removal.
I recall a comedian saying, you know you’re getting old when you can hurt yourself sleeping.
Only 9 months until Christmas eve, so men, you have 9 months to get ready to go shopping.
Why do today what you can put off until tomorrow (or for 9 months), eh, Impavid? Have a great day. 😀 –Diane
Well, the elimination of the ‘Is This Your RV’ contest will remove a click from my day that has never netted me anything. 😂. But then, that was just one of hundreds of clicks that still waste my day. 🫤 Thanks for the feature though.
I looked every day for my RV, too, but never saw it. I’ll miss this feature.
Darn! I so enjoy seeing all the different RVs and where they are parked. RV Parks, Forest, Beach, the sunsets, desert, parking lots and even at home etc. What I appreciated was their pictures told a story without any words. Ours was not one of the random choices but I still liked the simple pictures of the RV.
Tony, I have always liked.that “Is this your RV” contest,and I click on it every.morning. On Valetines Day, I could hardly believe.it, there was a picture of our old “rolling condo” here in contrail Ky.at our home base I even made a comment,& Diane responed with congratulations. So, I found the original photo in my phone, & sent it in that same morning, but never did see it recognized or hear anything more. Don’t know what the deal was, but I still enjoy clicking on it every day anyway.
Sorry to hear that, Steve. I’ve forwarded your comment to Jessica, who is in charge of this contest. Hopefully she can figure out what happened. Thanks for your patience in the meantime. Have a great day. 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
I heard back from Jessica. Apparently you didn’t click on the link in the contest rules, where she would have looked for a winner, so your comment is the first that she has heard about it being your RV. Unfortunately the deadline is long gone. Sorry. Take care. 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
3M command strips are very useful. I like the fact that you can remove them, if necessary.
I have a small bone to pick about your “Website of the Day”…That list was obviously made for males, by males. Many of those sites are listed as Male only and many others listed clothing optional. Neither sound the least bit enticing to this lesbian camper. In fact, in all my years of camping a LARGE majority of the gay campers I see are women. There’s got to be a better, more representative website than that.
Thank you for standing up for Women. Hope that includes Women’s sports to.
I agree with Kris, should have done a better job on this.
Thanks for the inclusion of us LGBTQ folks, but I have to agree with Kris as well. Males only is hardly inclusive and maybe the clothing optional campgrounds belong in a separate top 10 article of their own.
How about a top 10 LBGTQ friendly article. We love being with all sorts of open minded and good hearted people, regardless of their gender or orientation. It’s the unfriendly places we prefer to avoid.
No question, only a male writer would feel it nessesary or acceptable to include gratuitous commentary like “clothing optional”. In fact, it seems like 2 completely different topics that are unrelated. Nudist camping is not synonymous with the LGBTQ camping community or camping in general. Nudists are nudists regardless of orientation. Unrelated and gratuitous commentary.
“Leave here with a laugh” is funny because it is absolutely true!
What Tommy Molnar said. 😎
Thanks for reminding me that my back hurts!!! I sneezed this morning.
Agree with Tommy couldn’t have said it better myself.