Issue 2274
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
“The most certain sign of wisdom is cheerfulness.” ―
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Bouillabaisse Day!
On this day in history: 1903 – The Wright brothers make their first attempt to fly with the Wright Flyer at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.
Tip of the Day
Inspiration to fix little, irritating RV problems before winterizing
By Gail Marsh
It’s time—time to fix lingering RV issues before winterizing for the off-season. Our dependable fifth wheel has seen us safely through another year of travel and I’m grateful to have explored the places we visited. I’m thankful, too, for the wonderful people we’ve met along the way and the experiences we’ve shared. I’m a little sad to think we’ll be off the road for a few months but I’m already looking forward to the future trips we’ve planned. Before we winterize our rig and put it into storage, I’m determined to fix some little irritating RV issues.
Ask Dave
I need a 30-amp surge protector. Which do you recommend?
Dear Dave,
We are required to use 30-amp services. We have never used a surge protector. I need to purchase one for our camper, but there are so many makes on the market. Can you recommend which one to buy? —Robert, 2016 Coachmen Catalina
Not just for kids! This RV coloring book is for adults
When was the last time you colored? We bet it’s been a while. Re-learn the therapeutic comforts of this pastime and start coloring! This coloring book for adults featured hand-drawn designs of RVs of all kinds and beautiful natural scenes. It makes a great gift, too. Give coloring a try again… we bet you’ll love it! Learn more here. (And no, it’s not just for adults—kids would love it, too.)
RV Tours
Tour the tiny 2024 Sunray Sport 149 travel trailer—a modern canned ham
By Cheri Sicard
If you’re in the market for a tiny travel trailer, join Parker from Parker’s POV (a new RV Tour YouTube channel) for a tour of the Sunset Park RV Sunray Sport 149. It might be tiny and nothing fancy, but they did manage to pack a lot into this canned ham for the modern age. This tiny trailer has a lot of features that others in its size range don’t!
Did you decorate your RV for the holidays?
If you decorated your RV (the inside or the outside or both) this year, we want to see a photo (or two or three!). Please submit a photo of your decorated RV, and/or a short paragraph or two telling us about your favorite holiday traditions.
Video of the day
Expert dog trainer provides simple solutions to RV dog problems
By Cheri Sicard
Did you know that MJ from Endless RVing is a professional dog trainer? It’s true, and in the video below she answers some viewer questions about common RV dog problems. These are the simple solutions MJ uses every day with her own dogs in her family’s RV.
“I want to dump our RV Dish TV service”
By Gail Marsh
Yes, you read that correctly. I do not want to continue paying the $9 a month to access our Dish TV satellite service while traveling in our RV. Cost is not the reason I want to cancel. I believe the $9 fee is quite reasonable. It’s certainly not because of poor service. Service has been great! No matter where we’ve traveled, we’ve always been able to access a satellite that delivers all the programming I could ever want. So why cancel Dish TV? Gail explains here.
Reader poll
How often do you FaceTime with someone?
Quick Tip
Lug nut reminder
After you have tire work done, within 10 miles check that the lug nuts are tight. Then re-torque your lug nuts after 100 miles. If you have hubcaps on your wheels, put the hubcaps in your vehicle when the tire work is being performed. You’ll notice the hubcaps are missing every time you approach your vehicle and this will act as a reminder to do the re-torquing. If you don’t have hubcaps, a note on your dash will act as a reminder. Thanks to George Bliss.
On this day last year…
- Ask Dave: Will a “trickle charge” ruin lithium batteries?
- In the RV Shop with Dustin: Cool Tools: Cord hangers from an inner tube
- Video: Christmas decorations—Easy tips for festive fun!
?? MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY ??
If your New Year’s resolution is to eat healthier and/or smarter, this absolutely eggcellent gadget will speed up the process!
Website of the day
Fodor’s Travel: National Parks Directory
Fodor’s Travel lists all the U.S. National Parks. Click on whichever one you’re most interested in, and every article and guide they’ve ever written about that park comes up. Very handy for park trip planning!
