Issue 2124
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
“I knew when I met you an adventure was going to happen.” ―
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is No Dirty Dishes Day!
On this day in history: 1953 – Jackie Cochran becomes the first woman to break the sound barrier.
Tip of the Day
Easy tip for draining fresh water tank: Add a hose end!
By Nanci Dixon
Here’s an easy tip for draining the fresh water tank: Add a hose end!
As full-time RVers staying in different RV parks across the country, we have wondered where to dump fresh water when it is not so fresh and the system needs sanitizing.
Ask Dave
Dave Solberg is a leading expert in the RV industry and author of the “RV Handbook.”
How do I keep mice out of my RV?
Dear Dave,
What do you use to keep mice out of a camper, especially while storing it outside in the winter? —Kenneth, 2021 Keystone
Stop RV Repair Bills from Ruining Your 2026 Travels
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RV Video Tour
Lance 650 short bed truck camper: Small space, but smart bathroom
By Cheri Sicard
Looking for a full-featured truck camper that can fit in a short bed? The Lance 650 might be what you need.
There’s a lot to like about this small camper including some nice small touches like the pull-down shade on the back door or the built-in toilet paper cover in the wet bath.
Video of the day
9 tips for better RV travel days
By Cheri Sicard
Travel days in your RV can be hectic and stress filled. The team from Today is Someday produced a video of practical actionable tips to make RV travel days easier.
In the video, the team had a 1,200-mile trip ahead of them, so what better time to focus on RV travel day tips? In addition to the tips in the video, they recommend working off a checklist so you don’t forget things.
Best boondocking RV coffee makers—no hookups required
Here’s your ultimate guide to boondocking RV coffee makers and hookup-free gourmet coffee-making accessories. Boondocking can provide you with some out-of-this-world scenery that those in RV parks will sadly never experience. One of the times it is most apparent is when you first open your RV door in the morning. Why not pair those breathtaking views with equally impressive morning coffee? You can! Find out how here.
Reader poll
How many animals travel with you on most of your RV trips?
Quick Tip
Scheduled roof maintenance pays dividends
Having a schedule of physically inspecting your RV roof every six months is a good idea. Left unrepaired, roof tears or bad sealant around roof openings can let water get through, right down to that chintzy particle board or other roof substrate. Left long enough, water can infiltrate the sidewalls. Mold, mildew, and huge repair expenses are the only outcome. Get up there and clean the roof with mild soap and water. Some RVers apply a protectant, too. Check all the seals around vents, antennas, and end-caps.
On this day last year…
- RV Review: Coachmen Freedom Express Select 20SE, a no-slide travel trailer
- Ask Dave: One truck camper jack is weaker and slower than others
- Featured article: RVing the U.S. Civil Rights Trail: Top destinations
- Recipe: Chicken Apple Sausage One-Pot Dish
Website of the day
The best glamping in the USA
You can’t deny it… you’d totally trade your RV in for a night to stay at one of these ultra-luxe glamping locations, wouldn’t you? (For one night? We would!)
?? MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY ??
Spot the difference! Okay, now spot the differience. No, really, spot the diffirence… Did you?
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:
• When traveling to a new place, the first thing most voters (45 percent) like to do is “plop down and relax a while.” The next most popular answer was going for a walk, hike or bike ride to see the landscape, followed by going to a historical site, museum, or taking a local tour.
• 26 percent have moved from a campsite because of an undesirable neighbor.
• 56 percent have never eaten caviar.
Recent poll: What most often determines where you travel in your RV?
Recipe of the Day
Coffee Baked Beans
by Suzanne Gerrety from Jacksonville, FL
Looking for a new baked beans recipe for the summer? These baked beans are really simple to make, perfectly baked, and have the right balance of flavors. They filled the Test Kitchen with the wonderful aroma that reminded us of a summer cookout. The bacon not only adds texture but a savoriness that mixes with the sweet. Since these beans are cooked uncovered, everything gets caramelized and the beans are not mush. The quantity is perfect if you’re serving a family of four. If preparing for a cookout, or you have hungry teenagers in the house, double the recipe.
Trivia
Alligators are smarter than you think! Researchers studying both alligators and crocodiles have discovered that the reptiles use sticks during nesting season as a lure for their prey. They were observed balancing bird-tempting sticks on their snouts, and then snatching up and grabbing a bird as it tries to swipe the stick for its nest. They even do it in the water with floating sticks! Impressive, huh?
