Issue 2097
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
“Too many of us are hung up on what we don’t have, can’t have, or won’t ever have. We spend too much energy being down, when we could use that same energy – if not less of it – doing, or at least trying to do, some of the things we really want to do.” ―
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Pet Day!
On this day in history: 1976 – The Apple I, the Apple computer, is created.
Tip of the Day
9 ways to make the most of your RV travel time
By Gail Marsh
It might be less than an hour. Or it may mean a full day’s drive. Some RVers travel a short distance to get to their destinations while others drive much longer. RVers are all different. Well, except in one way: We all have at least some travel time. For a few moments (or perhaps hours) we are a “captive audience” inside our vehicles as we move on down the road. How can we make the most of our RV travel time? Here are some ideas that work for my husband and me.
Important: Safely driving your RV from point A to point B is an RVer’s most important objective. If you are easily distracted, some of the following suggestions may not be for you. Again, we want you to remain safe and arrive alive! Always use common sense and safe driving tactics whenever you RV.
Travel activities
If you are traveling alone in your RV or RVing with others, there are several beneficial ways to pass the time as you drive. Here are just a few… (Some suggestions may require pre-planning.)
Ask Dave
Dave Solberg is a leading expert in the RV industry and author of the “RV Handbook.”
A 3″ hole for a 1″ wire? Why are RV manufacturers so careless?
Dear Dave,
My question is, why are RV manufacturers so careless when building coaches? They drill a 3” hole in the RV floor to fish through a 1” power supply wire. It leaves a super point of entry for rodents. My power supply to the fuses comes through the underfloor and is sealed off from any access. The underfloor is covered, so it’s not visible. Luckily, I was able to cut a hole in a storage compartment to gain access to these holes and seal them off. So, if people are having a problem with rodent entry, check your power entry to the underfloor. Thank you, Dave. —Al, 2019 Puma 257RESS Fifth Wheel
NEW! RV Video Review
Fabulous fiberglass Escape trailers, the E21C vs. E21NE
Look for Cheri’s new RV Video Reviews every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.
By Cheri Sicard
If you are thinking about a fiberglass trailer, the video below from Escape is a good one to watch. In it, they compare and contrast two popular Escape fiberglass trailers, the E21C and the E21NE.
Both of these fiberglass trailers are 21 feet in length, although they have slightly different features and floor plans.
Karl and Samuel, both Escape employees, are of differing opinions on which is “better.” They break it down and compare why they came to their conclusions.
Video of the day
Avoiding RV title transfer and VIN verification problems when buying a used RV
Author Robin Barrett of Creativity RV recently bought a used Airstream. She says she made a BIG mistake in regard to the RV title transfer and VIN verification process that could have cost her all her money. In the video below, she is here to make sure that others don’t make the same mistake.
Had Robin not been able to remedy this mistake, and it did take some creative problem-solving skills, she would have had the trailer, BUT she would not have been able to register it, use it, or even sell it.
Free camping at Pahranagat National Wildlife Refuge—The views will blow you away
By Cheri Sicard
We pulled into Pahranagat National Wildlife Refuge to set up camp in the late afternoon. It took an hour or so to set up house. When I finally emerged from the RV’s front door at about sunset, the idyllic view took my breath away. Read more about this idyllic and free camping spot here.
Reader poll
Has your RV been “in the shop” for repairs in the last year?
Quick Tip
Handy campground shower caddy
Drill holes in the bottom of an old ice cream or plastic bucket. Use it to carry shampoo, soap, washcloth, etc., to and from the shower building.
?? MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY ??
There’s no dis-a-brie-ing, we NEED these! Oh, how fun! If you’re a, let’s say, delicious-food lover (or a mouse), you’ll need these too!
On this day last year…
- Tip: My top 5 favorite RV hacks and tips
- RV Review: 2022 Riverside Retro 190BH—colorful choices
- Ask Dave: What is the best and safest way to clean my RV’s front cap?
Website of the day
RV Campgrounds at Golf Courses
This list from El Monte RV is wonderful! It lists every RV campground at a golf course state-by-state. If you like to golf, this list is for you!
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:
• 12 percent have a campsite reservation this summer at a U.S. National Park.
• 52 percent played on a sports team in high school.
• 14 percent of readers have owned their current RV for more than 10 years.
Recent poll: Did you marry your high school sweetheart?
Recipe of the Day
Bruschetta & Cheese
by Bobbi Gulla from Philadelphia, PA
This twist on bruschetta is delicious when summer tomatoes are abundant. Adding finely grated cheese to the tomatoes creates another layer of texture and flavor. It reminds us of a Caprese salad. The ripe tomatoes are almost sweet. Diced onion adds a little bite. Peppery fresh basil is the perfect complement. Everything is tossed with olive oil and red wine vinegar. Prepare this bruschetta and cheese as an appetizer or a light lunch in warmer months.
Trivia
The only predator that routinely preys on skunks is the….? Hint: It’s absolutely, certainly, most definitely NOT humans! It’s the Great Horned Owl! Why? Well, according to scientists, the Great Horned Owl is almost completely devoid of any sense of smell. The owl’s nest will sometimes reek of skunk, which actually keeps owl predators away. In one nest, researchers found the remains of 57 skunks! Wow!
*What’s the temperature on Pluto? If a human were to stand on the planet, what color are the skies? What color is the snow? Find out in yesterday’s trivia.
Readers’ Pet of the Day
“Heidi is a very kind and sweet camping companion.” —William Herriott
Send us a photo of your pet with a short description. We publish one each weekday in RV Daily Tips and in our Sunday RV Travel newsletter. No blurry photos, please! Please do not submit your photo more than once. Thanks!
