Issue 2284
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
“Heard melodies are sweet, but those unheard are sweeter.” ―
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Card Playing Day!
On this day in history: 1895 – Wilhelm Röntgen publishes a paper detailing his discovery of a new type of radiation, which later will be known as X-rays. The achievement earned Röntgen the first Nobel Prize in Physics in 1901.
Tip of the Day
Tricks to using paper towel holders in and around an RV
By Gail Marsh
Recently when cleaning cupboards, I found an unused paper towel holder. Just as I placed the extra holder into the “donate” box, I stopped to think. I quickly grabbed the paper towel holder back out of the box. I knew I could come up with some tips and tricks for using paper towel holders in an RV. So here they are! Hint: Dollar Tree has lightweight paper towel holders for $1.25—a great bargain!
Ask Dave
All systems work fine on shore power, but why is 12-volt inoperable when disconnected?
Dear Dave,
When we have shore power, all systems work fine. But without shore power, the 12-volt system is inoperable. Both batteries are new with good voltage and test out fine. I know nothing about the converter or testing it. Hey, by the way… Merry Christmas! —Cal, 2017 23-foot Springdale by Keystone
RV Tours
Tailgater’s dream: 2024 Holiday Rambler Admiral 29M Class A motorhome
By Cheri Sicard
In the video below join Matt and Andrea of Matt’s RV Reviews, one of our readers’ favorite RV YouTube channels, for a tour of the 2024 Holiday Rambler Admiral 29M, a Class A motorhome that Matt says is really going to appeal to the football fans, NASCAR fans, or anyone else who loves tailgate parties.
Video of the day
Boondocking parking: Why you should park facing east
By Cheri Sicard
If you boondock in wide open spaces, you have a whole lot of choices when it comes to where and how you park your RV. In the video below, the RVgeeks make a good case for why, whenever possible, you should face east when boondocking—if you have a motorhome like theirs. You will want to adjust this boondocking parking advice depending on the type and style and RV you use, but the RVgeeks thought that sharing the reasons why they do this might help other boondockers discover what will work best for them.
RVelectricity™
with Mike Sokol
Get the right tool for the job!
It’s been a fun week at the old homestead. A steam pipe buried under the cement floor in the basement of my 99-year-old house developed a significant leak. It was losing up to 100 gallons of water a day under the foundation. Yikes! I used a few interesting tools to find where the leak was located, and dig up the pipes for replacement.
While not exactly an RV problem, these types of tools and troubleshooting techniques might be helpful to you, no matter if your house is on wheels or a foundation. Continue reading about Mike’s new toys … er … tools.
Reader poll
How often do you use swear words?
Quick Tip
Three sets of keys means not losing all
“I have three complete sets of RV keys. One is in my pocket, one is in a secret but accessible place on the outside of the coach, and one is with my son (or friend) in a Fed-X envelope filled out with my account number ready to address and send to me in an emergency.” Thanks to Joe B.
?? MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY ??
Have a dog or a cat that comes RVing with you? Then you absolutely need this! It could save your pet’s life one day.
On this day last year…
- Tip: Use the off-season wisely to get ready for next season’s trips
- Ask Dave: Why does RV’s rear furnace work but front one blows cold air?
- In the RV Shop with Dustin: Kwikee Entry Steps repair diagnosis and critical maintenance tips
- Video: 6 places to find RV water on the road
- Featured article: This app lets you read historical markers without even stopping
Website of the day
Travel Wyoming: Things to Do
The official Wyoming tourism website is great for finding things to do, trip itineraries, food and drink options, and much more.
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:
• The top two most favorite ways to eat eggs are fried and scrambled. The least most favorite method is soft boiled.
• 40 percent haven’t had a nightmare in years. Lucky you!
• 56 percent never use a printed directory when searching for a campground.
Recent poll: Is Christmas your favorite holiday?
Recipe of the Day
Bread and Butter Pickles
by Barbara Alden from Bolivar, MO
Homemade pickles are delicious on a burger, a sandwich, or even just to munch on. We loved the pleasant, tart taste of these. They’re crunchy, sweet, and sour. You taste a slight hint of apple cider vinegar. Easy to make, these bread and butter pickles will be a staple in your fridge. The longer they sit in their juices, the better they get.
[wbcr_snippet id=”337364″ title=”AHM Video Recipe Widget”]
Trivia
Mount Rushmore is predicted to erode 1 inch every 10,000 years.
Readers’ Pets of the Day
“Piper and Radar, Scottish Terriers (“terrierists”). There’s nothing better than a campground with squirrels chasing around the trees!” —Jane Asbury
HELP! WE’RE RUNNING LOW ON PET PHOTOS! Please send us a photo of your pet 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.
Pet First Aid: The basic kit you should carry with you at all times. This is important!
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 features 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.)
Leave here with a laugh
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.
If you shop at Amazon.com we’d appreciate you using this link. We get an itty bitty commission if you buy something, but they add up and help us pay our bills (most importantly our hard-working writers!).
Contact information
Editor: Emily Woodbury
CONTACT US
Editorial (all but news): editor@rvtravel.com
Editorial (news): chuck@rvtravel.com
Advertising. Information here
Help desk: Contact us
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.
RVtravel.com is a participant in many affiliate programs, including the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Regardless of the potential revenue, unless stated otherwise, we only recommend products or services we believe provide value to our readers.
Mail us at 9792 Edmonds Way, #265, Edmonds, WA 98020.
This newsletter is copyright 2023 by RV Travel LLC.
I like the Fed-X envelope idea. One I will “steal” today.
