Issue 2272
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
“Your visions will become clear only when you can look into your own heart. Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes.” ―
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Gingerbread House Day!
On this day in history: 1901 – Guglielmo Marconi (using an antenna suspended 500 feet by kite) receives the first transatlantic radio signal (the letter “S” [•••] in Morse code), at Signal Hill in St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada.
Tip of the Day
Tips for hanging items on RV walls
By Gail Marsh
Four years! That’s how long I waited to hang something—ANYTHING—on our RV’s interior walls. It’s not that I lacked framed family photos. I wasn’t opposed to clocks, wall art, or mirrors either. So, what held me back? Fear. I didn’t want to cause damage to our fifth wheel. I needed some tips for hanging items on RV walls.
RVers tell horror stories about how the mirror they tacked up fell off the RV wall and shattered. I don’t really believe in seven years of bad luck, but why take the chance?
Then, too, I’d heard how some mounting techniques left the RV wallpaper ripped or torn beyond repair. Yipes! Did I really need to know the time anyway? So, I put off mounting our wall clock.
But finally, I had enough! I did a bit of research, and I took on the challenge. Yes, I finally mounted some things on our RV’s walls!
Ask Dave
None of my RVs came with a towel bar in the bathroom. Why not?
Dear Dave,
As you have worked for a major RV manufacturer, you might have some insight into this.
I have purchased five RVs in the past 25 years (three 5th wheels, two truck campers). NONE of them came with towel racks installed in the bathroom. I had to figure out where to fit them and how to fasten them. Being that bath towels are rather heavy, securely fastening them is important. And, in my experience, finding a place to fit them is nearly impossible! The two truck campers had TP holders preinstalled; the three 5th wheels did not even provide that basic necessity. …
Read the rest of the question and Dave’s answer
RV Tours
Cruiser RV Essence E-25RK, a new 5th wheel for 2024
By Cheri Sicard
In the video below join Myles of Myles RVs for a first-look tour of a brand-new 5th wheel on the market for 2024, the Cruiser RV Essence E-25RK. Not only this particular model, but the entire Essence line is brand-new in 2024.
Video of the day
Snowbirding in Quartzsite, AZ: What to expect
By Cheri Sicard
If you have ever thought about joining the hordes of other RVers snowbirding in Quartzsite, Arizona, but don’t know how to go about it, join Eric, aka The Nomadic Fanatic, as he arrives at the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) LTVA (long-term visitors area) in the video below.
BLM LTVA passes are available for $180 a year (and are usable at more than just Quartzsite). For short-term stays, you can get a $40 pass for two weeks.
Click here to read more and watch
Around the Campfire: If RVers had a magic wand, how would they use it?
By Gail Marsh
The conversation around the campfire a few nights ago took a whimsical turn. Someone asked the question, “If you had a magic wand, how would you use it for RVing?” The resulting discussion was unexpected and entertaining at the same time. Listen in and you’ll see what I mean.
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Reader poll
How often do you play cards?
Quick Tip
Protect your outside shower from freezing
If you’re a fan of winter RVing, you may be concerned about freezing up the plumbing. One sensitive area: The outside shower—just waiting for that frigid air to slip past that thin plastic door and zap the mixing valve. Sean E. is a winter RV fan, and rarely uses his outside shower—so he fixed his so it would be a lot harder to “put it on ice.” Do it yourself by following the following instructions.
Remove the hose and mixer faucet handles. Cut a piece of insulated board from the hardware store to go over the top of the mixing faucet. Now stick the handles back on to hold the board in place. Cut another insulation board to cover the whole mixer faucet assembly, this time with an appropriate notch for the door hold-closed mechanism to work, and hey, presto! You’ve kept Old Man Winter away. More details and photos at Truck Camper Magazine.
On this day last year…
- Tip: Creative ways to use PVC pipe while RVing
- Ask Dave: What maintenance does an Aqua-Hot system require?
- In the RV Shop With Dustin: Talkin’ Tech short: Use or don’t use Dexter E-Z lube?
- Video: RV do’s and don’ts: Common sense RV tips you might not know about
- Featured article: What to do if you lose your pet. Everything you need to know
?? MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY ??
Does it get any better than these? If you need a holiday gift for the special lady in your life (or any other special campin’ lady), this is it. This is definitely it!
Website of the day
25 Experience Gifts for Everyone on Your List This Year
Warning: This list says it’s for Valentine’s Day but we think these make great holiday gifts, too! Instead of giving your special someone something, give them an experience. This list from Country Living includes everything from Airbnb experiences to cooking classes to audiobook subscriptions. All good ideas!
