Issue 2144
Welcome to RV Travel’s Daily Tips Newsletter, where you’ll find helpful RV-related tips from the pros, travel advice, RV videos, product reviews and more. Please tell your friends about us.
Page Contents
Today’s thought
“Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy.”—Thich Nhat Hanh
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is Nature Photography Day!
On this day in history: 1844 – Charles Goodyear receives a patent for vulcanization, a process to strengthen rubber.
Tip of the Day
The best ways to make use of a toy hauler’s “garage” space
People with toy hauler RVs have too much fun! I’ve been looking into the different ways folks are transforming these special “garage” spaces, and Wow! Here are just a few of my favorites.
Kids’ room
One enterprising young couple decided to transform their toy hauler garage into a bunk room for their children. By positioning the bunks on one side of the space, there’s still room for toys and a play area opposite the bunks. As for clothes storage, the kids each have their own bins that are stored under the bottom bunk. Even the littlest child has learned how to access his clothes bin and is proud to be a “big boy.”
Workout gym
A single guy traveling for work has transformed his “garage” into a personal workout gym. He built shelves to hold his weights, exercise bands, and a workout mat. His treadmill easily fits in the space, and he can watch TV while working up a sweat. What does he like best? “There’s still plenty of room for my motorcycle when it’s time to move on.”
Continue reading these great ideas
Ask Dave
Dave Solberg is a leading expert in the RV industry and author of the “RV Handbook.”
Do’s and don’ts when replacing RV batteries
Dear Dave,
We’re beginning our 5th year full-timing in our Vilano. I suspect we may soon need to replace our two 12-volt batteries. I would like to know what to look for in choosing replacement batteries. I’d also like to know the correct procedure to remove the old batteries and install the new ones, including the do’s and don’ts and things to watch out for. Thanks. —Bob, 2018 Vanleigh Vilano 325RL
RV Tour
Tour the 2022 Dutchmen Voltage 4225 Toy Hauler Fifth Wheel
By Cheri Sicard
If you are looking for a LARGE, comfortable fifth wheel RV that’s also a toy hauler, join the team from Big Truck Big RV (one of our readers’ FAVORITE RV YouTube channels) for a look at Dutchmen’s massive Voltage 4225 toy hauler.
As I write this post, the video is only 8 days old and BTBRV wanted to feature it because it is a 2022 model being offered at closeout savings. In fact, the price of this well-built luxury RV is lower today than it was pre-COVID.
Video of the day
How to choose a watermelon: Three things to look for in perfect melons
By Cheri Sicard
Summer’s favorite fruit—ripe, juicy watermelon—is incredible when it’s good. The problem is, it’s pretty bland and boring when it’s not. Have you wondered how to choose a watermelon? A perfect watermelon that will deliver that sweet, juicy, flavorful, magical, summer fruit experience? A watermelon worthy of a centerpiece on your summer buffet? The folks from Food Chain TV are here to help.
Finding little pieces of true, old-school Americana soul
By Gail Marsh
It was like jumping into a time machine set for the 1950s. While winter traveling in our RV, my husband and I learned that a county rodeo was scheduled for Saturday night. A rodeo? We’re in! We extended our stay in southwestern Florida for a bit longer. And I’m so happy we did! Find out why in this heartwarming story.
Reader poll
Do you suffer from altitude sickness when traveling at high elevations?
Quick Tip
Take care of awnings when it rains
RVer Christy has an electrically operated RV awning. She cautiously loosens the handle on one end of the awning to lower an arm to tilt the awning when rain threatens. After that, she sticks a piece of painter’s masking tape over the switch as a reminder not to roll in the awning until she’s readjusted the awning arm. Thanks, Christy!
?? MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY ??
Here he is, your perfect man! Show him off at your next party. Your friends will be impressed.
On this day last year…
- RV Review: 2022 Forest River Salem Hemisphere Hyper-Lyte 29XBHL
- Ask Dave: Where can I find replacement dump valves for my ’87 Itasca?
- Featured article: “The Long Long Trailer”—An enjoyable must-watch movie!
- Recipe: Strawberry and Bacon Salad
Website of the day
The 10 Most Unique Places To Go Kayaking in the U.S.
