Issue 2182
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
“Expose yourself to your deepest fear; after that, fear has no power, and the fear of freedom shrinks and vanishes. You are free.” ―Jim Morrison
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Sneak Some Zucchini Onto Your Neighbor’s Porch Day! (Nope, we’re not kidding! If you have zucchini in your garden, you’ll understand.)
On this day in history: 1908 – Wilbur Wright makes his first flight at a racecourse at Le Mans, France. It is the Wright Brothers’ first public flight.
Tip of the Day
These small insect screens keep wasps and bees from colonizing your RV
If you have lived or vacationed in the Deep South, at some point you’ve likely encountered some pretty wicked wasps and bees. It doesn’t take long for a scout wasp to find that protected crevice, exhaust vent, drain opening or closed bay in your RV to make a nest.
Ask Dave
Dave Solberg is a leading expert in the RV industry and author of the “RV Handbook.”
Can lithium batteries start my RV’s onboard generator?
Dear Dave,
I just read your article about dead batteries not starting an Onan 6500 diesel generator. You said you replaced them with TWO lithium batteries. I have an Onan 5500 LP generator and the spec calls for batteries that can supply 440 CCA [Cold Cranking Amps] to start the generator. I have read articles where people have replaced their RV’s batteries with lithium batteries, and they are not able to start a generator. What capacity lithium batteries did you use to start the 6500 diesel generator? What would you recommend for a 5500 LP generator? I don’t want to install lithium and find out they can’t start the generator! Thanks. —Charles, 2015 Cardinal 5th wheel
RV Tours
Tour the Forest River Salem 29VIEW: Travel trailer with a hidden room!
By Cheri Sicard
The team from Big Truck Big RV, one of our reader’s favorite RV YouTube channels, gives us a tour of a travel trailer with a most unique floor plan, the Salem 29VIEW.
This is a large trailer so you should plan to tow it, at minimum, with a 3/4-ton truck.
This trailer holds a secret that I have never seen in any other RV…
Video of the day
6 important things to know about RV water hookups
By Cheri Sicard
The informative video about RV water hookups, below, comes to us from Duane, a certified RV inspector from the RV Maintenance and Care YouTube channel.
I am not sure why his title says there are five RV water hookup tips, as I counted six. Nonetheless, Duane says the tips will help ensure that your RV water connection is as good as it can be.
Gorgeous 1962 Streamline Countess trailer has vintage style but modern amenities
This 1962 Streamline Countess trailer is one of a fleet of restored vintage trailers or “mobile mansions” in the backyard of Craig and Diana Thomas. It was designed and built by the owners. The restoration pays respect to its mid-century design and incorporates modern amenities. This truly is gorgeous!
Reader poll
Do you talk to yourself?
You can tell us here; we won’t tell anyone
Headed to Quartzsite this winter? Find out where to stay for free on the vast public lands there, and RV parks in the town — plus what’s going on, and more on the Facebook group Quartzsite RVer.
Quick Tip
Simple RV maintenance tips: lube, tighten, and clean
Lubrication — A little lube goes a long way. Keep all the hinges, locks, sliders and, basically, anything that moves well-lubricated. I find the best lube to keep on hand is a dry silicone type. Works well in almost all applications and resists attracting dirt.
Tighten – Our RV is basically a house on wheels and exposed to minor earthquakes during every trip. Things are going to come loose. Every so often grab a screwdriver and a wrench and give everything a re-tightening. This little preventive maintenance can save you big-time. Pay special attention to items attached to the outside that may fly off during transit and may be safety risks, i.e., ladder rungs.
Clean it — Mechanically everything works better when clean, because dirt and grit cause wear. A good coat of quality wax and UV protectants will keep the rig looking sweet and extend the life of many of the materials. Thanks to loveyourrv.com.
SAVE MONEY!
Don’t toss away good batteries!
Most RVers rely on battery-powered devices — flashlights, radios or cameras. But sometimes we can’t tell how much life a battery has LEFT so we toss it. This inexpensive tester will alert you in an instant to a battery’s condition, saving you money from tossing ones with plenty of remaining life! Works on AA, AAA, C, D, 9V and button-type batteries. Learn more or order.
On this day last year…
- Tip: 7 unusual uses for aspirin as you RV
- RV Review: Northwood Arctic Fox North Fork 22G—no slide
- Ask Dave: What water pressure should I have at the campground?
- RV Electricity: Important! Don’t take shelter under a tree during a storm
- Video: 10 odd but awesome RV tools your rig needs
- Featured article: The Wild Side: Getting closer to critters is easy for RV travelers
- Recipe: Good Ol’ Goulash
Website of the day
OpenTable
OpenTable is the largest restaurant reservation website in the country, so there’s a good chance you already know about it. But here’s a trick you might not know: At the top, enter your desired dining date and time, how many people are in your party, and location, and every restaurant in your area with an available reservation will pop up. Now that’s helpful!
?? MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY ??
You know how you have that one kitchen drawer filled with… Well, we can’t tell you or we’d give it away. But this will make that drawer look MUCH nicer. We promise.
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:
• If offered rattlesnake as an appetizer, 41 percent say they would definitely eat it.
• 39 percent said they would still eat their favorite comfort food even if it shortened their life by one year.
• 71 percent own a lawnmower.
Recent poll: How does macaroni & cheese rate on your list of comfort foods?
Recipe of the Day
Best Ever Banana Pudding
by Krys Furniss from Chillicothe, OH
This is definitely not your more traditional Southern banana pudding (with meringue) but it’s just as good. It has all the flavors – banana, creamy custard, and vanilla wafers. But, in this version, cream cheese is whipped into the pudding and whipped cream. It changes the filling texture slightly and adds a hint of tang that offsets all the sweetness. Thick, creamy, and full of banana flavor, this banana pudding is very easy to make and quite delicious.
Trivia
If you’ve ever flown on an airplane, you probably know that there’s a small square or rectangle piece of cloth on the headrest right where your head, well, rests. Do you know what it’s called? During the Victorian and Edwardian eras, it was popular for men to groom their hair with oil, typically palm or coconut oil. The oil blends were known as “macassar oil” due to the widespread belief that the ingredients were purchased from the port of Makassar in Indonesia. The oil was so thick on men’s hair that it would bleed off and onto the upholstery of chairs, which led to the housewives covering the arms and backs of the chairs with a washable cloth. From that day forward, those little cloths, still to this day on the back of airplane seats, are known as antimacassar cloths.
Readers’ Pet of the Day
“George (Basset Hound/Pittie mix) is afraid of everything, but he gets so excited when the camper is hooked up to the truck! Here he is enjoying his new outdoor bed at the Asheville East KOA.” —Brianna McGraw
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.
Groove gap cleaning tool keeps bugs, dirt and grime out of windows and doors
This small, handheld groove gap cleaner cleans windows, sliding doors, shower door tracks, oven and sink gaps and more. This two-part gadget has a scraper, for scraping up debris and dirt, and a brush, for brushing it away! The elevated handle has finger grips for an easy hold. If it gets dirty, wash it with soap and water and it’s just like new. Learn more or order.
Leave here with a laugh
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.
Pitties get a bad rap. My girl is a coward like George. He’s adorable
I always talk to myself. How else am I going to get a response if no one is listening.
Really nice articles today with a great laugh at the end!! Thanks all..
Years ago we visited the location of the Wright brothers flight at Kitty Hawk. All I recall is a monument to the occasion and some light rails almost completely buried in the sand. I believe the rails were the runway. The plane now hangs in the Smithsonian as I recall.
Thank you, Emily!
National Pickleball Day 8-8
On this day in history: 1908 – Wilbur Wright makes his first flight at a racecourse at Le Mans, France. It is the Wright Brothers’ first public flight.
I thought their first flights were at Kitty Hawk, NC???
Me too. How did the plane get there?
Crates..broken and in need of rebuilding. Wright suspected French customs of damaging the Flyer. May 08 Kitty Hawk…Aug 08 LeMans…for introduction to the world…beyond the US
Kitty Hawk was not a ‘public’ event, but test that the brothers conducted, and it worked. The French event was ‘public’ as people were invited to come see a man fly.
Months difference…May 1908 Kitty Hawk then August 1908 in LeMans…the “world debut ” and exhibition of their flying machine. It was sent to France in crates to be reassembled on sight…it arrived in pieces (customs suspected of damaging) so Wilbur had to rebuild it himself….the story goes on but I won’t bore you.
I think what they mean is it was their first flight AT LE MANS FRANCE.
Clearly, both Wright brothers flew at Kitty Hawk on December 17, 1903 and Wilbur had the longest flight.
The National Park Service website has a nice summary where it states:
“The brothers took turns flying three more times that day, getting a feel for the controls and increasing their distance with each flight. Wilbur’s second flight – the fourth and last of the day – was an impressive 852 feet in 59 seconds.”
1903 The First Flight – Wright Brothers1899 Wilbur and Orville Wright had been scientifically experimenting with the concepts of flightIt was Kitty Hawk which gives North Carolina the right to say first in flight
We used to put zucchini on the porch of one of our neighbors many years ago. It was an annual trick from our garden. The zucchini grew so big they were reminiscent of the movie The Invasion of the Body Snatchers!