Issue 2235
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
“Quite often, while I’m getting up in the morning, I think my warranty is running out on these body parts because it’s not working quite the way it used to.” —John Glenn
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Chicken And Waffles Day.
On this day in history: Oct. 20, 1882 – Actor Bela Lugosi—who was famous for his sinister portrayal of the elegantly mannered vampire Count Dracula—was born in Hungary.
Tip of the Day
Will “decision fatigue” stop your RV adventure? Don’t let it!
By Gail Marsh
Just what is “decision fatigue” and how might it stop your RV adventure? Let’s find out!
I was surprised to learn that decision fatigue is a psychological term that’s been in use since 2011—and there’s a very good chance this phenomenon occurred well before a name was even assigned to it. So, what is it?
Psychologists define the term “decision fatigue” as a phenomenon rather than a diagnosable medical condition. Decision fatigue can happen when the more decisions a person makes over a day, the more physically, mentally and emotionally depleted they become. In simple terms, you feel worn out because you’ve had to make so many decisions. Not only will decision fatigue physically, emotionally, and mentally tire you, the quality of your decisions may deteriorate, as well.
Ask Dave
Dave Solberg is a leading expert in the RV industry and author of the “RV Handbook.”
My on-demand water heater has no bypass or drain. Can I use RV antifreeze in it?
Dear Dave,
I have an Intertek tankless water heater on my 5th wheel camper. We live in the Midwest and have very cold winters. There is no place to drain what little water is in it and no bypass valve either. Is it all right to run RV antifreeze through it? —Dave, 2023 Keystone Cougar 23MLE
RVers who carry a firearm should pack this along to save them from trouble
The 2023 edition of the annual Traveler’s Guide to the Firearm Laws of the Fifty States covers all the basics for armed travel. What is legal in one state could be a felony in another. This book should be used as a reference before entering a new state so you know what to expect as you approach. Clear writing gives you the basics for every state. Plus, each state is rated for its relative freedom, based on its gun laws, from zero to 100. Read more about the book here.
Beginning in November, we will report the news daily
We are discontinuing our weekly news briefs feature on Saturdays in favor of an email recap of the very latest news about RVing every weekday afternoon. We’ll begin the weekday emails next month. Sign up to receive these timely emails here. (You can easily unsubscribe if you wish.)
In the RV Shop with Dustin
Check your exterior RV refrigerator vent door latch
By Dustin Simpson
Join me on the California RV Specialists lot where I noticed a refrigerator vent door latch was broken on one of the RVs currently on our repair lot. In the video below, I show you this very easy repair!
Video of the day
RV Grilling: How to save more than $80 on ribeye steaks
By Cheri Sicard
There’s nothing like a great steak. And if you are an RVer, there’s nothing like a great steak RV dinner or party whether you cook those steaks over an open flame, or use your cast iron skillet, but good steaks have gotten mighty pricey. In the video below, the Butcher Wizard on YouTube shows you how to save $80 or more on ribeye steaks. The secret?
Click here to watch and find out
Visiting the Airstream Heritage Center and taking the Airstream factory tour
Airstream trailers are known the world over for their high quality and sleek designs. But did you know that every Airstream anywhere in the world is made in a small town in Ohio? It’s true. Jackson Center, Ohio, population 1,500, is the home base, or the “Mothership” as the folks at Airstream like to call it, for all Airstream production. Learn all about Airstreams, the Heritage Center, the factory, and some Airstream oddities here.
You may have missed these recent popular stories…
- Disabled Army officer writes, “Enjoying our parks helps with PTSD” but “Americans are being farmed for money; can’t even escape to the outdoors”
- RV sneak peek—Grand Design Serenova single-axle travel trailer
- New, high-tech hearing aids are a game-changer—Wow!
- “If you let the folks fix your RV who were responsible for the terrible quality to begin with, you are setting yourself up for an expensive, disappointing lesson”
Reader poll
Do you bite your nails?
?? MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY ??
How many ways can you use this?? We say “Unlimited ways!” In fact, we can envision how this product could save you from a lot of grief, say a trip to the hospital or a major blow to your head. And it’s so darn inexpensive!
Quick Tip
Bring your bedroom slide-out in at night
Here’s a double-header sleeping solution for folks with bedroom slide-outs. Bill and Wanda K. tell us they roll their slide-out in at night (when necessary) to reduce traffic noise – and if the weather is exceptionally cold. Either way, it dampens the noise factor and reduces the need for heat. Thanks, folks!
On this day last year…
- Tip: Volunteer: Save on camping, do good, have fun
- Ask Dave: What should I do with anode rod and water drain valve after winterizing?
- Video: Awesome DIY teardrop trailer build on a Harbor Freight frame
- Featured article: Trailer towing technique enters Stupid RV Tricks Hall of Fame
Website of the day
How to Make Cocktails While Camping
If you’re not already a camping mixologist, check out this great guide on how to make cocktails while you camp. At the bottom are some delicious-sounding cocktail recipes!
Recipe of the Day
Breakfast Pizza
by Bonnie Roberts from Lewiston, ID
This pizza has all the favorite breakfast fixings on a pizza. The crust is loaded with sausage, bacon, and hash browns. Then, it’s topped with eggs and cheese. Once baked, it’s perfection. Great for breakfast or brunch. This breakfast pizza will be a hit in your house.