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:
• 31 percent say they’re terrible at telling jokes.
• 40 percent say they listen to less broadcast radio than they did 15 years ago. Only 12 percent listen to it more than they once did.
• 33 percent say they were under the age of 20 when they met their current spouse or partner.
Recent poll: For couples: Do you get along better at home or when you’re RVing?
Recipe of the Day
Biscuits & Gravy Breakfast Casserole
by Phyllis Gesch from Round Rock, TX
If biscuits and gravy are one of your favorite things to eat for breakfast, then you’ll love this casserole. It’s made with similar ingredients (plus cheese!), only turned into a breakfast casserole. A great breakfast option for company or brunch. Just add some fresh fruit, and you’ve got an easy breakfast that will be a big hit.
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Trivia
Did you know that the blueberry muffin is the official muffin of Minnesota? It was so declared in 1988.
Readers’ Pet of the Day
“Summer (Standard Poodle) is 6 months old in this picture. She started camping with us starting adoption day.” —Tina Schmidt
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!
A wonderful book for the Alaska-adventure lover
“Tip of the Iceberg: My 3,000-Mile Journey Around Wild Alaska, the Last Great American Frontier,” by Mark Adams, tells the incredible story of the 1899 voyage of Edward H. Harriman and his “floating university” among other scientists and writers. Mark Adams sets out to retrace this historic expedition and investigates how the lessons learned in 1899 may still apply today. A fascinating read that will surely have you wanting to visit Alaska. Learn more or order.
Leave here with a laugh
Think your dog deserves one of these hilarious balls? We do! You can find it here.
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.
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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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Just curious, but what’s up with this “HEY YOU! Before you go, check out these great articles.” banner and screen when I’m ready to close RVTravel? Just glancing through looks like primarily added advertisements. I’m not complaining, just asking.
“Hey you…” must be specific to your device only. I’m not seeing it. I even did a search for that term. Nope. Weird. Beyond my knowledge.
Yep, I get it too. I don’t go there
Yes, I just started getting it a week or so ago. Annoying. Also, all the page links have stopped opening in new tabs automatically as they did before. Have to manually open in new tab now. Also annoying. Using Firefox on a Samsung tablet.
I’m having the same open in new tab problem.
Yes, just this week the page links have stopped opening in a new tab. I am reading RV Travel on a computer, rather than my phone. I just hit the “back” button and it takes me back to the original newsletter.
Me too, Marsha
Interesting biscuits and gravy recipe but I have a better one from my childhood that I still love, although I have to beg my wife to make for me once in a blue moon. It’s biscuits and CHOCOLATE gravy. It’s the best.
Never heard of that one til I got married. She grew up with chocolate gravy. Love it
Checking the box below never saves my data. Why not?
Hi, Chris. Here’s the explanation for that from our IT dude, Kim: “[That’s from] blocking cookies. We use cookies to remember who readers are when they check that box. We do not actively track our readers by email address or name, so that’s the only way it works. When you click that button, [the commenting program] puts a cookie on your computer so it knows who you are when you come back.” So, when you block cookies on your device, can you list exceptions so that this one is approved? (I don’t understand that kind of stuff.) I hope that helps. Have a great day. 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
AMEN, Love the stuff, Jeff
Can’t speak for others, but we don’t use the outside shower in cool/cold weather. Just cram a wad of fiberglass into the box and shut/lock the door. No need to pull knobs, etc.
If I had a Magic Wand I would use it to make all elected officials, at every level to only tell the truth whenever in a debate or talking to the public on the campaign trail
The politicians complained about former Congressman Santos lying. They all lie during campaigning to get in so what’s the difference.
Do you mean the stop lying after campaigning?
Thank you, Emily and Diane! 🙂
Something wrong with today in history (or yesterday):
yesterday he transmitted the signal, today he received it 🤔?
1901 – Guglielmo Marconi (using an antenna suspended 500 feet by kite) receives the first transatlantic radio signal (the letter “S” [•••] in Morse code), at Signal Hill in St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada
Ha! I guess he was a time traveler. I thought that sounded familiar when I proofed the newsletter last night, but decided it was just because I had looked at this newsletter and read that before. Should have gone back to check yesterday’s On this day in history.🙄 Have a great day. 😀 –Diane
I noticed that too, but I just figured that things were a lot slower in 1901. Oh, to have lived back then.