Issue 2170
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
“Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.” ―
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Junk Food Day!
On this day in history: 1983 – The world’s lowest temperature in an inhabited location is recorded at Vostok Station, Antarctica, at −89.2 °C (−128.6 °F).
Tip of the Day
Say goodbye to stains! Stain removal tips for RVers
By Janet Groene
RV life is filled with kids, fish, tree sap, grass stains, pollen, pesticides, ketchup, bacon grease, mustard, splashes and splatters. Any of those things can easily end up on your RV’s upholstery, floor coverings, and garments.
First, deal with any stain immediately if possible. Left standing it can soak in, set, dry, and react chemically with fabrics. Obviously, battery acid, dyes such as paints, wood stains or bleach do immediate damage, but don’t be casual about any stain, no matter how harmless it looks.
Ask Dave
Dave Solberg is a leading expert in the RV industry and author of the “RV Handbook.”
What Class B would you buy? How about a B+?
Hey Dave,
What type of Class B RV would you buy? Thanks. —Brenda
Read Dave’s explanation of Class B, B+ and C RVs
In the RV shop with Dustin
About Blue Ox tow bars, the tow bars of choice for RVers
Blue Ox is the tow bar of choice for RVers. They are made with the highest quality materials and craftsmanship, and they are backed by a lifetime warranty.
Blue Ox has been in the towing business since 1925, built on a long tradition of family values and top-quality products. The company is nearly 100 years old, so it is no wonder why so many people use them! It’s more than just getting you on the road to travel, because they have been on the road forever.
TOMORROW: BEHIND THE SCENES, FILMING THE ANGRIEST MAN IN THE WORLD, THE WINNEBAGO MAN!
Today’s guest, RVtravel.com’s Dave Solberg, will discuss what it was like being part of the production crew that filmed the now-infamous and hilarious Winnebago promotional programs with host Jack Rebney. Outtakes from his obscenity-laced scenes were eventually posted to a then-relatively new YouTube, turning the outtakes into one of the very first viral videos. Rebney, who recently died, was dubbed “The Angriest Man in America.” Dave will share what it was like to be on the set that day.
Watch on YouTube • Watch on Facebook
Saturday, July 22, from 8-9 a.m. (Pacific Time)
Video of the day
DIY camper: Brothers build an RV for less than $1,000
By Cheri Sicard
Chay Denne, of the President Chay YouTube channel, teamed up with his brother on a DIY camper project. Their lofty goal? To build a “luxury” micro camper for less than $1,000!
The video below shows the process and results of the creative team’s efforts.
Adults-only and other RV park restrictions. What do you think about these?
It seems that more and more RV parks are restricting usage. Some parks do not permit older RVs. Other parks limit or exclude pets. Still others enforce age restrictions. Why so many limitations? Why now? Read this report from Gail Marsh then weigh in on the issue here.
You may have missed these recent popular stories…
- How absentee RVers are limiting access to boondocking campsites
- When these RVers picked up their RV from the shop, the dealer didn’t even reconnect the brakes… and that’s just the start of it
- Used RV market report: Towables OK, but motorhomes volatile
- Resistance grows against the Bureau of Land Management’s conservation-centric public land rule
Did you miss yesterday’s brand-new Great RV Accessories Newsletter?
If you love gadgets, you’ll surely want to read it here.
Reader poll
Do you have a library card?
Quick Tip
Taming a light too bright
Many RVs come equipped with light fixtures tucked under cabinets, often one or two tucked right above the dinette. They can be handy. They can be annoying. You need some light, but at times it’s just too intense for comfort.
One RVer puzzled over this conundrum and hit on a quick, cheap, and easy solution. He bought a small vinyl shade roller and fitted it to the front of the cabinet. Need bright light? Shade up. Need to dim it a bit? Roll the shade down. See more suggestions from Jeff-Z.com here.
Remove ticks easily from people or pets!
This Tick Twister Remover Set will remove ticks, large and small, without squeezing it, reducing the risk of infection. It does not leave the mouthparts of the tick in the skin. It’s the safest and easiest way to remove ticks and in just a few seconds. Helps prevent Lyme Disease. Keep one of these in your RV. It’s tick season! Learn more or order. And read more about tick prevention here.
On this day last year…
- Tip: BBQ grill mats make grilling easy and cleanup a breeze
- RV Review: Classic Freightliner and car hauler (were) for sale
- Ask Dave: My RV’s flooring is soft. Can I remove the top boards to replace?
- Video: RV self-defense, safety and security tips you NEED to implement now!
