Issue 2244
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
“Sorrow is how we learn to love. Your heart isn’t breaking. It hurts because it’s getting larger. The larger it gets, the more love it holds.” ―
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Men Make Dinner Day! Men, get to work!
On this day in history: 1920 – In the United States, KDKA of Pittsburgh starts broadcasting as the first commercial radio station. The first broadcast is of the results of the 1920 United States presidential election.
Tip of the Day
Foam gap filler is a quick fix for cracks and holes in the RV
By Nanci Dixon
The first time I used foam gap filler we were covering a few holes in our old RV. The foam expanded a lot, amazingly, all over the holes and all over my hands. Pretty soon my hands were covered and firmly stuck together. Think: super glue on steroids! I couldn’t get it off so I couldn’t drive. I had to walk to the hardware store to buy whatever would cut it. After the store staff quit laughing, they kindly sponged it off. So, lesson learned: Wear gloves.
The foam gap filler made by Great Stuff is a great tool for filling small and large holes and is particularly useful for the RVer. Unfortunately, we need to use it a lot to fill the cracks and holes mice in the desert always seem to find. It expands and quickly dries.
Ask Dave
How do you determine proper truck towing capacity? Part 1
GCWR, payload, GAWR—so many terms and so much confusion. There has been an enormous amount of discussion and debate on what a truck can actually tow. For years there were publications such as the Trailer Life Guide to Towing and Ford’s and Chevrolet’s own towing guides published every year. It seemed pretty easy: Just find the make, model, cab configuration, and rear end ratio and the towing capacity was right there. But the math has changed!
Read more
It’s time to clean your CPAP machine!
One of our past surveys told us that 53% of you (or your partner) use a CPAP machine. Wow! When was the last time your machine was cleaned thoroughly? They get very dirty! This highly rated cleaning kit will get out all those yucky germs and bacteria. The extendable brush will expand to 7 feet, but folds up into a small plastic bag so as to not take up too much room in your RV. If you use a CPAP, you’ll want to order this here.
RV Tours
First look: Tiny, lightweight Encore VENU travel trailer
By Cheri Sicard
Elkhart, Indiana-based Encore RV is a relative newcomer in the RV space and they just introduced a brand-new tiny, lightweight trailer. The Encore VENU is so new, it’s not even on the company website yet and we don’t have much in the way of specs. Nonetheless, you can get a first look tour at this tiny trailer in the video below.
The base weight on this trailer is under 1,500 pounds, which means it does not need a robust tow vehicle.
Video of the day
You must see this DIY solar-powered SUV camper!
By Cheri Sicard
Wow, you are not going to believe this creative solar-powered SUV camper that traveling nurse Arslan of the Solar Camper Car YouTube channel built.
It may be small, but it has every amenity and convenience Arslan needs to lead a comfortable nomadic lifestyle.
Our customers come first!
Family-run RV dealer Cheyenne Camping Center, one of America’s largest volume dealers, has served customers nationwide from Iowa since 1966. Get the lowest possible price without need to negotiate. No hard sell!! Long-time RVtravel.com supporter. Visit us today, (800) 397-5673.
Around the Campfire: What makes for the best RV trip—the people or the place?
By Gail Marsh
Think about your favorite RV trip. Have you ever wondered why that trip ranks as your favorite? Was it the place itself—the scenery, activities, food, etc.? Or does one trip top your list of favorites because of the folks traveling with you and the people you met along the way? We discussed this question recently around the campfire. Read more, then let us know what you think.
Reader poll
At which age should a person first be considered elderly?
Quick Tip
Save money—Before hitting the store, check these out
Make it a habit to check eBay and Craigslist before you buy almost anything. Buying used (and sometimes new) items using eBay and craigslist can easily save you 50% or more on most items. I buy items on Amazon, too, but I usually find new items on Amazon and used items on eBay and craigslist. I bought new shocks for my motorhome on Amazon and I bought a used Progressive Industries portable electrical management system (a little box to protect against electrical surges, open ground wires, low voltage, etc.) through eBay for about half of the retail price. From Secrets of RVing on Social Security: How to Enjoy the Motorhome and RV Lifestyle While Living on Your Social Security Income Available on Amazon.
