Issue 2105
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
“You get what anybody gets – you get a lifetime.” ―
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Clean Out Your Medicine Cabinet Day!
On this day in history: 1934 – The “Surgeon’s Photograph”, the most famous photo allegedly showing Scotland’s Loch Ness Monster, is published in the Daily Mail. (In 1999, it is revealed to be a hoax.)
Tip of the Day
Is your motorhome ready for an emergency? Follow these steps to make sure
By Randall Brink
Most motorhome owners view their RV as a route to adventure—the open road—free to roam where and when they please. Some take a more practical view and see their RV as a full-time home, whether roaming or stationary. Likely few of us may have considered that our motorhomes are also an asset in the event of a major unforeseen event, such as a natural emergency or other unexpected forms of chaos and uncertainty. The pandemic changed a lot of thinking about preparation for the unexpected. Is your RV ready for an emergency?
CONTEST! Is this your RV?
Win a $25 Amazon gift certificate if today’s RV photo shows your rig
Every Sunday, Wednesday and Friday 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.
After a lot of thought, we’ve decided to end this contest for good (we know, we just brought it back) at the end of this month. Unfortunately, despite your positive comments and encouragement, it does not get the interest we’d need to generate to continue this feature. Thank you to all those who submitted. We’ll be coming up with a new contest soon, so please stay tuned.
Ask Dave
Dave Solberg is a leading expert in the RV industry and author of the “RV Handbook.”
How can I add shoulder harness seat belts to my Class C’s dinette seat?
Hi, Dave,
How can I add shoulder seat belts for my passengers sitting in the booth dinette that is on a slide? It seems like a real safety issue, and I can’t understand the reasoning of only a lap belt. Please help! Thanks, Dave, for all your useful information. —Andrew, 2023 Dynamax Isata 5
Big Rig RV owners! You need this!
If you aren’t carrying the 2023 Rand McNally Motor Carriers’ Road Atlas with you in your RV, you’re inviting trouble. This is the atlas that truckers rely on to plan their routes. It helps them get “there” the fastest while avoiding roads where they could get stuck with turns too tight or bridges too low to fit through without shaving off their roofs. Even if you have a GPS, this is an important resource! Learn more or order.
Video of the day
Affordable Grand Canyon camping at Raptor Ranch!
By Cheri Sicard
Jamie and Linda from Roaming with Rosie discovered a great deal on RV camping near the Grand Canyon. And if you have ever tried to make reservations at the Grand Canyon you know how difficult it can be. Best of all, this affordable Grand Canyon camping is an interesting destination in and of itself.
Is your medical marijuana card valid when RVing in other states?
By Cheri Sicard
“Can I use my medical marijuana card in other states?” is probably the most common cannabis travel question I get from students of my online cannabis courses and visitors to my website and YouTube channel. I wish the answer was as simple as yes or no. But, sadly, like many issues surrounding marijuana, the answer is far more complicated than that. Continue reading this informative post.
You may have missed these recent popular stories…
- RVers leaving RV parks behind, saying they don’t want to pay for ‘amenities’ or ‘folks just stopping by to say hi’
- Google Maps introduces game-changing updates for National Parks
- Disingenuous Department of the Interior Public Lands Rule will jeopardize access to BLM’s public lands
- RVers desperate for more places to stay
Reader poll
How many prescription drugs do you take on a regular basis?
Quick Tip
Handy leveling tools
Got levels? Having bubble levels on the side and front or rear of your rig make it easier to level up when you’re setting up. Or use a small “torpedo” level. With your rig known to be level, see if your storage bay trim or windows are also level. If they are, you can use a torpedo level lined up on the trim anywhere it’s convenient.
EXTRA FAST QUICK TIP: 7 advantages of a solar generator over installing solar on your RV.
On this day last year…
- Tip: Take steps to boondocking
- RV Review: Lance 1985 travel trailer
- Ask Dave: Can I seal my RV’s windows without taking them out?
- Featured article: What kind of toilet paper is best for your RV?
- Recipe: Chicken Tikka Masala
?? MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY ??
