Issue 2213
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’ve got the guts to die. What I want to know is, have you got the guts to live?” ―
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National String Cheese Day!
On this day in history: 1870 – Old Faithful Geyser is observed and named by Henry D. Washburn.
Tip of the Day
Simple hacks and tricks I’ve discovered that make RVing easier than ever!
By Gail Marsh
The summer camping season is drawing to a close. For the past several months, I’ve compiled a list of hacks and tricks to make RVing easier than ever. Where did I discover these hacks and tips? In RV campgrounds we visited this season, of course. I figure that if actual RVers employ these ideas, they are well worth further investigation. I sincerely hope that you’ll find a useful tip or two from the following list.
Continue reading these great tips
Ask Dave
Dave Solberg is a leading expert in the RV industry and author of the “RV Handbook.”
Trail of Confusion: Navigating the crossroads of trailer safety chain hookup
There have been several discussions on proper connection of trailer safety chains. A recent article regarding the connection of the safety chains to a hitch that broke off prompted several comments worth addressing.
I think we all agree that safety chains are a good thing whether you are driving a motorhome and pulling a towed vehicle (“toad”) or have a truck towing a trailer. They help with runaway trailers, help maintain control, and are most often required by state road use laws. The confusion is, do the chains need to be crossed, can you twist the chains to shorten them, and how should the clevis hook be connected?
Continue reading to find out this important information
RV Reviews
2024 Jayco White Hawk 29RL – another ‘flat fifth wheel’
By Tony Barthel
Today’s RV review is of the 2024 Jayco White Hawk 29RL. This is one of those larger travel trailers that I call a “flat fifth wheel,” essentially. This is for someone who might want most of the benefits of a fifth wheel but in a travel trailer.
Why would you do that? Lots of reasons, actually.
In the RV Shop with Dustin
Brake failures and the importance of a wheel bearing pack service
By Dustin Simpson
Here I’ll explain the importance of a wheel bearing pack service and will show you what we found on a unit recently on our lot. When was the last time you inspected your brakes and bearings?
During a recent wheel bearing pack service we found the following items on an RV unit…
Video of the day
How safe is the RV park water you are using?
By Cheri Sicard
Recently, Robin Barrett of Creativity RV noticed the water in the RV park where she was staying tasted a little funky. So she decided to test the RV park water and what she discovered was shocking, including disturbing levels of sulfate and bacteria including E. coli. WOW!
In the video below, Robin talks about the four potential sources of RV water and the tests she did to determine her RV water safety. She also talked about what she learned about water regulation and safety, a lot of which surprised her.
Neat DIY ambulance RV conversion makes great use of space
It’s no DIY emergency for these campers! Ryan Brodowicz and Brittany Williams converted an ambulance into a great RV. They graciously gave Nanci Dixon a tour and went through the details of this exceptional conversion. Check this out!
Reader poll
What do you think is the number one problem that RV mobile techs are asked to fix?
?? MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY ??
18 across: Something you’ll like. 30 down: This.
Helpful resources
• NATIONAL TRAFFIC AND ROAD CLOSURE INFORMATION
• ROAD AND TRAFFIC CONDITIONS ACROSS THE NATION
• WEATHER ALERTS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
• LATEST RV RECALLS
• DIRECTORY OF RV PARKS WITH STORM SHELTERS
• THE BEST RV TRIP PLANNER APPS AND TOOLS
Did you buy a lemon RV? Here’s more about RV lemons and lawyers who will represent you if you need help.
Quick Tip
Electric outlets in RV. Where are they?
RVs are required to have a certain number of electrical outlets depending on their length. But where are they? They may be ganged in the living room and kitchen areas, but not in the bedroom. The manufacturer saves money on wire that way. But even if they are located in more practical locations, always consider what you will use them for. Some locations may work well for you, but others might be inconvenient. A plug in an inconvenient spot in a bedroom, for example, might make it hard to plug in a CPAP machine.
On this day last year…
- RV Review: 2023 Jayco White Hawk 24MRB debut
- Ask Dave: My RV’s vinyl floor is loose and puffed up. How can I fix it?
- Video: That Rusty Bus Wrap: Cousin Eddie’s RV… in real life!
- Featured article: “Camping is therapeutic for military veterans”
Now is a good time to clean out your water heater!
Have you ever seen the sediment that collects in your water heater? You probably don’t want to. Camco’s water tank rinser is an easy-to-use gadget that is a must-have for any RVer. The tank rinser will get out all the yucky sediment that’s been sitting at the bottom of your water heater and, most importantly, will extend the life of it too. Read the many positive reviews, and get one for yourself here.
Website of the day
The Best Campground in Every State
Well, to each their own… but this list from Outside Magazine does have some pretty spectacular places to camp on it.
Recipe of the Day
Ziploc Baggie Omelets
by Christine Kalmbach from Lubbock, TX
This terrific technique is a real winner and has been used by clever campers for years. I sure had never tried it before seeing this recipe, though, and now I want to throw an omelet party! Everyone can prepare their own creation, and each omelet will finish cooking at the same time so you can all enjoy breakfast together! Love it.
Trivia
Half of America’s dogs come running just from the sound of a treat bag. According to Clif Pet, 47% of the 2,000 dog owners surveyed reported their dog reacts instinctively to the noise made when a treat container is opened. Fifty-two percent are also likely to run over when they hear words like “treat” or “cookie,” while only 37% consistently respond to the sound of their own name.
*How many shoplifters were apprehended in 2022? You won’t believe this number! Find it in yesterday’s trivia.
Readers’ Pet of the Day
“Finn (mixed terrier) loves to curl up in his car bed and hit the road. On arrival, Finn is known to spring into laps and sit up like a meerkat for attention.” —Janice Regan
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!
Roof vent not doing its job? Here’s a solution…
If you smell your toilet when driving your motorhome down the road, it’s because the odor is being drawn into the RV and not outside via the roof vent. The solution is to get an inexpensive 360 Siphon Roof Vent. It works for all RVs even when the RV is not moving, like in a campground. Keep the stink away.
Leave here with a laugh
Somebody should make a beer called “occasionally.” That way when someone asks me if I drink I can say, “I only drink occasionally.”
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Editor: Emily Woodbury
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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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Todays trivia? All I can say is this. No kidding sherlock. What gave you the first clue. Should see my dogs. Everyone outside. Mom outside enjoying herself then all of a sudden a three dog round up staring at you. Once inside I am surrounded and not able to leave the corner. Cough up the treat furball. Now!
Newmar offers off-the-order-form options called “specials.” “Specials” are only available after the first 6 weeks of production for any model year and must be approved by Newmar’s engineers. Among our “specials” were adding a 120-volt power outlet to all storage bays that didn’t already have one. This was because our previous RV (American Coach) had very few outlets in the storage bays.
If you name your dog “Cookie,” that will be one confused and disappointed dog.
Didn’t really get the quick tip .
Rv outlets are not generally placed like the sticks and bricks homes due to the walls being so thin ( unless surface mounted & generally close to the floor) most wiring runs through ceiling or under floor.
Here is a tip if you’re chains are too long remove some links.
Ziploc bags ARE safe to use (recipe above) – I just looked it up – in case anyone asks.
Also, there’s a bar where we used to live called The Office so when someone calls, I’m at the office. 😉
The “office” in our city was a strip joint
I think every city has an office, not necessarily a strip joint
How about a bar named “My Brother’s Place”? It’s true, in Grove City, Pa. “Honey, where are you or where are you going? My Brother’s Place!! Yesss.
Consider replacing your GFCI if it is located in the bathroom if it is not “weatherproof.”
Damp air can make it do weird results.