- Recipe: Donna’s Double Mustard Pork Chops
Website of the day
BirdWatching
If you’re into birdwatching or just enjoy birds in general, you’ll have fun exploring this everything-bird website. You’ll find bird news, birdwatching gear, locations and travel articles, bird identification and much more. Tweet tweet! (That’s how you say “Have fun exploring!” in bird… we think…)
?? MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY ??
OMG! Do you remember these? We could always see them, but some people couldn’t! Could you?
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
Cheddar Cheese Risotto
by Melanie Young from Gardendale, AL
Risotto is perfect when you want to make a special dish. Adding white wine and Dijon mustard at the beginning of the cooking process adds richness to the risotto. The Arborio rice is cooked al dente and it’s not mushy. Melting cheddar cheese adds to the creaminess. This would make a delicious main course for a special dinner, or be the perfect side for a meal. The trick is to stir constantly and cook the rice on low/medium heat. It’s a process, but risotto is worth it. This is a real winner.
Trivia
The very first book ever sold on Amazon.com was a book called “Fluid Concepts And Creative Analogies: Computer Models Of The Fundamental Mechanisms Of Thought” by Douglas Hofstadter. Back in 1995, computer scientist John Wainwright ordered this book for some “light bedtime reading.” Although Wainwright kept the book and its packaging as a memento of his first Amazon order, the book, to this day, nearly three decades later, still shows up in his order history. (In case you’re curious, here’s the book.)
*What is the name for the last surviving member of a species? You’ll never guess, but yesterday’s trivia tells you!
Tape it to the limit…
Rather than an adhesive, this type of tape fuses to itself. It makes a totally waterproof seal that can be used to repair the insulation on electrical wiring in the field. It has all kinds of other emergency uses advertised, such as a quick fix for a leaking radiator hose, so it certainly deserves a place in your RV toolbox since it’s a multi-tasking piece of equipment that could save your bacon. Learn more or order.
Readers’ Pet of the Day
“Watson loves to travel in our van! He’s not at all spoiled with the constant attention.” —Melissa Caudle
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.
Leave here with a laugh
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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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Speaking of flea tic meds I was introduced to something in NC by the vet and I am all for it. It is flea tic and heartworm meds all in one. Simparico. Excellent stuff and saves you double the money for getting separate meds. Mine are on it and with Maine being tic capital nothing yet. Except one landed on me. Got it off and nothing so far. Which reminds me need to order more.
BTW – I love your newsletters! I subscribed because we’re thinking of getting an RV but waiting for a good 3 year old low mileage that has already had someone else work the bugs out. We’ve rented over the years. Started with an Okanogan Class B in the 90’s and then 21, 23 and 25 ft Class C’s. Retired now so we’ve got more time to use one. Your newsletters helps me understand the whole RV world.
Thanks!
I hate to be the bearer of bad news but Benjamin Franklin never said “Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.” It showed up in someone’s FB post but it doesn’t show up in any of his writings. It sounded too modern to me so I looked it up. Some people think that it’s a variation of a comment by Confucius. Just a bit of trivia for your day.
The “Laugh of the day”, really has me conflicted today, for some reason. My brain is trying to laugh and groan at the same time.
Either works, just so you don’t choke in the process.👍😁 Have a great day, Kelly. 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
Light dimming: I found a dimmer on Amazon for 12v lights. It is small, very effective and gets mounted right beside the light. It is easy to wire, if you are a little bit handy. (Just 2 wires,low voltage so no risk.) With a simple touch contact the light slowly dims to a point you like and you remove your finger to stop at that point. AND it remembers your setting the next time you turn on the light. I don’t recall the price, but it was cheap or I wouldn’t have bought it. 😉
RE: Jeff-Z.com link: A lot of nice trailer mods shown. I have tackled some of the same issues in a whole different manner and did other mods.
There are some great ideas out there to get over, around, through design limitations of our RVs. Would RV Travel be interested in adding a curated section of readers’ reasonably simple modifications? We would need a tools similar to that used elsewhere where we could submit text & photos (although the editor would probably have to properly interleave the two as the current tool only allows for text without paragraph breaks and bunches photos as attachments.)
I know I have several easy and useful mods I’d be happy to supply.
Jim, thanks for the idea. I’ll pass this along to our writers and see if anyone wants to take it on. Appreciate it! –Emily, RVtravel.com
Concerning: On this day in history: 1983 – The world’s lowest temperature in an inhabited location is recorded at Vostok Station, Antarctica, at −89.2 °C (−128.6 °F).
Remember, Vostok is 12,000′ above sea level — with 14,000′ of ice. Been there!
Taking that into account, Siple (might not be the correct spelling) has the record — still.
With the planet warming it will probably hold it forever.