Issue 2109
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
“The purpose of a storyteller is not to tell you how to think, but to give you questions to think upon.” ―
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Tell A Story Day!
On this day in history: 1986 – The city of Pripyat and surrounding areas are evacuated due to Chernobyl disaster.
Tip of the Day
How do you hang a TV wall mount on an RV wall?
By Russ and Tiña De Maris
RV TV wall mounts are great. Their swing feature allows users to turn the TV in multiple directions, great for the rather strange seating arrangements RV manufacturers often use. They also allow the TV to be pushed back out of the way when not in use. Trouble is, these articulating mounts typically require the use of wall studs for a safe and secure install. If the desired wall doesn’t have studs—typical of most fiberglass or composite exterior RV walls—what’s to be done? Here’s one way to get the job done.
Ask Dave
Dave Solberg is a leading expert in the RV industry and author of the “RV Handbook.”
Why doesn’t RV’s slide out work when plugged into house power?
Dear Dave,
I’ve had the RV plugged in during the winter on house power, starting it about once a week. All of a sudden the RV’s slide out and rollout canopy stopped working. I have not checked the fuses, but it keeps blowing the house power, also. Do you have any insight, please?—Richard, 2021 27-foot Thor Freedom Elite
RV Video Tour
ioCamper truck—An amazing, expandable truck camper
By Cheri Sicard
You have to see the ioCamper truck in action to believe it because this is unlike any other truck camper you’ve ever seen.
Once at camp, the ioCamper truck, like magic, unfolds, expands, and transforms in under 15 minutes to give it the interior look, space, and functionality of a travel trailer that sleeps 4-5 people. When it’s time to go, it folds up again and appears as an ordinary truck camper.
Click here for the short tour–Wow!
Video of the day
8 of the weirdest roadside attractions in the U.S.
By Cheri Sicard
The team at Good Mythical Morning has compiled their picks of the 8 weirdest roadside attractions in the U.S. Roadside Americana has been entertaining Americans since road-tripping began, and the 8 picks here are must-sees for fans of high highway kitsch.
A beloved Texas roadside stop with the “best bathrooms in the nation”
When you’re on a road trip and your gas tank is nearing empty, your bladder is nearing full, and your stomach is grumbling, where’s the best place to stop? Well, if you’re in Texas, Alabama, Georgia or Florida, it’s going to be at the beloved Buc-ee’s, of course. Learn more and watch the video.
Reader poll
Would you rather live where most often daily temps were lower than 50 or higher than 90?
Quick Tip
Be sure to check your RV batteries frequently in hot weather
Traveling in hot country? It’s hard on people, and on RV batteries. Check the electrolyte level in your RV batteries often and keep them filled with distilled water.
On this day last year…
- Tip: These are the skills you must maintain to continue RVing
- RV Review: ICC Offroad Flip 90 travel trailers
- Ask Dave: Can I replace my RV’s frameless tip out windows with the slider kind?
- Featured article: Is it OK to drive with one flat dually tire? Nope. Here’s why
- Recipe: Honey Cornbread Muffins
Website of the day
The Most Hippie Town in All 50 States
Still living in the ’70s? Well good, because these towns are too! See how many of these hippie towns you’ve been to.
?? MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY ??
In case you or someone you know has been a little forgetful lately… And note that they’re extra strong.
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:
• 15 percent do not like it when fellow campers stop by their RV site to say hello if they’re sitting outside.
• 15 percent have tipped a campground worker.
• 56 percent say they have seen an influx of workers staying in campgrounds for local jobs.
Recipe of the Day
Delicious Spinach Artichoke Dip
by Bre Van Patten from Vale, OR
This savory and creamy spinach artichoke dip is packed with artichokes. Definitely not something you’d find in the frozen food aisle. The addition of salad seasoning, lemon zest and juice really elevate the flavors. You can tell there’s lemon in every bite, but it’s not overpowering. Since this can be eaten hot or cold, double the batch to bring to your next tailgate. Grab some pita or tortilla chips and dig in!
