Issue 2154
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.
Today’s thought
“A purpose of human life, no matter who is controlling it, is to love whoever is around to be loved.” ―
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Waffle Iron Day! (This is by far our favorite waffle iron.)
On this day in history: 1938 – Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado, and Olympic National Park, Washington, are founded.
Tip of the Day
Readers say these are the worst types of roads to drive in America. We offer tips
By Nanci Dixon
Awhile ago we asked our readers “What kind of roads do you dread driving down the most?” Of those who voted in our poll, the highest percentage answered that they dread driving down icy/snowy roads the most, followed by city/urban roads, windy (twisty) roads through mountains, dirt roads and, finally, flat boring roads. We weren’t surprised that most people dislike icy and snowy roads the most – winter driving, particularly driving on ice or snow, can white-knuckle even the calmest driver. Below, our readers discuss the worst types of roads to drive in America.
Ask Dave
Dave Solberg is a leading expert in the RV industry and author of the “RV Handbook.”
RV’s water heater doesn’t get water hot on LP but does on 120 volts. Why?
Dear Dave,
My Suburban water heater (16 gallons) works, but when it uses propane, the hot water isn’t nearly as hot as it is when heated using 120 volts. Is there a way to increase the water temperature when using propane? Thank you in advance. —Terry, 2018 Arctic Fox 29-5T
Take an extra 10% off a GhostBed luxury RV mattress!
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RV Tours
A modern classic: Riverside RV Retro 171DRD travel trailer tour
By Cheri Sicard
Josh the RV Nerd is back to give us a tour of a travel trailer that might look retro but is actually brand-new, the Riverside RV Retro 171DRD.
What is retro about this RV, and what I like most about it, is its simplicity. No slides. No fancy doodads. It’s just a simple, basic trailer that will serve a couple’s camping needs well.
Video of the day
Top 5 things to do in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park
By Cheri Sicard
Its close proximity to multiple towns makes the Great Smoky Mountains National Park the most visited U.S. National Park. But don’t let the crowds scare you off. There are lots of things to do in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park year-round, such as hiking through the luscious forests, splashing in the waterfalls, or standing at the edge of the most spectacular overlooks on the East Coast.
Two incredible vintage Airstreams that were NOT made of aluminum
By Paul Lacitinola, Vintage Camper Trailers Magazine
The admiration of all things vintage is the founding principle of The Gulley Museum Collection. The owners, David and Mary Gulley, collect everything from travel trailers to automobiles and all sorts of interesting stuff in between. They have always believed in preserving the originality of their acquired pieces. Their appreciation for vintage trailers began with vintage Airstreams many years ago. Continue reading.
Reader poll
Do you or your partner use a sleep apnea (CPAP) machine?
Quick Tip
Trailer towing? Remember “gross weight” is more than just the trailer
Your pickup or other tow vehicle has set limits as to how much weight it can handle. Typically the number to watch for is gross combined weight rating or gross combination weight rating (GCWR). That’s not limited to the weight of the tow vehicle, the trailer, and the stuff you’ve “stuffed” in the trailer. It also includes passengers and all that stuff you’ve got in the truck bed. It’s always a good idea to run your tow vehicle and trailer “over the scales” to ensure you’re not overloaded!
On this day last year…
- Tip: Tips for maintaining RV storage compartment hinges, locks and seals
- RV Review: 2022 Coachmen Apex Nano 186BH travel trailer—a good value
- Ask Dave: Why is there no rear engine gas pusher Class A?
- Featured article: Clear2O water filtration system: Clean water, compact size
- Recipe: Sopaipillas (Mexican Dessert)
Website of the day
Mesa Verde National Park Itinerary
Since today is the day Mesa Verde National Park was founded, we liked the idea of featuring this perfect 3-day Itinerary for the park and surrounding areas. Even if you don’t follow it exactly, it still has great info and not-to-miss sights.
?? MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY ??
The future is here. We repeat: The future IS HERE! This is way cool. Make sure you read the description so you understand all this can do! Amazing!
And the Survey Says…
We’ve polled RVtravel.com readers more than 2,500 times in recent years. Here are a few things we’ve learned about them:
• 15 percent have won a sports trophy at least once in their life, and 40 percent have won more than one!
• 51 percent say they’d choose to stay in an RV park with full hookups rather than a scenic, primitive campground
• 56 percent say they enjoy driving and could do it all day!
Recent poll: Have you formed long-lasting relationships through RVing?
Recipe of the Day
Bacon Onion Tomato Pie
by Lolly St John from Concord, CA
If you grew up in the South, you most likely have had a version of tomato pie in the summer. This bacon onion tomato pie is full of fresh, sweet tomatoes. Onions in the filling and green onions sprinkled on top add a nice flavor. Bacon mixed with cheese and mayonnaise add the perfect savory flavor to the pie. A crushed cracker topping is buttery and adds a little crunch. Sweet, smoky, and savory, the flavors remind us of a BLT. A delicious pie to use summer tomatoes.
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Trivia
49 feet beneath Paris’ famous Louvre Museum, you’ll find a secret laboratory. Well, it’s not so secret now that you know about it… The laboratory contains a particle accelerator known as The Accélérateur Grand Louvre d’analyse élémentaire, the only particle accelerator in the world whose use is devoted to the analysis of cultural artifacts. The researchers use the machine to analyze the material content of artifacts of items within the Louvre. This helps to accurately assess their composition and verify their authenticity.
*Where (location-wise, not body-wise) are you most likely to get bit by a tick? Yesterday’s trivia tells you. You will be surprised!
Readers’ Pet of the Day
“Rylie is a five-year-old Golden who loves to be outdoors especially when we are camping. This pic shows her waiting for the rain to stop.” —Glenn Halpin
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.
Every driver needs to keep this nearby in case of emergency
This little gadget, less than $9, could save your life. This emergency keychain can be used in case of emergency situations such as vehicle rollover, electrical system failure, car fire, floods, sinking and more. The razor-sharp seatbelt cutter will free you within seconds, and the tempered glass window breaker will easily break your vehicle windows. Keep this where you can reach it while you’re driving. At all times.
Leave here with a laugh
Have you ever noticed that bread is a lot like the sun? It rises in the yeast and sets in the waist.
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.
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Heading north annually after wintering in southern NM, first stop was always Ute Mountain Tribal Park. The RV park harbored us for usually a week: good security, visits to Mesa Verde, morning view of Sleeping Ute Mtn., dog walks on the country roads behind the RV park, fuel at their gas station, and at least one meal at the casino restaurant…lovely way to end the winter!
I’m much unhappily with the discourtious drivers. I’m glad that my Class C can stop on a Honda. 9 tons wins every time.
Today I celebrate National Waffle Iron Day… Thanks to this wonderful invention, I will never be subjected to the embarrassment of serving guests wrinkled waffles…
🤣 Good one, C.W.! Thanks, and have a great day. 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
Great laugh time today
If there is anything to ask about Mesa Verde it is me. Why? Because it was on my mothers bucket list and I made sure it was completed. In 2018 she wanted to see Bryce Canyon Escalante and Mesa Verde. So I planned a huge trip from Michigan to Colordo to Utah to AZ and to Mesa Verde in 2019.. After this trip 9 months later she died. So IMO? Once you complete your bucket list lets hope you live long enough to remember it years later. Great trip. She died remembering how much fun she had. So thanks for the memories. Pass the kleenix please.
Thank you, Emily!