Issue 2149
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
“I cannot teach anybody anything. I can only make them think.” ―
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Onion Rings Day!
On this day in history: 1942: The Pledge of Allegiance is formally adopted by the U.S. Congress.
Tip of the Day
Using ketchup to clean your RV’s BBQ grill, plus other tips to keep it like new
By Gail Marsh
Everyone loves to use it, but very few of us like to clean it. What is it? A BBQ grill. This trusty workhorse helps RVers enjoy yummy burgers, steaks, and hotdogs all season long. And that’s exactly why we all need some tips, tricks, and hacks to easily clean our RV’s BBQ grill.
Clean grills are good grills
Even a top grill master can have trouble cooking on a dirty gas grill. Excess carbon deposits, burned-on food, and grease buildup all can cause a grill to heat unevenly. And no one wants to taste last night’s grilled fish when they bite into today’s veggie shish kabobs.
Experts advise that grill owners thoroughly clean their propane grills at least twice a year. (Clean even more often if you notice grime building up on your grill grates.) The first cleaning should happen before you grill the first burger of the grilling season. If your grill has spent the winter in the RV’s basement, it might have cobwebs, dust, and even mouse droppings inside. Nobody wants that kind of “seasoning” on their meat, so get it cleaned up!
Ask Dave
Dave Solberg is a leading expert in the RV industry and author of the “RV Handbook.”
It’s 89 out and my RV’s air conditioner only “cools” it to 86. Help!
Dear Dave,
My air conditioner is working and blowing cold air but can’t keep up with outside temperatures. Both compressors seem to be working. I just had the Freon checked and that’s good. We are camping now, and the outside temperature got to 89 and the thermostat in the camper said 86. The unit didn’t turn off all day until about 10:00 at night, when the outside temperature dropped. I’ve also changed filters and cleaned the condenser. Any suggestions? —Tim, 2006 Winnebago Adventurer 37
RV Tours
Tour the 2024 Big Buggy travel trailer by Modern Buggy
By Cheri Sicard
The team from Princess Craft RV is here to give us a tour of a unique tiny trailer, the 2024 Big Buggy by Modern Buggy.
The trailer in the video sports an elaborate mountainside scene exterior. I personally kind of like it, but there are lots of other exterior colors and design choices should your taste be more subdued.
The inside appears larger and more roomy than possible in such a small trailer. It’s partly the light-colored décor, but it’s also an unusual floor plan.
Video of the day
RV pet care: 7 OTC medicines that are safe for dogs
By Cheri Sicard
There is nothing so heartbreaking as watching a beloved dog suffer when ill. But sometimes, depending on where your travels take you, it might be difficult to get to a vet. In the video below, Dr. Andrew Jones from the Veterinary Secrets YouTube channel shares seven over-the-counter (OTC) medicines that are safe for dogs.
Even if you are close to a vet, trying an OTC medicine first, if the condition isn’t serious, might even save you an expensive trip to the vet.
Life lessons in cleaning toilets. What years as a work camper have taught me…
By Nanci Dixon
My husband and I have come to the end of our six-year run as work campers (volunteers) at a regional park in Arizona. I have learned more than I thought possible. It has been wonderful, though sometimes trying and definitely hot. It’s been stinky and dirty at times, but I have learned a whole lot during our time as work campers. … Continue reading this very open and honest account.
Reader poll
Do you own your RV outright or make payments?
Quick Tip
High altitude generator woes
When operating your generator at altitudes above 5,000 feet, it may be necessary to make an adjustment to the automatic choke on the generator engine. Learn how to do this before you need to do it. —From Trailers and Fifth Wheels Made Easy.
On this day last year…
- RV Review: 2022 Lance 1995 Travel Trailer—worth it
- Ask Dave: Should vinyl plank flooring in RV be glued down?
- Featured article: RV jacks won’t retract? Try this
- Recipe: Stuffed Green Peppers
You didn’t miss yesterday’s brand-new Full-Time RVer newsletter, did you? We sure hope not! Read the latest issue here.
Website of the day
Travel Montana Now
There’s a whole lot more to Montana than Yellowstone! Check out this website for other things to do in beautiful Montana.
?? MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY ??
You’ll never misplace your sunglasses again! And if you do, who cares?! Click here.
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:
• 20 percent say they never get headaches and can’t remember the last time they had one.
• 40 percent love to dance!
• 35 percent have a current fishing license.
Recent poll: Do you like your first name?
Recipe of the Day
Caprese and Shrimp Cocktail Sandwich
by Hidemi Walsh from Plainfield, IN
Hidemi turned shrimp cocktail into one amazing sandwich! I was expecting the cocktail sauce to have a lot of heat, but it did not. There’s some spice, but it adds to the flavor of the sandwich. Avocado and fresh mozzarella added different textures. The basil/olive oil mixture adds the last pop of flavor. This is delicious!