Trivia
Do you know what an airpark is? Airparks are residential communities where people can park their private planes in their driveways and have direct runway access. You know how people who have boats like to live on lakes? Or people who golf like to live on golf courses? Well, it’s the same thing. These small, niche communities are subdivisions that look like many other neighborhoods: spacious lawns, new homes, sidewalks… and very, very wide streets… that are actually runways. There are about 436 airparks in the U.S. Florida has 52 of them, Washington has 50, California has 28 and Oregon has 23.
Readers’ Pet of the Day
“We have not had a kitten for 23 years. My son and his girlfriend talked us into Buster. He was a rescue. He was going to be dumped in a field with his two brothers until my son’s girlfriend heard about the kittens before they were dumped. My son picked up all three. Buster is our travel cat (we have a 5th wheel). We haven’t made too many trips with him yet, but it seems he travels well. He is now 9 months and 10 lbs. Our next trip will be to Las Vegas (2,000 miles round trip and several different parks). Guess we’ll see how he does on a long trip.” —Steve Lane
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!
RVers who carry a firearm should pack this along to save them from trouble
A new edition of the annual Traveler’s Guide to the Firearm Laws of the Fifty States is hot off the press. This 2023 edition covers all the basics for armed travel. What is legal in one state could be a felony in another. This book should be used as a reference before entering a new state so you know what to expect as you approach. Clear writing gives you the basics for every state. Plus, each state is rated for its relative freedom, based on its gun laws, from zero to 100. Read more about the book here.
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.
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.
The temperature survey is too extreme. Redo it with highs in the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s or below added. I’d say the majority of readers would pick 70’s or 80’s. I’d rather live in 90 or above instead of 50 or below, but very few of us would want either. 60’s, 70’s, and 80’s would yield a more balanced and accurate survey.
Pahrump NV has an airpark…found it when I first moved there and was working on the 2020 Census doing address checks.
The streets are not runways, they are taxiways.
Regarding ‘website of the day’ .. I’d much prefer to visit an area where “make love, not war” was the guiding thought over a place that advertises “we honor veterans” then makes being homeless a crime. (Also should average 70° during the day with under 40% humidity)🌵🚴🍕🙏
We have Buc-ees in Tennessee also with more being built.
They look pretty nice. Wonder if they will ever come west.
Yes Chuck. Johnstown,CO. opening 2024
Keep them!
They are the size of a small subdivision with 150 fuel pumps and half a million gallons of fuel below ground.
The amount of environmental and wildlife damage in one location is more than you can possibly imagine.
The staff is not allowed to have a cell phone or smartwatch on their person. If caught, they are terminated on the spot.
Beautiful cat. I’m sure he will enrich your lives.
I think Buster rules! Our two cats lived 17 years before they left us. Any kittens we got now would outlive US! Not good . . .
Rescue an older kitty .. Good for all concerned.
What about if the elderly cat dies first. That’s why we didn’t get another dog.
Actually Bill, we’ve thought of that. But as long as we continue to RV, and almost exclusively boondock, that wouldn’t work – for a number of reasons. We are cat lovers but . . .
I always thought the purpose of storytelling was to use your imagination, like reading a book but better. Many who are storytellers tell stories from stories generations of their families. Usually fascinating, with their unpolished ways, true to them from generations after generations.
Buc-ees is a great place, wish there were more like that, rather have them not in such populated area, out about 10 miles with bigger entrances. There’s one near Katy,TX, I believe, that has stalls easy enough for our 45’ RV to get into. We need more like that.
T & S are correct, I read that too😉🤣
BUC-EE’S is awesome. Cleanest bathrooms ever and lots of them. Going to BUC-EE’S is a happening. They have almost everything. And the car wash that some have are to die for. We are so blessed in Texas to have many. Other states need to have them. There are a couple in other states. BUC-EE’S is the best gas station, bathrooms, and general store all in one. Try it. You will love it.
Lucky Buster. We have 4 rescues in RV right now. Full body harness and 6 ft lead. Works for us.
Thanks for caring enough to keep your kitties on a harness and leash. That shows that you truly love and care for them. We too, have a very special and loved kitty. Jake never goes outside without his harness and leash.
Loved Here with a Laugh.
Lol!! ‘Ask Dave’ is a repeat from yesterday’s edition but still a good reminder.
Picky, picky, picky! Lol
Good catch, T & S! Thank you! I fixed it. There’s a brand new Ask Dave for you in there now. 🙂 –Emily, RVtravel.com