Issue 2108
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
“Don’t count the days, make the days count.” —Muhammad Ali
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Pretzel Day!
On this day in history: 1956 – The SS Ideal X, the world’s first truly successful commercial container ship, leaves Port Newark, New Jersey, for Houston, Texas.
Tip of the Day
These are six critical photos to keep on your phone
By Gail Marsh
What is it that most of us carry no matter where we go? Our cell phones, of course! We may leave our purses or wallets behind, but that cell phone? No way! Where you go, it goes. And for that reason, it’s important that you always keep six critical pieces of information in the form of photos on your phone.
So, what are these photos? Read on to find out.
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). Friday will be its last day. 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.”
Can I leave the RV’s water heater on electric all the time when plugged into shore power?
Dear Dave,
My RV’s water heater uses both LP and electric. Can I leave the electric on all the time to heat water when connected to shore power? Thank you. —Ben, 2003 Monaco Knight
In the RV shop with Dustin
We bought an RV with delamination. How much will it cost to fix it?
Recently, our RV repair shop received the below e-mail from Lauren, wanting to know how, and how much, it will cost to fix the delamination that’s occurring on her RV:
Hello,
My husband and I bought this 2010 Keystone Cougar and we, unfortunately, were unaware that the bubbling on the front and back of the trailer is delamination. We were told it was just from the heat/sun.
Continue reading Lauren’s question and see what Dustin says
Video of the day
RV Troubleshooting: 5 important RV checks to do each spring
By Cheri Sicard
Proactive maintenance and RV troubleshooting are always good ideas any time of year, but especially after your RV has been sitting in storage. Get ready for spring and summer with these five important RV checks you should perform each year. Mark Polk from RV Education 101 is here to help.
Everything to know about crossing the border between San Diego and Tijuana in an RV
By Cheri Sicard
The thought of driving from the U.S. into Mexico inspires fear and anxiety in many would-be travelers. In fact, it’s enough to make a lot of folks stay home. Especially when you add the stress of driving or towing a large RV, and making that crossing at San Ysidro, the world’s busiest land border crossing. That’s a shame, because Baja California Norte, just over the border from San Diego, has so much to offer RVers. The border crossing is not bad, especially if you know what to expect. Continue reading this very comprehensive article.
Reader poll
Do you wear glasses?
Quick Tip
Save time crossing the border
Planning on an RV adventure into Mexico or Canada, but on a tight schedule? Call ahead to the border crossing (or check online at U.S. Customs and Border Protection) and check for crossing times. If there’s a long wait, check and see if another nearby crossing has a better offering.
?? MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY ??
This is not something we ever thought we’d want, but the more we look at it, the more we want it…
On this day last year…
- Tip: This battery fire serves as a maintenance reminder!
- RV Review: CrossRoads RV Sunset Trailer Super Lite SS253RB
- Ask Dave: How can I get my RV’s frameless windows to open more?
- Featured article: Thor CEO tells about personal RV dumping “horror story”
- Recipe: Buttery Soft Pretzels
Website of the day
An A to Z Guide to Not Killing the Planet When You Travel
This page from Conde Nast Traveler is informative, sure, but it’s also incredibly entertaining and done in a very fun way. Check it out and perhaps make some small changes in your day-to-day travels.
Popular articles you may have missed at RVtravel.com
- RV Prospector: Spiral gold wheels automate the most tedious phase of prospecting
- Go Anywhere toilet comes up short (literally)
- National Parks aren’t as crowded as they appear online. This will give you hope
Recipe of the Day
Chicken Pesto Pasta
by Shawn Lansing from Nolanville, TX
Super satisfying, this chicken pesto pasta is fantastic. The pesto gives the pasta a delightfully tangy, sweet, and savory flavor. It’s filled with Italian seasonings from the diced tomato. We liked using penne for this casserole because the sauce gets into the pasta. Chicken breasts, along with the pasta, make the dish very hearty. Nice and cheesy, this is a recipe your family won’t complain about eating the leftovers.
Trivia
Wildlife vehicle collisions are a safety issue, especially in rural areas. Each year in the United States, roughly 200 people are killed – and many more are injured – in more than one million collisions involving wildlife and vehicles.
*With the invention of Amazon’s “Alexa,” how has the once-popular baby girl name been affected? Find out in yesterday’s trivia.
Readers’ Pets of the Day
“Although we still call them ‘happy puppies,’ they are actually happy seniors [miniature dachshunds]. Sadly, Stassney passed recently, leaving us all very sad, especially Hendrix.” —Michael Noble
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!
The easiest RV security system
This 2-pack window and door security alarm provides a simple, cost-effective security solution to protect you against invasions thanks to the 120-decibel alarms, loud enough to make an intruder think twice. The alarm is easy to use, no matter what your technological skills may be. Attach the alarms with double-sided tape, no wires required! Perfect for the RV! Learn more or order.
Leave here with a laugh
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Contact information
Editor: Emily Woodbury
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As far as “Is This Your RV?” I’ve said before that people enjoy seeing what other RV’rs have and where they go. I mentioned not showing those parked in the owners driveway. Boring!!!
Each RV should have a short history of where it’s parked, how they liked the park and the scenery, and a little about the rig. “Here we are, parked in the Borrego Desert to see the wild flowers super bloom. Loved this campground and staying in our Winnebago. Have camped in it for five years with our kids.”
Just a thought. Love the magazine!
