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Today’s thought
“There’s nowhere you can be that isn’t where you’re meant to be…” ―
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Greasy Food Day!
On this day in history: 2001 – Microsoft releases Windows XP, which becomes one of the company’s most successful operating systems.
Tip of the Day
Is maximum towing capacity just smoke and mirrors?
By Ross Regis
You will almost never tow what you think you can. To those of you who have owned RVs for years, this isn’t breaking news. Some of you follow the 80% Rule of Thumb: Your “real-life” towing capacity is around 80% of the advertised maximum. But is that margin even sufficient?
Let’s get into the nitty-gritty. And if you remember nothing else, remember this: Payload capacity, not towing capacity, is the real limitation of your tow vehicle!
Ask Dave
Can I just drain my on-demand water heater, or does it need RV antifreeze?
Dear Dave,
If I drain all water lines at low points and blow out all the lines and open the pressure drain valve, do I have to add RV antifreeze to the Truma Combi boiler? Thanks in advance. —John, 2023 Thor Tellaro
Quit struggling with hose and cable hookups at the campsite
Are you tired of struggling to hook up your coax cables, water hoses and other connections when you arrive at your campsite? It’s a snap with Cable and Hose Grips from J Wright Concepts. Save time and frustration! Life is too short to hassle with the little stuff! Learn more or order.
RV Reviews
Love windows? New Keystone Outback 296URK might be for you
Today’s RV review is of the new-for-2024 Keystone Outback Ultra-Lite 296URK. This is a large travel trailer that shows how the RV industry is listening to requests from you. Yes, you! Well, and maybe a few of your friends.
What we have here is a larger camper for couples that is more in line with what you might expect from the Outback brand but with some things that really made me happy.
But what’s really neat, to me, is when I was talking to Christy Spencer, Keystone’s Director of Marketing, and she was as excited about this new floor plan as I am.
In the RV Shop with Dustin
How to prevent damage to your RV furniture
By Dustin Simpson
Why is your RV furniture cracking, peeling and looking awful? Most RV furniture isn’t necessarily known for its durable, long-lasting construction. In fact, it carries quite the reputation for flaking, peeling, and tearing—even after minimal use.
I was recently approached by one of the top RV furniture manufacturers. They asked me to carry their products in our store. I asked them, “Have you seen your furniture after it’s been in an RV?” My RV repair shop sees around 25-35 units a week. It doesn’t matter the year, make or model, most of them have damaged or blemished furniture.
Video of the day
Exposed: The “borderline scam” of RV dual-pane windows!
By Cheri Sicard
Josh the RV Nerd, one of our readers’ favorite RV YouTube channels, is about to expose one of the RV industry’s biggest myths: RV dual-pane windows!
According to Josh, RV dual-pane windows are “a borderline scam”!
It’s not that they don’t have any value at all, but it’s probably not what you are expecting or have been led to believe.
Click here to read more and watch
RV Electricity
*Please note this article was originally published in 2021.
How to install a 30-amp RV outlet at home
By Mike Sokol
Dear Readers,
I received this inquiry (in the Comments section of RVtravel.com) from Cory. He’s wondering about installing a 30-amp RV outlet on a residential 150-amp service panel.
“I have a 150-amp incoming service breaker box on the outside of the house. Can I install a 30-amp plug and breaker for an RV off of this box?”
Click here to read Mike’s answer
Book is a must-have for state park campers!
This book, “50 States: 500 State Parks,” is a must-have for all state park campers and explorers. The book is a beautiful visual journey through America’s best state parks. Whether you’re looking for stunning vistas, rare wildlife, a dose of history, or an enjoyable hike, the state parks offer an array of experiences. Learn more or order.
Wal-Mart got its name to save money
By Chuck Woodbury
ROADSIDE JOURNAL
RVers are big Wal-Mart fans. Not all of them, of course, but a whole bunch. For most, Wal-Mart offers a convenient place to stock up on supplies. And often, its parking lots offer a convenient place to stay overnight for free.
It’s said that Wal-Mart founder Sam Walton was an RVer (it is known he was an avid camper) and that he made it known early on in the store’s history that RVers were always welcome to park overnight at his stores. In the years since, some stores have banned the practice, often because of local ordinances or bad behavior by some RVers including long-term squatting. Continue reading to learn how Wal-Mart got its name.
Reader poll
About what time do you most often go to bed at night?
