Issue 2239
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
“Learn from the mistakes of others. You can never live long enough to make them all yourself.” ―
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Day Of The Deployed. We thank you ALL for your service!
On this day in history: 1936 – The first electric generator at Hoover Dam goes into full operation.
Did you see the news? Click here for the latest news for RVers
Tip of the Day
How to get Amazon deliveries while RVing
By Nanci Dixon
RVtravel.com recently ran a poll asking how often our RVing readers shop on Amazon. With only 18% shopping rarely or never, the remaining 82% of us that are buying from Amazon are certainly active!
I am one of the active ones. If I don’t shop at Amazon every day, I do at least pretty often. I actually love Amazon. They have an amazing selection and usually reasonable prices. Most often what I choose includes free shipping. Yup, I know. Nothing is free, but at least it is usually free shipping if I return it.
So when we start traveling for the summer I find I have to plan ahead. I keep a list going on Amazon for those things I might want or can’t live without, and those I just don’t want to do a lot of searching for again.
Ask Dave
My RV has a chassis recall. Chassis dealer won’t honor it; RV dealer can’t touch it. I feel like a ping pong ball!
“It’s not our problem”—Playing ping pong with RV warranty work!
Awhile ago, Russ and Tiña De Maris posted an article on RVtravel.com about the difficulty Peggy had with a Winnebago Era Mercedes chassis recall. She was getting told by the local Mercedes dealership to take it to the RV dealer, which is Camping World, only to be told it is a Mercedes issue that they cannot work on. She then called Winnebago and was told to call Mercedes. This has been an issue for years, and I call it the Ping Pong Effect.
Fire-resistant bag keeps valuables safe!
This silicone-coated fire-resistant bag will save your money, documents, jewelry, passport and other valuables from a fire. Its two layers of supreme fire retardant fiberglass material make it resist fire and heat up to 2000℉. It’s waterproof, too, so when the hoses arrive, your valuables won’t be harmed. Learn more or order.
RV Tours
Short, lightweight 5th wheel: 2024 Coachmen Chaparral Lite 235RK
By Cheri Sicard
Join JD from Big Truck Big RV (one of our readers’ favorite RV YouTube channels) for a first-look tour of a short, lightweight 5th wheel—the 2024 Coachmen Chaparral Lite 235RK.
Short fifth wheels have always made a lot of practical sense to me. Their overall length is manageable and will easily fit in most campgrounds, even state and national parks. But having the bedroom over the cab of your truck SUBSTANTIALLY increases the rig’s functionality and livability.
So does the rear kitchen layout of this rig that opens up the usable living space, even leaving enough room for a long desk workspace.
Video of the day
RV DIY: How to replace RV vinyl trim
By Cheri Sicard
Is your RV starting to look a little shabby? You can give it a facelift pretty easily by replacing its worn, discolored and/or broken RV vinyl trim. This is a reasonably easy RV DIY project. In the video below, the Colorado Camperman is going to show us just how simple it is to do using Camco’s RV vinyl trim.
Besides aesthetics, the trim serves the practical purpose of protecting the screws underneath, the ones that hold the RV walls and roof together, and protecting them from the elements, especially water.
Around the campfire: Who’s to blame for lack of quality RVs?
Terrible RV quality. This ongoing theme runs rampant throughout RV blogs, forums, social media threads, and (you guessed it) around the campfire. But just who is to blame for the lack of quality RVs? Read what RVers had to say in this discussion around the campfire, as recorded by Gail Marsh.
Reader poll
Do you eat eggs for breakfast?
Quick Tip
Keep your sink drain clean to avoid “stink”
Working in the RV galley generates all kinds of small waste particles. If they go down the sink drain, they can form a “stink generator,” and they can foul up your tank level probes. Get thee to the hardware store and obtain the appropriately sized stainless steel sink drain screen. Clean it out frequently—by tossing the contents in the trash, not down the drain. Here’s one from Amazon.
YOU DIDN’T MISS yesterday’s brand-new Full-Time RVer Newsletter, did you? It’s not just for full-timers—all RVers will enjoy it! Read it here.
On this day last year…
- Tip: 18 brilliant ways to use pipe cleaners while RVing
- Ask Dave: When water pressure is low, will pressure regulator further reduce it?
- Video: How to use Amazon lockers to get merchandise while RVing
- Featured article: Tire life—Why can’t I get a straight or consistent answer?
?? MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY ??
OMG! This is hilarious! You’re going to laugh out loud looking at this. And if you think you’re laughing, imagine the kiddos laughing even harder! Okay… fine, maybe we just have a sick sense of humor around here…
Website of the day
Why Are Black and Orange the Traditional Halloween Colors?
Even if you’re not celebrating Halloween, this article is still a fascinating look at why the holiday is celebrated with black and orange colors. Learning a little history never hurt anybody!
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:
• 53 percent say the bed in their RV is very comfortable.
• 58 percent say their RV or tow vehicle engine is powered by diesel. That means 42 percent are powered by gas.
• The majority of voters, 72 percent, say their RV’s kitchen stove has three burners.
Recent poll: Do you decorate your home or RV for Halloween?
Recipe of the Day
Cheryl’s Low Carb Green Chile Burger Casserole
by Cheryl Chavez from Smalltown, CO
Hearty, cheesy and very flavorful, this is a delicious low carb dinner. Quick and easy to prepare, the topping is kind of magical the way it looks like a bun. This reminds us of a giant loose meat burger once it’s baked. Serve with a salad or green vegetable if you’re eating low carb. If not, baked potatoes or fries would be great.
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Trivia
Sunlight needs to strike water at an angle of around 42 degrees in order to form a rainbow. That’s part of what makes autumn such a wonderful time in Yellowstone National Park: rainbows are more often seen in geysers when the sun is lower on the horizon! When watching a geyser, look for the rainbow that may form in it if the sun is over your shoulder.
*Which state has the most lighthouses? Hint: It’s probably not where you think! Find out in yesterday’s trivia.
Readers’ Pet of the Day
“Rokkor is a Border Collie, 10 years old, who enjoys traveling in our motorhome. Sitting on the dash keeping a lookout when we’re away is his favorite pastime.” —Richard Buxton
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.
Brand-new book for county park camping
Roundabout Publications and the Ultimate Campground Project have published the first edition of “Camping in America’s County Parks.” The 192-page directory profiles 2,068 RV, van and tent camping areas at 1,408 parks in 42 states. Inside, maps pinpoint campgrounds with information about staying, including types of restrooms, showers, dump stations and RV length limits. Rates, contact and reservation information is also listed. Read more about it here.
Leave here with a laugh
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Contact information
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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Identical sink strainer is at Dollar Tree for $1.25. Comes with 2. The small one is perfect in the bathroom sink.
Love me that Dollar Tree. Try to go there first when we shop, especially for the smaller travel size products.
I use a green Scotch Brite pad cut to fit in the drain. Catches everything, even hair. At the end of the day, remove it, place on a folded piece of paper towel and let dry on the counter. In the morning i use a old toothbrush to brush off the residue (you’ll be amazed at how much stuff it catches) then place the pad back in the drain. Can use over and over.
Great idea Charlie, thanks!
Leave here with a laugh, he’s a real “momma’s boy”, look at his face, lol!
Mama ain’t going to be welcome in Jrs house with the new daughter in law. Two women don’t get along in the same house, He’s going to have to make a choice between Mama or wife.
The Chinese symbol for “war” is two women under one roof.
I agree.
Very creepy!
RE: Quick Tip- Your gray tank typically does not have a means to wash out the tank due to vapor traps, and back flushing from the waste gate is not as effective. We put the strainers in the dual kitchen sink for exactly the reason given. But have you considered the problem hair causes in the bathroom? I had to strip apart our macerator this summer because hair wound around the shaft. I now use these in the sink and tub/shower. I am looking for an equivalent for the kitchen that strains as well as the screen, but can also plug the drain for dish washing.
Thank you, Emily and Diane! Yes, not a good look for a wedding photo, Diane. Yikes!
👍 Have a great day, Neal. 😀 –Diane
A nice-looking wedding photo does not guarantee a happy marriage or a long-lasting one.
That’s very true, Split. The opposite is also probably true.🤔 Have a good afternoon/evening. 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
Leave here with a laugh is almost scary. I do hope this was posed! The poor male looks thoroughly dominated. Good luck to the bride.
If mama ain’t happy no body is happy. Yeah that marriage is not going to last long with a mamas boy.
I would think that the Laugh of the day indicated that possibly the bride was with child, and the older lady? was her Mother, gripping the groom hard to make sure he wasn’t going anywhere?