Issue 2278
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 best way to cheer yourself is to cheer somebody else up.” ―
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Go Caroling Day!
On this day in history: 1946 – The popular Christmas film “It’s a Wonderful Life” is first released in New York City.
Tip of the Day
Driving a Class A is not as scary as it looks
Russ and Tiña De Maris
Many folks, on “thinking” about getting their first Class A motorhome, are a bit intimidated. After all, they’re so BIG! However do you pilot that big thing down the road? How could you ever get comfortable maneuvering so much mass? Here’s some advice from those who’ve made the big leap and now are proud pilots of those big coaches.
Like any other RV, one of the best things to do is to find a big empty parking lot and start “getting the feel for it.” Set up safety cones (or cardboard boxes) and get a firsthand feel for turning, backing and maneuvering.
Ask Dave
My trailer axle has a grease zerk fitting. Will that lubricate the bearings?
Dear Dave,
You are absolutely the best and most detailed, knowledgeable individual that I have ever seen or heard or read! Thanks for being so thorough all the time with your responses to someone’s inquiry. My question is simple. When you grease the Zerk fitting on travel trailer axles, does the grease get to the inner bearing as well as the outer bearing? Once again, thanks! Thanks for being such a detail-oriented, hard-working individual. —Manny, 2014 Keystone Outback 323BH
RV Reviews
2024 Cruiser RV MPG 2100RB—For better or worse
Today’s RV review is of the 2024 Cruiser RV MPG 2100RB. Cruiser and MPG are part of the Heartland line, which is part of Thor.
There’s a reason this is a popular floor plan for several manufacturers. It offers really good usability and a rather open feeling.
In the RV Shop with Dustin
Why fifth wheel frames crack, and how to prevent it from happening
The cracking of fifth wheel frames can occur due to various factors, and it’s important to identify and address the root causes to prevent further damage.
Here are some common reasons why fifth wheel frames may crack…
Click here to continue reading
Video of the day
Cheap van conversion: Turn a rented van into an RV for $365!
By Cheri Sicard
In the video below we join Bob Wells from Cheap RV Living for a guide that will help would-be campers that don’t have much of a budget. In it, he shows a cheap van conversion where he turns a rented U-Haul van into a camping-ready RV for just $365!
Bob came up with this plan while he was in Alaska visiting his son. He didn’t want to drive to Alaska, so he flew instead. Then he rented the van, which he intended to stay in while he did some Alaska explorations (an interesting idea for an alternative to driving to Alaska). But, of course, Bob wanted a bit more functionality than just an empty cargo van.
Around the Campfire: Should RVers be worried about nighttime theft in RV parks?
By Gail Marsh
We were happy to welcome a “newbie RVer” to the campfire last night. His enthusiasm seemed to roll off him in waves! He’s beginning his full-time adventure in a previously loved (pre-owned) travel trailer. … He’s really excited but he has questions… and one big, disturbing question about nighttime theft. One question prompted vigorous discussion. “What do you do with your lawn chairs, coolers, and BBQ grill at night?” Continue reading.
Reader poll
For dog owners: Would you pay 20% more for a fenced campsite where your dog could run free?
Fix it In Foil! Tasty Recipes. Easy cleanup!
BEST SELLER: Easy prep, great taste, good nutrition, quick clean-up! “Fix It In Foil” includes 51 fantastic recipes to make in foil — plus instructions for cooking in an oven, on an outdoor grill, or on a campfire. Fix it in foil and forget about scrubbing pots and pans. And, with plenty of substitution suggestions, enjoy a whole new list of recipe possibilities! Great for RVing! Learn more or order.
Quick Tip
Generator in your truck bed? How to minimize annoying your neighbors
Want to really alienate your neighbors? Mount a “contractor grade” generator in your pickup bed and run it. Truck beds are to generators like amplifiers to guitars. If you really need to run your generator in your truck bed, consider adding an automotive-type exhaust system to the generator, and isolating the generator physically from the bed by using thick rubber matting under the generator-to-bed contact points.
On this day last year…
- Tip: Traveling a long distance in your RV for Christmas or another time soon? You need these tips!
- Ask Dave: What can I run to adequately “exercise” my generator this winter?
- Video: 2023 national parks and federal land passes explained (describes changes made in 2023)
- Featured article: How cold does it have to be to set tire pressure correctly?
Website of the day
Vital Vegas
All the insider news, information and tips you should know about Las Vegas. It’s the stuff the media doesn’t cover, and the stuff that business owners don’t want you to find out.
?? MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY ??
Okay, this is just plain cute! Do the “look inside” feature and trust us, you’ll want it!
Popular articles you may have missed at RVtravel.com
- Getting a handle on my RV’s steps with the Safe-T-Rail
- Why does electrical adapter trip the circuit breaker?
- The tire says “Max Pressure”. Should I bleed out air?
Recipe of the Day
Christmas Peanut Butter Coconut Cherry Balls
by Lynelle Caldwell from Durango, CO
Lynelle’s mom knew what she was doing when she made this recipe. It’s not your standard chocolate peanut butter ball recipe. It’s so much more decadent. The peanut butter filling is smooth, creamy and just melts in your mouth. Maraschino cherries add a lovely cherry flavor while the coconut gives a bit of crunch to every bite. The chocolate coating is perfection. These easy peanut butter balls will be a delicious addition to a dessert table.
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Trivia
Who invented Dorito chips? The origin of one of America’s best-selling chips can be traced back to the Frontierland restaurant, Casa de Fritos, in Disneyland in the early 1960s. There, the chef came up with the idea to take the extra tortillas, slice them into small wedges, fry them, and season them like chilaquiles, only dry and not wet. The chips were such a hit that the VP of marketing for Frito-Lay struck a deal and began selling them in 1964. They were named Doritos in 1966.
Readers’ Pet of the Day
“Gigi (Havanese/Maltese mix) is loving in her own way. Doesn’t require much hands-on loving, which is good and bad, but she does love any camping adventure.” —Larry Hobdey
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.
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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Gigi seems like she turns her head and looks at you like our Havanese pup does. I’d never recommend a Havanese to anyone. They claim they’re a calm well mannered dog like a Bishon. Mine isn’t, she part dog, part cat and part Tasmanian devil. She can’t do anything without getting into trouble, bought her to keep a senior Bishon company. She torments him. She never would learn what no is. She’s bonded to me closely. but gets mean with the wife. We do take her camping. She’ll be a year old Christmas day.
Your dog appears to believe she is the pack leader and does not respect you or your wife since you are a subordinate to her. Get training help before someone gets bit.
All breeds are trainable.
Loved the “Leave Here With a Laugh”! But the “Recipe of the Day”? Not so much. Just reading the list of ingredients sent my blood sugar through the roof! “4 C powdered sugar”? Holy moly! They do sound heavenly though. 😀
Thank you, Emily and Diane! Merry Christmas!
Thank you for the web site ‘Vital Vegas’
We have discovered that it costs less to fly in, rent a car, see a show, stay a few days, do some hiking, than to spend a weekend in Seattle. Plus Vegas is cleaner!
That cat sounds like my IzzaBella. Wild child gets into everything. Sometimes I wonder when she is going to be dinner. Not. But there are times I just want to go what was I thinking. But I love her any how. As for driving a class A? Uh huh. Easy if you watch out for the other guy who has know idea what they are doing. I call it vacation state of mind. Watch for them. They can be annoying and amusing at times.