Issue 2102
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
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Columnists’ Day! A big thank you to our incredible team of writers and columnists—we are so lucky to have you!
On this day in history: 1930 – The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) announced that “there is no news” in their evening report. (Hah! Can you even imagine?)
Tip of the Day
Triple towing: Is it legal? Is it safe? Should you do it?
By Gail Marsh
The good news? We planned to travel to a warmer climate for the winter! The bad news? The transporter who had agreed to take our motorcycle to Florida backed out at the last minute. We really didn’t have the time to investigate another carrier, but we did consider triple towing.
If you aren’t familiar with the term “triple towing,” you’re not alone. The term refers to pulling two trailers behind your tow vehicle. (It’s also sometimes called “double towing.”) We considered purchasing a trailer and transporting the motorcycle on our own. But is it legal? Is it safe? Here’s what we found out…
Ask Dave
Dave Solberg is a leading expert in the RV industry and author of the “RV Handbook.”
Should Schwintek slide mechanism be replaced with the Vroom?
Dear Dave,
Good day. I just read your article on Schwintek slides. We just had ours replaced with the Vroom product. Tiffin tried 8 times to get the Schwintek to work.
When placing the manufacturer parts side by side, the quality of the material leaves no doubts. Real bearings instead of flat nylon bushing. Real metal drive shaft instead of cheap (was it pot metal?) drive shaft. Gears with some meat to them. …
Read the rest of the letter and Dave’s answer
NEW! RV Video Tour
2023 Winnebago Travato 59K Class B, the #1 best-selling van
Cam Hilliard of Miller’s RV in Baton Rouge, LA, gives us a tour of the 2023 Winnebago Travato camper van in the video below.
The Travato is the #1 selling Class B camper van in North America and the 59K floor plan which is the one in the video below, is the most popular layout in the most popular camper van.
Video of the day
6 different types of RV slide technologies and how they work
By Cheri Sicard
The team from Big Truck Big RV (one of our readers’ FAVORITE RV YouTube channels), has produced an informative video about the different types of RV slide technologies and how they work.
All RV slides are not created equal. I have to confess, as I have never owned an RV with slides, I did not know much about them. But after this RV slide technologies primer, I feel far more educated.
Gyms and truck stops offer exercise and showers on the road—great for boondockers
By Nanci Dixon
If you’re traveling cross-country or boondocking and need access to a shower or a chance to stretch those stiff driving muscles, a great spot can be the local fitness clubs or gyms along the way. Great idea!
Reader poll
How long was the “courtship” with your current spouse or partner?
Quick Tip
Watch your step (literally) at night
For just a few bucks at your local Walmart or home improvement store, you can buy a “spotlight” style solar-charged patio light. If you’re in a no-electricity campsite (so you don’t poke an underground wire), or you’re boondocking, put the stake into the ground near your RV and you have a no-battery night light to guide your feet. Here are some on Amazon.
On this day last year…
- Tip: 12 unusual uses for pennies inside and outside your RV
- RV Review: Jayco Eagle HT 24RE: The smallest Jayco fifth wheel
- Ask Dave: When I exercise the generator, can I leave the shoreline cord plugged in?
- Featured article: Lakes where you can fish without a state fishing license
- Recipe: Strawberry Salsa
?? MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY ??
Well, once again, we got sucked into our own product suggestion and just ordered two of these for two blank (we can’t say the word)-obsessed people on our staff. You might want this too.
Website of the day
Jazz Travel Guide: 25 U.S. Venues You Must Visit
If you love listening to live jazz, you have to check out this list. Some of these places are famous, while others you may have never heard of. Either way, we’ll see you out at some of these! (Before you make plans to go, double-check that it’s still open!)
And the Survey Says…
We’ve polled RVtravel.com readers more than 2,000 times in recent years. Here are a few things we’ve learned about them:
• 5 percent get their groceries delivered to their RV.
• 10 percent have called the police about an incident in their campground/RV park.
• Only 8 percent have practiced an emergency exit from their RV. Do this! Do this today!
Recent poll: Were your parents happy about your career choice?
Recipe of the Day
The Best Crusty Bread (Dutch Oven)
by Pat DiMercurio from Saginaw, MI
The next time you want warm, crusty bread, give this recipe a try. The outside is crisp while the inside stays firm and moist. To get the true crust effect, start the dough the night before. The aroma of the fresh bread baking in the Dutch oven will make the house smell wonderful. When you open the Dutch oven, there’s the perfect loaf of bread. This is a very easy bread recipe that can be customized with your favorite herbs, too.