*If you have prosopagnosia, what do you have? See if you can guess, then find the answer in yesterday’s trivia.
Readers’ Pet of the Day
“Meeko is the 10th generation of this bloodline. We’ve had the bloodline for over 50 years. At 15 months old she’s a camping novice but is quickly adapting.” —Wayne Braxton
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
What does a tapeworm have in common with the Eiffel Tower?
They’re both Paris sites.
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Contact information
Editor: Emily Woodbury
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Editorial (all but news): editor@rvtravel.com
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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 a questIon….what is a comfortable lightweight mattress for a small travel trailer
I own a Sportsmen by KZ. I know everyone has different comfort levels, but which particular one seems to be very comfortable.
Thank you, Jan Blaes
That depends on your age and what you consider comfortable. As octogenarians we need very comfortable mattresses, we have not found any RV mattress comfortable. Plus you need to find out if you have a std.size or short queen 76” long versus 80”. You should try many before you buy, I do know the mattresses that comes standard are not worth the effort it takes to throw it out. Manufacturers should allow you a credit to buy your own instead of wasting their $29.95 money on the ones they equip in RVs.
Do you really think they would spend $30.
Funny!
User weight(s) and mattress size have a lot to do with the best choice. We choose pocket coil base with a pillow top as having the best support. However, for one small travel trailer that used a standard size mattress (most RV beds are shorter than standard size beds) we chose to put a carpet remnant down (to reduce mattress noise) with an inflatable mattress above and a pillow top protector between us and the mattress. Even a high quality air mattress is much less expensive and much lighter than other mattresses and easily deflated to get at storage below the bed.
We also have KZ Sportsmen. The mattress is firm and supportive, but the top is hard and uncomfortable. We added a 2 inch foam cooling mattress topper. We used a regular queen size topper and just cut the length to fit.
We just brought our sleep number along. It’s a standard queen but when the slide comes in it gets a bit shorter. You can’t beat the adjustability. Just remember to lower the number when heading to higher altitudes.
Glamping. Keep it! I bought a camper for a reason though sometimes can be aggravated at a campsite with other campers. I came to camp not spend 100s 1000s and still have bugs and all.
Where’s the zero option on today’s poll?
Sorry I gave up tent camping with my discharge from the Marines in 1969 and haven’t been in a tent since no matter if it glamorous of not that any I slept in at that time would even be slightly glamorous. Lol
My husband is the only animal I have🤣. As for moving to another spot, many won’t let you do that and if they do, it’s most likely a worse spot or a worse neighbor.
“You can’t deny it… you’d totally trade your RV in for a night to stay at one of these ultra-luxe glamping locations, wouldn’t you? (For one night? We would!)”
Answer: Not a chance!!!
I’m surprised to even see RVTravel mention ditching one’s RV for a “glamp ground!”
I LOVE my RV (I’ve been a fulltimer for 13 years) But those Glamping sites look wonderful! I would definitely stay in one!
Like the Water hose idea when dumping excess unused stale water ETC reasons.
Coffee, have you ever heard of Fabulous Cowboy Coffee? We’d take that over any fancy coffee making machines and hand-pressed.
Give us our Starbucks Instant coffee with hot boiling water while in our trailer. (We don’t even drink Starbucks in their stores). Brew our coffee at home in our sweet Black&Decker electric coffeemaker.
Life in an RV for us is different than at home. Perhaps those of you who are FULLTIME would enjoy the coffee barista way. It’s a choice of taste and time. Happy Safe Travels CHEERS!
Coffee Lovers Unite. Thanks for the Starbucks instant coffee recommendation. I’ll be tracking some down today and give it try. I too will not be putting a milk frother or French press onboard. Cheers.
No matter how fancy, I am no longer up to spending a night in a tent of any kind. Been there, done that, over with that. Just tuck me into a dark, cozy Class B.
That wiener dog , I hope is better than ours was. Meanest SOB I’ve ever seen. He’d bite anything anytime anywhere
I read today’s funny to DW and she gave me a dirty look. 😉 😎
No, no interest in glamping as it is presented on that web site. Besides, my cousin, who travels in a 25′ travel trailer, took one look inside our 2022 Newmar New Aire and said that we “glamp.” I say we “travel.”.