[wbcr_snippet id=”337364″ title=”AHM Video Recipe Widget”]
Trivia
The first ready-mix food which was sold commercially was Aunt Jemima pancake flour. It was invented in 1889 in St. Joseph, Missouri.
*Where does the term “freelancer” come from? Find out in yesterday’s trivia.
Readers’ Pet of the Day
“Our little land shark, Belvedere (Mini Labradoodle), loves to go camping! He will sit for hours and watch the squirrels. As you can tell in the photo. Lol.” —Terry Graham
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!
Pet owners: Here are a few excellent resources to find a veterinarian while on the road. Keep this handy!
3-in-1 NOAA radio, flashlight and phone charger must-have for RVers
This emergency hand-crank radio is a necessity for RVers. Keep it somewhere safe—you never know when it will come in handy. The 3-in-1 radio is also a bright LED flashlight and a smartphone charger. The radio can be charged via solar charging, hand cranking or a USB plug. You’ll want to buy one here.
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
Advertising. Information here
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 many affiliate programs, including the Amazon Services LLC Associates 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 the 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.
First ready-mix food is no longer available.
Won’t buy the new one
The only thing that has changed is the name. Still produced by the original company.
“The original version of the pancake mix was developed in 1888–1889 by the Pearl Milling Company”
Since they joined the wokism crowd we don’t buy it either.
Sad but true. Just like Bud Light, I only buy the new one when I shop at Target…..
Good one….
You know Jesus was woke. Sad where our Country has gone to, have a great day.
Jesus thought men could get pregnant? Thanks for enlightening us all with that historical tidbit.
I wonder if Jesus stared at the sun during eclipse like the current anointed ones do?
I can’t even reply to that stupid comment; might get in trouble.
Keep sleeping
It’s the principle not the product..I won’t buy it either.
I use Bud light mixed with AJ Pancake mix for my beer batter.
Laugh of the Day reminds me of the Walking Dead! Basically it’s the same.
Laugh of the day in fact is walking across any college campus.
Our bed slide out is a Schwintek. Not supposed to use them in the retracted position, so that tip won’t work for us.
Yes! Do not put weight on the slide floors while slides are in. I’m not sure that tip should work for anyone.
Bring my slide out in at night?!? Not a chance. Jeez. And Aunt Jemima? Very sad day when they got rid of her. There was nothing racist about her products or her picture. A small minority wanted that, and most people- regardless of color- don’t go for that crap.
It’s called BLM to the max!
for the individual who dictates what words are appropriate I would like to know when I use the word sh— it is bleeped out but the word crap is OK…don’t get it…..
I know, I don’t think that the word “shoot” is so bad either. And I sure don’t’ understand playing “crap” on a table in Vegas. ???
That was a sad day when they removed something that was a piece of history. Nothing racist about it at all. Wow. And as for the slide out. I think I heard something go bump in the nite.
There is a breakfast pizza ready made at Wally world…just pop it in the oven (buscuit crust, sausage gravy sauce, sausage, egg, and cheese..I add precooked bacon too) makes 8 nice size pieces…we cut and freeze left overs…reheat in oven on moving day…one 1/8 slice is enough for a quick mess free breakfast.
I would love to read the newsletter “one day” without political comments! Come on folks, how about it?
I haven’t read any political commentary here today. Some social commentary though, (and a little theology) which should come as no surprise given that RVing is a very social activity, which we all engage in. If you see politics in social commentary that’s on you. Those who would suggest the silencing of sociological difference is where the politics is actually found.
T. Hudson
I didn’t mean to make that sound personal or aggressive. I just didn’t see or read the comments the same as you I guess.
And most of the UnWoke group are the ones call for the silencing,
That is soooo funny. Hahaha. OMG. Sure it is Tom. It’s the non woke that are calling for a disinformation board to monitor social media, sure it is Tom. It’s the non woke that push saying outloud, that men can get pregnant and call it hate speech if the woke disagree. It’s the nonwoke trying to silence scientific facts. It’s the non woke that banned effective medical treatments and then censored doctors posting information related to peer reviewed studies. Yes Virginia, there is a Santa Claus here in opposites world.
🙈🙉🙊
Your observations are very accurate! Thank you
Yes they are Cancel, as usual.
I am dizzy. I still don’t know who woke people are and now I have to figure out who un-woke people aren’t? Is Un-woke asleep?
It’s all making me sleepy. Uh-oh. That’s probably going to get a lot of political replies.😲 Have a good night, Kelly. 😀 –Diane
🙂
😴😅 Have a great day, Neal. 😀 –Diane
I agree. This started out talking about pancake mix name change and turned into a political rant.
The word ‘woke, has turned into a political term.
I dont agree. Woke is not a political term to the unwoke. Only to the woke that try to control speech through coercive control and censorship. Woke as a term is a red herring to patronize self identified victims by placing them into marginalized categories. It is not organically political unto itself because it could not exist without coercion. It requires the very best BS fertilizer to exist and survive.
Which this seems to be good at spreading.
On the piece about “…dramatic decline in human intelligence..”. My first motorcycle Owner’s Manual back in the 1960s told me how to adjust the valves. Now the Owner’s Manual tells me not to drink the battery fluid.
Well we do tend to get forgetful as we age. Maybe they gave you the “over 60” manual. (I am sorry, I couldn’t resist. – today is one of those days I guess I should keep my mouth shut.)
🙂
Thank you, Emily and Diane! Today’s funny was funny. But, the longer I contemplated it, the more depressing and sad it became. My observation is that it is sadly accurate.