Trivia
In 1902, Nabisco began selling animal crackers, which they called Barnum’s Animals, named after P.T. Barnum, one of the country’s greatest showmen. The familiar circus-themed box they come in was originally designed to be a Christmas ornament. After you were done eating the crackers, you were supposed to take the string and turn the package into an ornament. And that string? Well, each year 8,000 miles of string are used in the packaging! Each shift at their New Jersey factory uses about 30 miles of string. Jeez!
*Where is the driest desert in the world? And how dry is dry? Find out in yesterday’s trivia.
Readers’ Pets of the Day
“L to R: Bella, Norman, Ruby. All from rescues. Bella lost her long-time owner, Norman was lost or ran away from an abusive home, and Ruby was a puppy mill mom. They are now enjoying their golden years in my golden years.” —Anna Ritchey
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!
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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I have to chime in on rescuing older dogs. Its not for everyone but those who do are the special people who do what the rest cannot do. Take on rescues who have been abused or those discarded because of age. You adopt for life not give it to someone else to finish the job. We have photos of what I call the three amigos. The first photo was of a rescue who died about 6 years ago, then we adopted again and now the three are down to one. We have three again but know that with time I will be down to one. Enjoy the time you have with them. Because these angels know that you rescued them. The old adage goes who rescued who?
We replaced our problematic Schwintek system on the passenger side bedroom wall slide of our 2014 Phaeton with a Vroom. That was almost a year ago and not a single instance of trouble. Next up: replacing the driver’s side bedroom slide system.
In many stores and dealerships, “in stock” may be on a cargo ship. somewhere out in the ocean.
On this day in history…also..
Paul Revere’s Famous Ride took place in 1775….you’re welcome
Thank you. 😅 Have a great day, Sandi. 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
This day in 2022 is also in history now. Thank God.
I’m not sure what you’re referring to, Kelly. I Googled it and there were several awful things that happened. Or are you just referring to this day in 2022 in general? Have a good evening/night. 😀 –Diane
Oh, in General. I may be off in time a bit but it seems that a year ago we were in the midst of COVID scare, trucking/goods shortages, and found reason to complain about anything and everything, For me at least, I am glad last year is over.
Oh. Thanks, Kelly. In that regard, I’m glad the last three years are over. Onward and upward. 👍 Take care. 😀 –Diane
“Only 8 percent have practiced an emergency exit from their RV. Do this! Do this today!”
We have two doors, but also have an “escape window” opposite the bedroom door (that leads outside). The window opens easily but I would get hurt if I actually tried using it. Hopefully if a real emergency happens we could use one of our two doors.
I bet that over half of RV folks don’t even know which window is the emergency exit. and if they do they haven’t confirmed they can open it. Our previous emergency window would have required we break the glass to get out and we might not be willing to slide out on a bed covered with broken glass.
I know that Class Bs do not fit the needs of a lot of people, but I have tried all four doors on my Chevy chassis B.
With regard to the Vroom system, we had our Schwintek slides replaced on our 2022 Grand Design 376THS in January of this year. What a great experience with their service. Done quicker than estimated and then they took the time to explain everything about the Vroom system. Work is guaranteed and of high quality. The slides have been trouble free since the replacement. Now, with that being said, getting an appointment is a beast. We had an appointment about 11 months out but were fortunate enough to fill a cancellation after about 6 months!!!! This is a great company to do business with.
Norman looks a little cranky this morning.
Yep, a little cranky but somehow still cute. Sitting on expanded metal can’t really be that comfortable after all.
Happy Columnist’s Day to all the RVtravel writers I enjoy reading every day. Great job! You deserve a day in your honor🥳👑👏
We don’t use Facebook, so those are no help to us. We were surprised on how many RVers haven’t used Facebook ever or anymore. We have solar lights around our patio, more for security.
Another non facebook user. Or twitter, TikTok or instagram. I also avoid Google. I have enough people watching me!
Agree. Those sites know more about a person than the IRS. That should scare anyone.
Wife has Facebook and keeps her circle small. I don’t and don’t plan to.
Watched the slide video. Unfortunately it did not address the system on my Phoenix Cruiser. And, the system had a failure mode this week. I could move it manually flush and out. But, we will see.
Anna Ritchey, you are the epitome of a great person. Thank you for being so kind and warm hearted, to the ones that brighten our lives up immensely!
Put one of the small post style solar lights near the front steps. Attached it with a magnet.
Also, put one of the much larger solar lights on the ladder at the rear of the coach. It is motion sensored controlled for full light. Not wandering in the dark behind the coach.
Inexpensive and works well.
Agree. We use a combination of solar or battery-operated motion sensor lights set up outside the coach. Doesn’t bother folks after dark unless they get close to our rig on the site in a campground. Have to admit we have occasionally left one now and then the next morning when packing up to leave!
How wonderful for your dogs that they found you – and vice versa! Norman reminds me of a character from Grumpy Old Men. What a sweetie!