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:
• 34 percent read the news on their computer, 33 percent on their smartphone, and 29 percent on their tablet.
• 97 percent do not live with any children aged 15 or younger.
• 63 percent have had something worth $100 or more stolen from them.
Recent poll: How would you describe your mental health?
Recipe of the Day
Easy Butterscotch Pound Cake
by Teri Dunaway from Auburn, AL
If you want to bake with your kids or grandkids, this butterscotch pound cake is a wonderful recipe to make. It’s rich and buttery with a hint of caramel flavor. Leftovers remain moist for days.
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Trivia
Approximately 3.2 million people ride the New York City subway every day. That’s about 38 percent of the entire NYC population.
Readers’ Pet of the Day
“Even at 16 years of age, Rascal (Chuaworgi—Chihuahua/Corgi cross) [or Chigi] loves to get out camping. He is great with our two grandkids and loves to relax beneath the awning, carpet optional. He is a quiet companion who does not bark when others walk by. He enjoys watching the world go by and the peace that goes with it.” —Reginald Brachman
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!
Forget single-use hand warmers, these are better
If your hands are always cold, this is for you! These rechargeable hand warmers are a perfect gift for anyone who spends time outdoors in the cold. The hand warmers have three levels of temperatures and warm up on both sides quickly. The warmers are charged via USB and can even be used as a power bank to power your cell phone and other devices. Stay warm with these.
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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Love the trail cam pictures.
Trail cam pictures? Where? I went back and reviewed and still can’t find a trail cam article/pictures.
Maybe from the National Parks Directory? I didn’t look at that either.
Don’t feel bad, Ken. I can’t find what she’s referring to either.🙄 Have a great day. 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
I agree with Tommy Molnar that the National Parks Directory may be what you are looking for. Here’s the direct URL: https://www.fodors.com/trip-ideas/national-parks
Rascal – you look awesome! Keep rocking it and Merry Christmas to you and your family. Don
Great reminder on the lug nuts. And 10 miles is a good point to check them. Last spring I removed the tires, checked the brakes, greased my bearings, rotated the tires, installed the tires and torqued all the bolts. A little over 20 miles down the road I lost a wheel. Somehow the lug nuts on that one tire loosened up. Thankfully the person following me flashed his lights. I looked back and saw one tire missing. He retrieved the tire. I “limped” to a safe place to replace the tire. A local auto parts place had 9/16″ lug nuts that fit. Replaced I was off again. I had always read: Check the lug nuts after 50 miles. NOPE. Stop after 10 miles and check. Yes, thanks George Bliss.
Loved today’s laugh!!
I ordered one of those snowmen too and Ikea sent it to Florida anyway. I couldn’t figure out why it had rained just on my front porch.
Thank you, Emily and Diane! 🙂 Hey, you guys are writers, isn’t it healthfully rather than healthier that we should be eating? Rascal is a beautiful dog; wish ours was as small as he appears. Loved the funny for today even though I barely smiled outwardly; I was laughing uncontrollably inside. It is too true of IKEA stuff. 😉
Nope. Healthier appears to be correct within the context.
Whatevvvver, you guys. (But thanks, Kelly.👍) Emily wrote it and it’s just an ad, so we get some leeway on those. Plus, it sounds better to say “healthier and/or smarter” than “healthfully and/or smarter.” Or, how ’bout healthfullier and/or smarter”?🤣 Y’all have a good night. 😀 –Diane
Todays pet looks identical to my Foxy Lady Bug but she is a pom chi. But I bet that dog has an attitude just like my lady bug.
RE: Dish TV, is anyone having the same trouble as I am when it comes to getting a connection to the satellites when moving to a new location. Ever since satellite 129 was decommissioned earlier this year I cannot get “connected” as easily anymore……have spent hours on the phone with advanced tech support.
If you happen to be in Quartzite..stop by the dish installer shop at the main intersection (ne corner I think). They got this same problem fixed for our travel partner in a short time.