Issue 2290
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
“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime.” —Mark Twain
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Whipped Cream Day!
On this day in history: 1914 – The Ford Motor Company announces an eight-hour workday and minimum daily wage of $5 in salary plus bonuses.
Tip of the Day
Don’t make these 7 RVing mistakes like other RVers have!
By Nanci Dixon
In my new weekly RV “mistakes” column, we have heard from many RVtravel.com readers about the mistakes they have made. We all make mistakes, I have made some biggies, too. Some of the mistakes below have happened to others and some to us, but some, thankfully, have not! Don’t let them happen to you either!
7 RV mistakes to avoid
Not checking site length before reserving
We were camp hosts for a park that had two sections—one for large RVs and one for smaller RVs and tents. Every day someone had made reservations for a too-small site and, with everything else booked, we had to turn them away. Not happy campers!
We have learned by looking at Google Earth and any of the available campground photos that there may be a little wiggle room to extend back over a concrete bumper when we hope to park our tow car with the RV. We can’t count on it though. Those concrete bumpers vary in height and we always double-check before extending over them.
Editor’s note: Here’s a secret to using Google Earth to accurately measure an area.
Ask Dave
RVer’s GFCI reset issue solved, and some of your related comments
Last week I got an email from Ron, who had a GFCI reset issue. I won’t bore you with repeating the same article, but you can read it here if you have not done so already. We received quite a few comments from readers about their experiences with GFCI and other outlets. I thought it would make a good follow-up article to feature a few. Then today, I got an email back from Ron stating that he had found the problem. We don’t always get a chance to hear the outcome, so here is the solution and some of your comments.
BTW: If you’re at the Mobile (AL) RV Show today, Saturday or Sunday, Dave will be presenting several seminars each day. Check the list of seminars for the topics you might be interested in, then be sure to stop by to say “Hi” between seminars.
How pure is your drinking water? Find out!
This handy, affordable, digital water tester will tell you your overall water purity level, which will be displayed on the screen in ppm (parts per million). Just stick it in about 1 inch of water and instantly you get the reading. It’s compact and doesn’t need any maintenance. It includes a protective carrying case with a belt clip. This is handy for all RVers to have.
In the RV Shop with Dustin
A guide to repairing travel trailer tire blowout damage
Damage caused by an RV tire blowout involves addressing both immediate safety concerns and restoring the affected components.
Here’s a general guide for repairing travel trailer tire blowout damage.
Video of the day
Make easy cheese Danish pastry in your RV with King’s Hawaiian rolls
By Cheri Sicard
The video below from Catherine’s Plates [362K subscribers, 47M views] features a terrific easy cheese Danish pastry recipe that you can make in your RV using King’s Hawaiian Sweet Rolls. Use it anytime you want to make a breakfast treat, or add to a potluck breakfast buffet. They even make a delicious dessert. No matter when you serve them, they’re sure to be a hit!
Is it possible to get locked INSIDE your RV?
By Gail Marsh
The game “Ding, dong, dash!” made the rounds in our stix-n-brix subdivision a while back. What happened was some pranksters decided it would be funny to run up to a home, ring the doorbell, and then quickly run away. … [T]his reminded me of something… Some time ago I read about pranksters in an RV park who locked several RVers inside their rigs. How? Find out here. Could it happen to you?
Rub on stain remover laundry stick and stains are gone!
Cheri Sicard loves the Cadie Stubborn Stain Remover laundry stick. She writes, “What is so great about a laundry stick stain remover? It’s the consistency of a stick deodorant. You just rub it on the stain and toss the clothes in the hamper until laundry day, when you wash as usual. Presto! No more stains.” Learn more about it here.
You may have missed these recent popular stories…
- RVer says “the kind of folks camping has really gone downhill”
- Boondocking parking: Why you should park facing east
- My GFCI outlet will not reset but all circuit breakers are good. What gives?
- New line for Grand Design: Check out the Influence 3503GK fifth wheel
Reader poll
Does it bother you if dirty dishes are left in the sink overnight?
(Sorta) Quick Tip
After the leak–take steps to prevent permanent water damage
#1 – If the area that’s gotten wet is covered with carpet or rubber mats, you must peel it back to bare wood.
#2 – Use a fan until all of the dampness completely evaporates. This may take days. As long as you’re patient, you might be able to prevent mold from developing inside your RV.
#3 – Before you close everything up, be sure to run the pump for a few minutes and check every single fitting that you had any contact with. The one you replaced may be fine, but the two you loosened or took off may be leaking now!
TIP: Plumbing fittings are sensitive. Many times, once they’ve been disturbed they will never seal up again. Expect this, and check your work carefully. Being thorough and double-checking your work will help you avoid further damage.