If you’re hungry right now, consider yourself warned. We’re hungry and this just made it much, much worse!
Website of the day
6 of the Best Reminders for Your Medications
Our poll question today inspired us to list this website. If you have trouble remembering to take your medications, or remembering if you took your medications, check out these six great websites, gadgets and apps.
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
Grilled Steak and Veggies Tacos
by Joann Gough-Stallbaumer from Lenexa, KS
Nearly every element of these steak tacos is grilled. A fantastic dinner option when you don’t want to turn on the oven. The steak is tender, hearty, and full of flavor from the marinade. It’s a wonderful complement to the caramelized red onion and tangy grilled tomatillos. Crumbled queso fresco and sliced avocado add a bit of creaminess to every bite. Be prepared to make a full taco bar. You and your family will not be able to eat just one.
Trivia
Where did the word cubbyhole originate? From the Old English term, cub, for a pen for animals or chickens comes the transferred term for a basket. In castles, a hole was built into the family chamber wall, just large enough to hold a baby in its cubby (basket). Hence the term “cubbyhole.” It refers to a small, snug space for storage. (Thanks for sending, George B.!)
*Which U.S. president popularized the use of rocking chairs? Find out in yesterday’s trivia (and buy a replica of the president’s rocking chair).
Readers’ Pets of the Day
“Willow and Rusty, our Bordoodles [border collie/poodle], get really excited about camping.” —Dawn Ward
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
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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Maybe use the mystery product of the day to stock up your rv in case of emergencies…
Huh! No wonder I thought it looked familiar when I proofed the newsletter. 🤔 Thanks, Steve. Have a good evening/night. 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
Is that MYSTERY PRODUCT even legal? You got to be kidding me! If I bought and ate all of that I would need to add several PILLS to my diet. (Cholesterol, insulin, blood thinners, and who knows what?) Then I would need one of those PILL KEEPERS. I guess after the Marijuana discussions some may have gotten the munchies. Did I detect some sort of subliminal theme?
Hmmmm. I didn’t pick out the posts for the newsletter, but now that you mention it: poll about prescription drugs, post about medical marijuana, and then the Mystery Product with tons of snacks. Definitely have a theme going here, but I don’t know if it was intentional, subliminal, intentionally subliminal🙄, or totally coincidental. You get a 🌟 for being the first to mention it, Kelly. Have a good evening/night. 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
Oh my goodness, Willow and Rusty have the BEST Beauty and Handsome shot ever! Have safe & fun travels always.
Leveling my Airstream trailer. The Frame and the body are at different angles, as is the floor.I set my carpenters bubble level on the refrigerator door. Owning an Airstream is an adventure !
Besides having a level, most phones have a compass as an app
Great idea. Added that to my phone. Several choices of the bubble level to use!
I looked forward to seeing if our rig was in the contest, guess it will not be shown. Thought there was interest that’s why you brought it back. Tho my favorite part is one who’s got stolen, watch to see if I see any on road
The camper van that I am building is powered by a Jackery 2000. It runs everything. I have a 12 volt chest style fridge with a freezer and it has kept it going in cloudy weather for 9 days. During a recent trip to Michigan, I was at my father’s house when the power went out just as I had finished cooking supper. It was out for 23 hours. After 2 hours of no power, I went to the van and got the Jackery and plugged Daddy’s fridge into the Jackery. I also brought my 2 Luci lights inside, and Dad was amazed how much light that the “2 little blow up lights” were able to provide. During the 21 hours that it was plugged in, his fridge only used 28% of the stored power of the Jackery. I used my one burner butane stove to cook blueberry pancakes and sausage for breakfast. My Aero Press coffee maker provided our morning coffee.
I also have the Smart Tools app on my phone, and I use the level on the app for leveling my trailer. It works great.
There’s a level in an iPhone.
Rather than 2 days of firewood maybe a 16 lb bag of charcoal
I have a bubble level app on my phone and I’ve found it to be very accurate.
Me too Bob, You just lay it on the floor, and when the screen turns green, ypu are good to go!!
Bob P and Steve, I do the same with my phone