Quick Tip
Overheated hubs
“If you are going to use an infrared thermometer—or just hand touch the wheel hub—don’t do that after using the brakes, as the brake shoes will heat up the drum and give you a false reading. Somewhere where you have lots of room, like a highway pull-off or rest area, pull in slowly after downshifting and pretty much let the RV come to a stop without much of a brake application. Then you will get a more accurate reading.” Thanks to George B.
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?? MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY ??
Thanksgiving is coming soon. We believe that if you were to show up at your celebration wearing this that everyone in the room would bend over in laughter. The turkey, if it were not dead, would be horrified. Who thinks of things like this?
Must-have RV kitchen gadget: Food prep and salad scissors
This has long been my favorite and one of my most used RV kitchen gadgets. I was first sent one for review about 20 years ago or so when I was editor and publisher of a large food and cooking website. It instantly became one of my favorite kitchen tools. Continue reading.
WANT MORE GADGETS? You’ll love our Great RV Accessories newsletter. There’s a brand-new issue headed straight for your inbox tomorrow! Read past issues or sign up here.
On this day last year…
- Ask Dave: I woke up to a shower full of water. How do I find the leak?
- Video: 7 tips for finding FREE National Forest camping spots
- Featured article: The load mis-taken: A hilarious story on what NOT to bring RVing
Website of the day
13 Travel Books That Will Give You Serious Wanderlust
We like this list of books from Nomadic Matt—it shares both books that take place in the U.S. and books that take place around the world. We’ve read a few, but we’re adding the rest to our fall reading list.
Popular articles you may have missed at RVtravel.com
- You won’t believe this outrageous custom Airstream motorhome!
- Make your RV’s bed more comfortable without buying a new mattress
- A tire failed. What should you do to prevent another one?
Recipe of the Day
Fall Nights – 3 Bean Chili
by Carol White from Fort Lauderdale, FL
A warm bowl of chili makes a cool fall day better. This turkey chili will have your mouth watering from the aroma while it simmers. Using turkey lowers the fat, but you don’t miss anything thanks to all the delicious seasonings and flavors. All the peppers add pops of beautiful color and bits of sweetness. Green chili peppers add the perfect amount of heat. Serve with corn muffins and you have a delicious and comforting bowl of chili.
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Don’t kill yourself or loved ones out of ignorance
• If you ever feel a shock when touching your RV, take action. Otherwise, you could kill yourself or your loved ones.
• If you blow a front tire, do this. The result could be a disaster if, instead, you follow your instincts.
Trivia
Which state has the most lighthouses? If you guessed Michigan, you’re correct. Sure, Michigan doesn’t have any ocean coastline, but the state does have more than 3,000 miles of shoreline along the Great Lakes: Superior, Michigan, Huron and Erie. The state is home to more than 150 lighthouses!
*What is the ideal drinking temperature of a cup of coffee? Is it: A) 102° F, B) 140 F°, C) 187° F, or D) 210 F° Take a guess then find the answer in yesterday’s trivia.
Readers’ Pet of the Day
“Gracie (Mini Schnauzer) is a great camping buddy. She rides well and is nosey as they come, lol. We’ve had her since she was 7 weeks old and goes on every trip we make—couldn’t leave her if we wanted too!” —Dianne Morris
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.
An all-metal RV water heater tank rinser wand that works and won’t fly off!
Nanci Dixon shares her new favorite all-metal water heater tank rinser. She writes, “It is practically guaranteed to not come apart in the tank. They had two similar ones and I made sure to pick the one that came with an adaptor to fit a garden hose with an on/off lever. … The wand can go in far enough to cover the whole tank and the nozzle can be turned down to flush out the deposits on the bottom of the tank.” Read Nanci’s story here and order one for your RV.
Leave here with a laugh
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Contact information
Editor: Emily Woodbury
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Editorial (news): chuck@rvtravel.com
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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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Gracie is so precious!
Funny thought,
We had a “Gracie” in our community and she was a Schnauzer,
but she moved to Florida with her owners, the Conners. Sad to see her go.
Laugh of the day very funny.
Regarding today’s thought, it’s rather ironic then that Lennon was where he was in December 1980. Who decided he should be there??
Yoko
Michigan lighthouses- and the highest density is around the Keweenaw Peninsula. This is the peninsula that juts off the top of the Upper Peninsula into Lake Superior. For good reason based on the number of shipwrecks. The Gales of November (and other months) are no joke.
And the reason Michigan has more lighthouses is because of the vast majority of it is shipping lanes. Keeps the ships off the reefs and that pesky Lake Superior with is vast majority of rocky coastline. I should know. I lived there. Now on to Maine to see all their lighthouses.
Thank you, Emily and Diane. 🙂