Trivia
Yesterday’s poll asked you about visiting hot springs and that got us to wondering… How many hot springs are in the United States? According to themanual.com, there are 1,161 known hot springs in the U.S. According to tophotsprings.com, Idaho has 130 hot springs, the most of any state.
*Where’s the “Tower Tree” and what’s so special about it? Find out in yesterday’s trivia.
Readers’ Pets of the Day
“Ranger is always up for play, especially when he hears a squeak from his toys. Cricket loves her stuffed monkey. Together with my husband and me, they love to go on adventures and never meet a stranger.” —Julie Lawson
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.
Test the RV park water before you drink it!
How pure is the water at the RV park you just entered? Is it pure enough to drink or full of contaminants? This TDS meter provides an inexpensive and convenient way to instantly check your overall water quality. Don’t risk drinking bad water! Use this hand-held device to check the condition of your water filter, too. Every RVer should have one of these! Learn more or order.
Leave here with a laugh
Wait… Does the RV industry do the same thing? So is that the problem?!
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.
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Contact information
Editor: Emily Woodbury
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Be extremely careful with OTC and dogs. Some of the OTC has a hidden fake sugar in it that cause a dog to go into completely system failure. You can do OTC but I hate to say it, if you love your furry friend? Take them to the vet by keeping complete records with you. Otherwise playing doctor can cost you more then you want to spend. I did what the docs have told me to do and it wasn’t enough and well, even with age he died. The docs said it was not my fault because I did everything I was told and trained to do. I miss him terribly and well with my new addition wondering if his spirit is in her. So IMO when in doubt take the furry friend to a vet. Most times you can find a humane society somewhere or animal emergency. I know where the humane society is and where animal emergency is. So with my advice? Take it with a grain of salt. IMO not yours.
Xylitol.
Xylitol EXACTLY!
Thanks, Denny and SherKen. Here’s a link from the FDA regarding Xylitol and dogs: https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/paws-xylitol-its-dangerous-dogs Have a great day. 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
We were going to say…Always check with your Trusted Furbaby’s Doctor first!
Everything you said is correct with us! We are going to see our Furbaby’s Doctor soon and I will share this them. We follow instructions from our Vet. Sometimes I wish our Furbaby’s Doctor was our MD. FINAL THOUGHT: We see our Veterinarian on a regular basis. We purposely have our Vaccinations & Rattlesnake Vaccine timed before our normal travels spread throughout the year. We ALWAYS have a Wellness Visit prior to travel and gladly pay. Our Veterinarian always ask where we are going and how long. Then if he or his colleagues know something they share. We are so lucky to have these doctors.
To keep vaccination costs down I was told by a rescue and was surprised by this but Tractor Supply on a monthly basis has low cost vaccines and well checks if you are having financial issues. I have three and after doing the math keep records and unless it is a major health issue I take them there. Parvo is over due and taking them in a week to get theirs. Next year is rabies. O fun. So yeah a rescue told me they send a lot of their pet parents there. Go figure.
About Socrates, it depends on your definition of “teach”. If it’s not possible to teach, why bother with schools or any classes? Animals can be taught. But there is a distinction between knowledge acquisition and learning how to think or discern how to apply knowledge effectively. In our society, it is obvious that knowing facts doesn’t guarantee the ability to apply such knowledge wisely. But if you can’t teach, your students are unlikely to learn to think.
That’s profound, and true.🤔 Thanks, CeeCee. Have a great day. 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
Ranger and Cricket look like a lot of love with some mischief for good measure.
I tried vacuuming the evap coil didn’t do much so flushed with a garden hose and sprayed the built up of junk out. It helped clear the coils for the air to again circulate and cool.
You need more than an automatic choke adjustment for high altitude generator operation. Adjusting the choke will make it run richer, at altitude you need less gas not more.
We live at 5,000 feet. All of my generators (three) work fine, and continue to work as we go ‘uphill’ from here. However, come winter and cold weather they are a bear to start. I’m always hoping if an emergency happens at home, it happens in the summer . . . 😉
Our on-board 7kw Onan genset ran flawlessly at 10,000. in the Tetons, without any adjustments from our 900′ msl. We used it two or three times a day as we didn’t have hookups. Also, had no problems with the propane system either. (Snowed for a few hours in June a few yrs ago. We went west to get away from the ND snow!)
‘Leave here with a laugh’ was close to reality for us. The builder of our house failed to cut holes when installing the soffit vent covers,
Similar for us. The builder had drilled 3” holes with a hole saw, and covered them with big vent covers. No wonder the attic was so hot in summer!
Same here.
Scum bag builders. They should live in the crap they build.
Don’t hold back, Jesse.🤣 Have a good afternoon/evening. 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com