Having a spare set of keys will help prevent one from locking themselves out of their RV or in an emergency should the primary set become missing. Having to call a locksmith will be expensive. We have spare set of keys (includes all locks, ignition and including auto) in a secure place hidden outside our MH. We also have a complete set back at home with family should we need them. Planning ahead will help you deal with a lock out should it occur. Good Advice!!!
Keys? I carry a set, my wife has a set and a hidden key outside. There’s only 2 keys.
The trailer can’t lock us out, the truck has a push button entry and I carry a spare truck key in my wallet.
We have 2 sets of keys, one for each of us. I don’t trust “secret” locations, because thieves know them all – you haven’t worked out anything unique.
When our trailer is in storage, one set of RV keys stays in the truck, so I don’t forget to take them when I go out to the storage lot!
Agree. ‘Secret’ only keeps the honest, honest. And in most cases, ‘secret’ includes crawling or at least kneeling. If you are going to put keys outside your rig, at least use the device many realtors use – a solid steel combo lock box that attaches to a door knob. Find a fixed member on the rig where the ‘door knob’ loop can encircle. Doesn’t matter if somebody sees it. Yes these boxes can be broken, but it’s easier to break a window.
we secured the lock box inside the propane compartment
which is the only one without a lock
“Today’s Thought” makes no sense to me.
We have spare keys for everything we own. Cars, house, RV, sheds, everything. They are buried in the back yard in an easy to get to spot as long as you know where that spot is. Our kids are the only others that know. Inside, with the keys, are two small nip-sized bottles of Gentleman Jack. We figure if the kids need to retrieve these keys, they are going to need the GJ. 😀 🙂
Our spare keys are hidden in the house and/ or the garage which our kids have access to and know where the location of the spares are. They also know the location of my bourbon if needed😲
Hi, Tommy. I had to look up Today’s Thought when I first saw it. It means, basically: “The power of our imagination is often greater than reality.” Have a great day, and a terrific and healthy 2024! 🤗 –Diane
Darn poets, wouldn’t you know it. What they have to say, is in such a strange way.
Kelly, let’s see if I can respond in kind, and hopefully you (and others) won’t mind.
But it’s been a very long day and I really don’t know what to say.
My brain is fried, and earlier tonight I could’ve tried,
But I just found your comment; the delay which I now lament.
Plus, I have a pain in the head, so it’s about time to go to bed.
I just replied to a nice comment from Neal, about all the fun stuff at RVtravel.com with which I get to deal.
But I’m pretty sure writing poetry isn’t in my job description, so I’ll sign off before y’all have a conniption.
I think I’ll keep my day job.🤣 Have a good night.🤗 –Diane
This was definitely worth staying up until 1:00 am for, poet! By THE way, you don’t have just a day job if you are taking care of business at 1:00 AM..
What are YOU doing up so late?! It’s only 10:20 here. Like I tell Chuck, et al., I work 27/7/365. (Except for the “27”, it’s not an exaggeration.) Gotta take some Tylenol and hit the sack. Been at this since 7:30 this morning. Have a good night, Kelly. 😀 –Diane
I have no idea why my brain does what it does. I got up at 2:00 PM and that is when I took my Tylenol. I’m going to try to end my day. Nite
Good night, Kelly. I hope you sleep well (and that you don’t read this until Friday, which it already is where you are). If you get up at 2 p.m. and take Tylenol, maybe it’s from being horizontal for too long. I’ve noticed (well, a long time ago) when I would stay in bed for too long I’d end up with a headache. Now I don’t get enough sleep, plus lots of old-age aches in addition to an occasional headache, so I take Tylenol Arthritis in the morning and at night. But I really have absolutely no complaints, all things considered. Take care.🤗 –Diane
Thank You Dr. Diane.
🤣 Dang, I wore a lot of different hats last night, eh, Kelly? My 10-minute “poem” was pathetic. Best I could do after a 15-hour day and with a headache and fried brain. (Maybe that’s what caused the headache.🤔) Have a great evening/night. 😀 -Diane
I think that maybe many a poem was written when the poet’s brain was partially “fried”.
Yeah. That probably goes for music, as well. But my kind of “fried” brain isn’t in the same category as the other kind.🤣 –Diane
Wyoming…NOT. I am from there and avoid the state like the plague…unless you like high winds.
Oh gee..we plan to spend time there this summer! Even though we spent 2 weeks at Yellowstone and Grand Tetons, we parked our RV in West Yellowstone MT…no WY sticker for our map…we are sure we missed something! Just ordered travel info….
There is a lot to see in Wyoming, just like any other state we have visited. We really didn’t see much in the way of high winds in the month we were traveling around the state. Enjoy the journey.
Thank you..that’s reassuring!
Piper and Radar are wonderful examples of Scotties. I also have a wheaten and a black. They are good campers! Absolutely love your two terrorists.
The “thought for the day” made me think of rap, not that there’s anything wrong with that
We have four sets of keys. One for me, my wife has one in her purse and now we have one secretly placed and one in my shop. I have a drivers door which has the push down lock button – it can be opened from the inside with the button pushed down! Close it from the outside you’re locked out!. (Think gas station). Also the main entry door has a similar situation if the slide button is set to lock – it opens from the inside and locks from the outside! Had to call Good Sam roadside service, in my own yard, to get in one day! That’s when two additional key sets were made!
Thank you, Emily and Diane! Happy new year! Keys? We keep a set in the RV and a set in the Jeep that we tow, unless either set gets moved. Then they are somewhere else for a while, but get returned where they belong after a while. And our RV has an assist handle with buttons that can be used to unlock the door, but not move it. 😉 Safe travels and happy new year! 🙂
I may not be a sailor but I sure swear like one.