#4 – Listen closely. Odd sounds may help you recognize problems—like when the water pump keeps cycling, it’s trying to tell you something.
If you respond quickly to an RV plumbing leak, you could save thousands of dollars that would be better spent enjoying your vacation instead of making RV repairs. —From RV Roadtrips, the fun times guide.
On this day last year…
- Tip: Cables in a tangle? Use this quick tip to tame them
- Ask Dave: Why did RV’s lights and fridge stop operating on generator?
- Featured article: Rock strike! Who’s responsible for your broken windshield?
Website of the day
The most famous home in every state
If you have a little bit of time to kill, read this list of the most famous homes in all 50 states. There are some neat lookin’ houses here with fascinating histories.
?? MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY ??
Men, you need these! Or ladies, If you need a gift for your hubby, this would be it! Actually, all the options here are pretty nice. Which one is your favorite?
Clubs and useful organizations
PLEASE NOTE: We may receive an affiliate commission if you join any of these.
• Harvest Hosts: Stay free at farms, wineries and other scenic and peaceful locations for free. Save 15% on membership.
• AllStays: The best website for RVers! Your membership will become your RV-bible.
• Boondockers Welcome: Stay at homes of RVers who welcome you in their driveways, yards, farmland or other space on their private property. Modest membership fee.
• Escapees: Best Club for RVers: All RVers welcome, no matter what type of RV, make or model.
• RV LIFE Trip Wizard: Make your RV road trip planning easier than ever.
ENJOY RV GADGETS? Make sure you read yesterday’s brand-new RV Great Accessories Newsletter! It’s filled with gadgets galore!
Recipe of the Day
Italian Frittata
by Beth French from Kinston, NC
The egg and vegetable medley in this simple frittata is divine. The eggs are soft and creamy. All the veggies pair well together and the Italian seasoning packs a punch of flavor. Quick and easy, this frittata is great for breakfast, brunch or even dinner.
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Trivia
Alaska is the largest U.S. state with 586,412 square miles. It’s twice the size of Texas, which is the next largest state.
Readers’ Pet of the Day
“Rose, our Bichon Frise, Cavalier King Charles, Toy Poodle mix. Stopped at an In-N-Out on a trip to CA. Thought we’d have some fun dressing up Rose serving us our lunch. (Yes, she was rewarded with a few bites of plain beef patty and a fry or two.) I wish In-N-Out would open a few restaurants in N/W WA state.” —Jim Van Riper [Jim, I see four in Oregon and one in Idaho. Maybe we’ll be next, in Washington.🤞But I doubt any of our servers will be as adorable as Rose. —Diane]
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!
Sewer fitting grip help! Gadget to the rescue!
If you find the bayonet mounts for your sewer hose connections are getting a bit hard to twist off and on (hate to say it, but it sometimes comes with age), here’s a tool that might help. An adjustable oil filter wrench, made to get a grip around automotive oil filters, can also provide a handy grip and plenty of leverage on the bayonet fitting of your sewer hose, and the termination cap as well. Here’s one we recommend.
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 today’s thought! So true.
True in one direction, but not necessarily in the other. Lots of broad-minded people have never travelled.
they read a lot of books
I would think it could go the other way too. People aren’t born to hate… life events from other people outside their circle can cause it.
Or in their circle.
Maybe it’s just me but no one travels more than the political class and they seem like the dumbest of the dumb with zero common sense. Lack empathy and actively employ bigotry as a normal course of doing business. Not a one sided statement. It is a universal truth.
God bless us all. Journey safe.
Maybe it’s an,: “I’ve been everywhere, so I know everything.” attitude. But I don’t count airports.
Yes, agreed.
We have one of those filter wrenches for getting the top off of our portable water softener.
They also work for hard to open jars.
Rose! What a cutie.
Laugh of the day was good. Famous country comedian Jerry Clower told of his mother was able to endure all kinds of weather, but when they came out with the wind chill factor his momma would be freezing all winter long. He said if he ever met that person he would punch him in the nose. Lol
Had the very same electrical issue on a 5th wheel I had bought new in 2017. I replaced with a new junction box and wire nuts. I have a winnebago motorhome now but still carry spare elect connections (waggo connectors) and higher quality outlets. Thanks for posting the update on that GFI issue.
Excellent-and timely quote today. Thank you Mark Twain
Thank you, Emily and Diane! 🙂
Rose, you can serve me lunch anytime! She is sooooo cute.
Rose you are a Wonderful Want-to-be Server! Adorable Furbaby and your Furfamily are Proud of you. You placed huge SMILES on our faces!
Dawn dish soap makes the best stain remover. As for dirty dishes I do them in the morning to get the hot water tank going.