If you have room in your RV for a kayak, we suggest you have one! Kayaking is a great way to see places you wouldn’t normally get to see. Check out these unique spots! (And if you don’t have a space for a kayak, what about an inflatable one? They’re great!)
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:
• 56 percent own a record player and use it sometimes or often.
• Out of a list of options, the highest number of voters, 33 percent, said American cuisine was their favorite, followed by Mexican (25 percent), Italian (20 percent) and Chinese (9 percent).
• When washing their hands, 60 percent say they first wet their hands before adding soap.
Recent poll: If you’re making RV payments, how much are they per month?
Recipe of the Day
Crock Pot Cheeseburger Mac
by Leena Corral from La Mirada, CA
This is an easy dinner that moms and kids will love. It’s cheesy, meaty and full of flavor. The kids will love the creamy, hearty meal and mom will love how easy it is to make. Once everything is in the Crock Pot, you only have to give it an occasional stir while it’s cooking, fold in cooked macaroni and, voila, dinner is ready.
Trivia
The terms “uppercase” and “lowercase” come from shelving. Back when printed material had to be handset by a printer, the letters were arranged by the frequency in which they were used. The infrequently used capital letters went in the “upper case,” usually a slanted shelf above the main work area, and the frequently used uncapitalized letters went in the “lower case,” an easily accessible shelf closer to the workstation.
*Where in the country can you find the country’s only upside-down stoplight? And why is it upside-down? Find out in yesterday’s trivia.
Readers’ Pet of the Day
“Cooper keeping on eye on the deer in the next campsite at Corpus Christi State Park. He loves to watch from the dash of our moho.” —Caren Kelly
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!
• RVing with Dogs group on Facebook. You’ll love it.
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
How do you know when a pun has matured?
When it is full groan.
Thanks for sending, Ray M.!
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.
If you shop at Amazon.com we’d appreciate you using this link. We get an itty bitty commission if you buy something, but they add up and help us pay our bills (most importantly our hard-working writers!).
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.
Mystery Product. The Perfect Man will quickly melt away, but I am still here.
You win, Kelly!👍 Have a good night. 😀 –Diane
Five years ago we visited Machu Picchu (7900 feet). To combat high altitude sickness, our guide recommended to drink at least 1liter of water starting the day before the trip. No one on the group suffered high altitude sickness.
For the last few years, I have been getting this newsletter in my email every morning, (one of three I read, or at least skim through every morning) but for the last ten days or so it’s been missing, even after trying to re-subscribe. Suggestions, anyone?
Sorry, Steve. I’m checking on this with someone who might know what’s going on. I checked in the records and it shows everything has been sent to you, but that you haven’t opened them. (Duh. Kinda difficult if you don’t receive them.🤔) Maybe you unintentionally set a new control which blocks them, or puts them into Spam or something? Hopefully we can you back up and running soon. Take care. 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
Steve, Diane is right, our emails are being delivered to you just fine. Please check your spam folder (if you accidentally marked them as spam, they’ll be in there). If they’re in spam, mark them as not spam and they’ll start coming to your inbox again. Please email me at editor@rvtravel.com if you continue to have problems. Thank you! –Emily
I’ve had that happen with my Hotmail acount. Couldn’t resolve it so I switched to a Gmail account.
Our toy hauler garage is a workshop where my husband fixes what needs to be and of course where my stackable washer and dryer are.
I’ve been to the top of Mount Washington and Pike’s Peak. Both times I felt a little
light headed but not sick.
The funny was a real funny. I knew it was coming and it did not fail.
Painter’s tape is your friend. We use a small piece to block the led glow on our smoke detector. Amazing how bright it is in the middle of the night.
Sometimes the glow is too bright and shows through the tape. I found these black out dots on Amazon! There’s various sizes and shapes and work the best! https://www.amazon.com/FLANCCI-Blocking-Stickers-Dimming-Blackout/dp/B09DY1ZHKS/ref=sr_1_5?crid=2AOCZOU8RL90H&keywords=Blackout+dots&qid=1686833277&sprefix=blackout+dots%2Caps%2C219&sr=8-5
I just put fingernail polish on the tape.