On this day last year…
- Tip: 10 smart ways you can use toothpicks while RVing
- Ask Dave: Quick RV Tech Tip: Do some of RV’s drains go into the black tank? Is it legal?
- Video: How to stream movies and TV in your RV from your phone or tablet
- Featured article: This RVer forgot to unplug the electric cord and drove away. A reminder for all RVers
Website of the day
17 mysterious shipwrecks you can see on Google Earth
Have you ever seen a shipwreck? There are many places around the country (and world) where you can see what remains from shipwrecks, but this article is neat because you don’t have to leave your current location to do so! The photos from Google Earth are amazing!
?? MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY ??
Are you having fun yet? Are you?? Well, rest assured, after a couple of these you will be having a lot of fun!
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:
• 4 percent receive more than 100 emails (not spam!) on a daily basis.
• 38 percent do not own a pet.
• 14 percent say they never remember their dreams.
Recent poll: Has a sewer valve or hose ever broken or malfunctioned while you were dumping?
Recipe of the Day
Pulled Pork and Apple Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
by Tammy Brownlow from Dallas, TX
If you have leftover pulled pork, have an open mind and give this grilled cheese sandwich a try. It sounds unusual but the combination of flavors is wonderful. The baked cinnamon apples are a delicious complement to the pulled pork. When grilled, the sharp cheddar cheese gets nice and gooey. This sandwich has so much flavor that you cannot wait for the next bite. We served ours with sweet potato chips for an easy meal.
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Trivia
220,000 is the average number of wedding proposals on Valentine’s Day each year.
*The nation’s median age increased by ___ years to ___ years between 2021 and 2022. Fill in the blanks by reading yesterday’s trivia.
Readers’ Pet of the Day
“Lucky ‘adopted’ us 4 years ago, long before we started RVing. She has clearly adapted to camping, and has several places she likes, although she is an inside cat only when traveling. She does enjoy watching the landscape wherever we are through our many windows.” —Belinda Hayward
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.
Downsizing The Family Home: What to Save, What to Let Go
Whether you’re downsizing to go full-time or for other reasons, this best-selling AARP book will guide you through the process, from opening that first closet, to sorting through a lifetime of possessions, to selling your home. The author helps you create a strategy and mindset to accomplish the task quickly and rewardingly, both practically and emotionally. Learn more or order.
Leave here with a laugh
A little snail was standing at the corner waiting to cross the street. He heard two turtles coming down the street from the opposite direction. They both ran their stop sign and crashed at the intersection. The police responded and when the officer arrived he saw all the turtle parts strewn about the road and knew there were no survivors. Looking around he saw the little snail standing at the corner. He walked over and looking down he asked the snail if he saw the accident happen. The little snail looked up at the officer and said, ”Oh, officer. It happened so fast!” (Groan.)
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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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Lucky is a beautiful girl! And you both got lucky with her in your life.
Thank you, Emily and Diane!
PS, I enjoyed the laugh of the day. I can relate to it. Why (I’m sure I heard you ask)? I transferred colleges and joined the cross-country team. After about a month of practicing, the team captain formally welcomed me by saying that he was glad that I was on the team because he no longer was the slowest person in town. Honest, true story. He turtle, me snail. That was 9/77 and we’re still friends.
That’s funnier than today’s laugh, Neal !!
You’re welcome, Neal. And thank you for the great story! That’s cool that you’re still friends.👍 Have a great day. 😀 –Diane
Leave here with a laugh needs a day off, make that two days off! Lol
Well.. It appears to me, …and the snail, that, that is just one individual’s perspective.
Hmm the age of elderly? Wait what? Per law – elderly abuse… well this poll is elderly abuse Right?
Okay I Google and took a picture but I have no way to attach. I’ll spell it out:
The Young Old:
Approx 65 to 74
The Middle Old:
75 to 84
The Old-Old
Over 85!
Where’s the Wine age?
LOL 😆
That would be all of the above, SherKen.👍🍷😃 Have a good night. 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
I see you’ve decided to use AI generated content without announcing it. Is that going to be a regular thing now? Reference your photo above the “Is reading our RVtravel.com newsletter worth 2 cents to you?” statement.