Can’t you keep the ‘Is This Your RV?’ contest, but make it so those who respond enter a drawing for the gift card at the end of the month? Or, is it a case of ‘not enough clicks’ on the contest page, instead of it being a revenue losing feature?
Global Warming will “Kill the planet”.
10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. 2 Peter 3:10 (NKJV)
I’m sorry, but there is actually physical evidence that man-made Climate Change exists.
When God shows up, maybe she can do something to fix all of humanities screw ups. Until then, I’ll listen to the scientists.
Al Gore John Kerry
I didn’t see anything in the statement above that didn’t say it was not man made climate change. MAN was kicked out of the Garden and later the Earth flooded, because of MAN’s disobedience. MAN’s current, general, disrespect for the earth may just be the “three strikes and you’re OUT”. I have little idea why the climate has evidently changed so many times throughout Earth’s existence. Not for me to reason why or to argue as to who is to blame. WE have to realize that We are ALL to blame, if there IS blame to be laid at all. I do know that right now MAN is doing a lousy job of taking care of this place and others living here. It is up to each one of us if we are to turn the whole mess around. Otherwise, WE learn to love the mess WE’RE in. “Naa, naa, naa, Mom it was his fault.” That got both of us a spanking.
Question 1 – How many Ice Ages has the earth had?
Question 2 – How many of them were caused by, or cured by, the actions of mankind?
Statement 1 – I’ll believe in climate change when a certain past president sells his new home on the beach in Martha’s Vineyard.
I personally know people that travel to Mexico for dental care. My neighbor was quoted 3800$ for 2 crowns and a bridge. He called a dentist in Mexico and was quoted 680$. Yes it was about 200 mile trip to get there. The dentist gave him a room overnight. He was back home around 4pm the next day. Beautiful work. Why the discrepancy of $3000? Greed?
I’m sure liability insurance or lack of figures into that somewhere.
Cost of living and working conditions. Why do you think all the big auto manufacturers have plants in Mexico? No different than why your IPhones are made in China. Workers are paid for a day what North American workers refuse hourly.
Might be a reason so many people want to cross the border into the USA as well. Much more to it than greed I am afraid.
Leonard, so true. When I was in Mexico in 2015, minimum wage was $7 a day.
The biggest problem with going to Mexico and using cheap healthcare is they are rasing the prices on Mexicans. My wife is from Mexico and her family is always complaining about the gringos going to doctors there and that it raises the prices for the locals, the the gringos pay in dollars (cash) and the doctors can raise their prices and price out the locals.
Ah, Capitalism….
Then again, there are standards and oversight in the US that you’ll never find in Mexico.
Looks like you have more groups on FB, to bad we and many don’t use it. Our plants do very well traveling, we even ended up with 6 tomatoes by time we got east.
Sad the photo contest is going away. I look forward everyday to see my RV in there, but never has showed up! Maybe send $25 gift cards to all that submitted and didn’t win?! Or, how about one of those cool RVT Mugs! LOL!
My RV never made it to the list of winners either. But, I am looking forward to see what the new contests will be like.
Sorry to see it end… again
We went to Mexico about 20 years ago and had a terrific time. Just not worth the risk now. Worked for a while with someone who was originally from there and he talked about the crime ruling everyday life. Sadly, he told me one day he lost a brother caught in the crossfire.
A waiter at our local Mexican restaurant was finally able to get his family out of Mexico legally and he is so grateful….where he was, his kids had to quit school because it was too dangerous to walk to it let alone play outside….
Sad & True Appreciate the Share very pleased they are Legal.
Sad & True, very Sorry. Agree 👍
Risk of gunfire is greater in Louisville, Dadeville, Uvalde, Memphis….should I go on? Don’t fall victim to the fear-mongers…stay out of places you shouldn’t go…stay alert…enjoy the beautiful country!
With regard to canceling the photo contest, your RV newsletter “doesn’t generate the interest” I need to continue racing to open it every morning.
What exactly does this mean, in reference to the contest “Is this your RV?” “Unfortunately, despite your positive comments and encouragement, it does not get the interest we’d need to generate to continue this feature.” It was here and then being dropped, no wait it is back, nevermind we are cancelling it again.
what was the criteria to kill it again, inquiring minds would like to know.
Great picture of a eagle.
2 points Go Green & Cross the Border
What a complete turn-off with this Website Suggestion! Please make better choices to share. Driving a Recreational Vehicle and Go Green is an oxymoron.
We would not cross the border to the South with our RV let alone a day visit. Today’s environment which concerns Safety and kidnappings. Not happening. We rather visit our Beautiful Country and support our businesses. By the way, just because you might save a bit of money across the border it is still not attractive! We have Beautiful Lakes, Oceanside Beaches, food and adult beverages available right in our USofA.
I was thinking EXACTLY the same.
👍
Yep, it’s definitely better on this side of the border. I have never understood why people think they have to spend their money in some other country. No other country has the standard of living nor the liberty we enjoy. What you normally do in the USA you can go to prison many years in Mexico doing it there.
👍
Your website of the day is misleading. We will never be able to kill the planet, we will kill human existence on the planet, the planet will be here long after humans are gone, e.g. dinosaurs, gone but planet still here.
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Yup.
Absolutely agree! How arrogant to think we as a species could destroy the planet.,,we will destroy our species long before destroying earth. And as far as climate change – the planet has been going through climate change for millions of years, and will continue to long after we’re gone.