Issue 2115
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
“Life has no remote. Get up and change it yourself!” ―
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is Cinco De Mayo!
On this day in history: 1809 – Mary Dixon Kies becomes the first woman awarded a U.S. patent, for a technique of weaving straw with silk and thread.
Tip of the Day
DIY: Remove and replace rotted flooring in your RV
By Russ and Tiña De Maris
Those who love—and preserve—an older RV often find a painful reality in their treasure: soft spots in the flooring. The problem is usually traced back to a water leak that’s compromised the integrity of the floor. Sometimes it can be ignored for a while, but it can get downright dangerous. Having a guest fall through your bathroom floor is not a pleasant thought.
Replacing a bad spot in the floor is challenging, but not impossible for the do-it-yourselfer. It takes time and patience, and at times a bit of imagination. We’ll walk you through the process.
Ask Dave
Dave Solberg is a leading expert in the RV industry and author of the “RV Handbook.”
What is the solution to battery corrosion?
Dear Dave,
What is the solution to battery corrosion? Seems if the hold-down brackets were made of something other than metal, it would minimize the occurrence of corrosion. What about aluminum? Vaseline works well on the lead posts, but the metal hold-down brackets just can’t resist it, even though well-painted with Rust-Oleum. —Bryan, 2021 Winnie Vista 29V
In the RV shop with Dustin
Why install the Roadmaster Comfort Ride System?
The Roadmaster’s Comfort Ride Slipper Spring system is designed to be used with the Comfort Ride Shock Absorber system. When the systems are used together, you can expect up to a 50 percent reduction in induced road energy transmission into your RV—over cobblestones, a 76 percent reduction, and over gravel roads, a 94 percent reduction! These products are designed for low maintenance; 10 of the 14 moving parts in the conventional RV suspension are eliminated. The remaining four are lubricated with bushings.
Video of the day
Camping in Oregon: 5 bucket list Oregon RV trips
I briefly traveled in Oregon on last year’s long long RV trip and I can’t wait to get back to this region to explore more this year. That’s why I was thrilled to find this 5 Bucket List Oregon RV Trips video to help me plan.
There is so much to explore, I am not sure how the team at Camp/Travel/Explore managed to narrow this list down to just five, but they did.
So what Oregon RV trips made the list?
Why you don’t have to be a minimalist to be an RVer
By Cheri Sicard
There seems to be a popular wisdom circulating among today’s young RV bloggers and YouTubers that you MUST be a minimalist to successfully live and thrive in the RV lifestyle. I even saw one “expert” (who, by the way, was selling expensive online courses about living as a nomad) actually give the ridiculous advice that you should outfit your RV with NO MORE THAN two place settings. … WHAT the WHAT? … Read Cheri’s wise alternative perspective, and check out her picture as a beautiful circus performer, here.
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You may have missed these recent popular stories…
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Reader poll
Will you do something special today to celebrate Cinco De Mayo?
Quick Tip
Meter shows moisture in walls, ceilings
Planning on buying a used RV? Water leakage is a sure-fire way to kill a rig. But how can you “see” inside the walls or ceiling of an RV to detect moisture? Here’s a neat device that non-invasively detects and reports on moisture levels under a variety of materials up to 3/4-inch deep. “Looks” under drywall, paneling, softwood, and hardwood. At less than $50, it might just save your bacon, not to mention your RV. Here’s one on Amazon.
?? MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY ??
Oh, this is HUGely fitting for today! And all we have to say is: Yes, yes we do.
On this day last year…
- Tip: Be prepared, physically and mentally, for RV breakdowns
- RV Review: Hyundai Staria Camper 4, a Korean-market camper van
- Ask Dave: Why is the heat in my RV uneven between rooms?
- Featured article: The most important word in your RV’s insurance policy… Is it wrong?
- Recipe: Sassy Chicken Enchiladas
Website of the day
40 Fascinating Places You Won’t Believe Are in the United States
Not only will you not believe some of these places are in the U.S., but you’ll have a hard time believing they’re on planet Earth!
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
Mexican Street Corn
Mexican Street Cornby Wiley P. from Sierra Vista, AZ
This grilled corn is the perfect side dish for a Mexican meal. Or, really any grilled meal. Cooking the corn on the grill adds a wonderful smoky flavor to the kernels. Mayonnaise adds creaminess to the corn. We loved rolling the corn in a cheese and spice mixture. When combined with mayonnaise, it tastes like a creamy cilantro sauce. A fun and flavorful way to prepare corn in the summer.
Trivia
Which of these states is known for an architectural detail called a “witch window”? South Carolina? Vermont? Indiana? Massachusetts? If you guessed Vermont, you’re correct! In Vermont, many older homes have “witch windows”—windows that are installed into the gable end of a home’s roofline at a 45-degree angle. The name is from an old superstition that witches can’t fly through crooked windows.
*What will you find inside every astronaut’s helmet? Find out in yesterday’s trivia.
Readers’ Pet of the Day
“This was Chewy, our traveling companion that completed three cross-country RV trips before he passed about three years ago.” —Robert McBride
HELP keep this feature going! We’re running out of photos! Please do not submit the same photo or pet more than once. 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! Thanks!
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I guess ‘-ish’ is probably better than the people who drive 10 MPH under the speed limit in the left lane. Then again, I also know people who see a 60, 70 or 80 on the sign and believe that is the percentage of engine power they can use.
Hypothetically, I may fall in that latter group. Be safe out there!
Also today in history
50 plus years ago today, Alan Shephard was the first American in Outer Space. His words about our planet were never truer!
“I realized up there that our planet is not infinite. It’s fragile.”
– Alan Shepard
Considering infrared camera systems for moisture detection exist, and are used by home inspectors for Stix n bricks housing everday, I’m not sure why anyone would use the model suggested. The moisture meter model promoted that uses pins is used more often to measure “how wet” something is, not if moisture is present. Example: If your building a home, you can make sure your plywood does not contain EXCESS moisture with a meter before wrapping the home with Tyvek, thus trapping moisture. Everything has some level of moisture. Even kiln dried wood still contains a little moisture. It is about “how much moisture”? If an infrared camera shows moisture through the ceiling or wall, then you have a problem because it only captures excess moisture.
If you guys had bothered to scroll down the page you would have seen a number of units that didn’t use pins.
if you take the time to learn how to use the moisture meter there are no visible holes
Time to read. Not necessary just react as soon as you can without reading.
Not fond of the quick tip today. As a certified RV Inspector using one of those “moisture detector” with pin and punching holes in things to do its work, is a bad idea. With the way RVs are manufactured, I don’t need anymore holes in walls or anyplace else. My 2 cents worth.
Yep I can just imagine looking at a used RV in someone’s backyard or even on a dealers lot and going through punching holes in the wall. Get serious! Journalism in its finest moment, not thinking about what you’re writing just writing.
As said in yesterday’s article about talking, in this case put your brain in gear before engaging your fingers to type the article, common sense. Of course maybe Johnny robot came up with this idea.
Reminds me of a old saying that goes: Paper doesn’t refuse ink: possibly in this case or keystrokes
Sorry, folks. There was an old link inadvertently used in the tip. It’s been updated so it now goes to a noninvasive meter. 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com