Bag grips make carrying things much, much easier
This 2-pack of durable, padded carabiner hand grips make carrying things like grocery bags, tote bags, and much more so much easier! Clip the bags to the carabiner, turn it sideways, and you have a comfortable way to distribute the weight. In addition, you can use these in many ways around your RV. Check them out.
Leave here with a laugh
Did you miss the latest RV Travel Newsletter? If so, read it here.
Oh, and if you missed the Latest News for RVers, make sure to catch up here.
If you shop at Amazon.com we’d appreciate you using this link. We get an itty bitty commission if you buy something, but they add up and help us pay our bills (most importantly our hard-working writers!).
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.
RVtravel.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Regardless of this potential revenue, unless stated otherwise, we only recommend products or services we believe provide value to our readers.
Mail us at 9792 Edmonds Way, #265, Edmonds, WA 98020.
This newsletter is copyright 2023 by RV Travel LLC.
Enjoy the newsletter every morning with my second cup of coffee! Always good, some better than others. Keep up the good work.
Heard the laugh of the day before, but it’s still a good one. Still laughed when I read it again.
Apparently you’ve ran out of laugh of the day as this one is from the recent past. I remember it. Lol
Bob, I see that you are not THERE yet. I am able to watch the same movie / TV program over and over and then at the very end go: “Oh, I’ve seen this one before.” Also saves on buying new DVDs. Even works for me on my collection of VCR tapes. (stinking flashing clock thingy)
The workmanship made me laugh. Time is the bottom line in any construction nowadays.
Most is hidden so the poor workmanship is never seen.
Loved the mosquito mouse trap!!
I have and continue to be disappointed with the so called RV reviews you have in the news letters. The reviews are nothing but sale’s ads. A true review would s give cons as well as pros. I would like reviews that tell all the negatives about a RV, the thing that are poorly constructed not just the things that look good.
Read the “Ask Dave” sections and there are plenty of “negatives” discussed. One of the better sections to learn about RV issues.
Yes, they tell you of the new things and floor plans hence the word NEW if it was old you would have a track record to base an opinion about it….
I agree that would be a very powerful feature, Terry. I’m not sure there is anyone out there doing that though. It seems to me that would require that someone live with the RV for awhile and literally get down in the ‘guts’ of the unit. And then do it again for another model, and another, etc.
Here’s a thought for the RV Newsletter staff… You have SO many subscribers who drive/live in so many different rigs. Perhaps you could create a form that readers could fill out to review their own RV and submit it to the Newsletter. A form would help guide the writer to focus on the specifics of the unit, pro & con, and not ramble on (like this) and not just rant about issues. Just a thought.
Tony, I think that’s a great idea! RV Travel readers probably own at least one of every RV made. Real world pros and cons.
I think that’s a great idea too. I’m not sure of the logistics for the RVT staff or the liability RVT may be taking on but at least the positive upon positive upon positive is a little more tempered from real world users. Great idea.
Just one more thing (Columbo, 1982). The review forms could reside on a separate with just a link in the main letter. Then daily readers who are NOT shopping would not have to scroll past the reviews. They don’t care about. 😉
I believe the demo for the typical RVT reader is such that the reviews would be broadly accurate and not just a bunch of whining about the little things. In turn, it could be a resource for builders to make a few improvements or add features that real world users like and appreciate. God knows the builders could use some input from a demographic that has probably been on the RV scene for an average of 30 years or so. The demo that can fix stuff themselves but could offer real world design or utilitarian improvements.
New business wss model for Chuck Woodbury: publish only 5 reviews per model and sell the unpublished reviews to builders. Package of 40 reviews on each model costs $4,000.00.
I miss the reviews the now extinct Motor Home magazine had. They would actually get the RV and someone on staff would use it for a trip. They always gave a good useful balanced review.
I realize RV Travel probably can’t get RVs in hand, but having an experienced reviewer that does a thorough assessment of pros and cons, especially in the area of quality construction and service, is what makes taking time to read a review valuable.
Tony did a pretty good job of pointing out good and bad, at least as he saw them. Plus he had physically seen much of what he reviewed.
Take a house. Put it on wheels and shake it driving down the road and there is always something to be fixed. So, yes, the RV is in the shop every year. If not in the shop it is because the owner fixes it at home. Just like your home at home there is always something that needs to be fixed.
Sorry you had to waste so much time reading.
When one begins an article ” the best xxx is in xxxx park, please give a hint up front where this place is located. The one today, the location is buried way into article in directions. Almost missed it.
I agree, and not just in RVT, but many articles almost everywhere. “Here in Springfield…” Springfield WHERE? There is a Springfield in almost every state. Even TV commercials for products. I don’t know what they are selling or what it does. They evidently expect me to google to find out. If there weren’t a picture of a refrigerator in the ad I would think they were selling a computer. “Dad, you are getting old.” as she pulls here phone out of her hind pocket to find out for herself as to what they were selling.
The clickbait is monetized.
Hi, Camping Man. I’m trying to find the article you’re referring to but can’t find it in a quick scan. Would you please tell me which one you’re talking about? Thank you. Have a great day. 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
I believe he is talking about the article on Pahranagat National Wildlife Refuge.
Thank you, Merrily! I just couldn’t find anything that started out with the wording Camping Man referred to. (This article doesn’t either, but unless he tells me otherwise, I guess it’ll have to do. 😉) I’ve added the location in the first line of that post, and I hope that is what he was talking about. Have a good night. 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
Neither of our RV’s have ever been in a shop till today. We are taking ours in for the shackles in the axels. apparently they seem to be an issue with these types. My husband usually takes care of it, but not this time.