Issue 2296
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
“Make a career of humanity. Commit yourself to the noble struggle for equal rights. You will make a better person of yourself, a greater nation of your country, and a finer world to live in.” —Martin Luther King Jr.
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
On this day in history: 1889 – The Coca-Cola Company, then known as the Pemberton Medicine Company, is incorporated in Atlanta.
Did you see the news? Click here for the latest news for RVers
Tip of the Day
How NOT to pack an RV
By Gail Marsh
How does the famous line go? “It was the best of times; it was the worst of times.” Family from out of state paid a surprise Christmas visit at the same time we were busy preparing and getting our RV packing list updated and ready for our RV extended stay in Florida.
Imagine cooking for a crowd while simultaneously attempting to clear out the stix-n-brix refrigerator. Visualize stocking up for an extended out-of-state vacation during the hectic Christmas shopping rush. Or boxing up Christmas decorations while packing boxes of necessities for the RV trip. (I had nightmares about opening a box of Christmas ornaments upon our arrival in Florida!) I’m embarrassed to admit it, but this is not how to pack an RV—not even close!
Fifth Wheel Hitches at Amazon. Big selection. Great prices! Free delivery on most hitches for Prime members.
Ask Dave
Why is there good water pressure in RV bathroom but only a dribble in the kitchen?
Dear Dave,
I have hot and cold running water in my bathroom but only drops coming out in the kitchen sink. When I checked the strainer at the faucet there were no contaminants present. I experienced the same symptoms 3-4 months ago. The dealer’s solution was to replace the faucet. The problem went away until yesterday. Now it’s back again. By the way, we closed the valve, went to bed and this morning we opened it. We had pressure for only a second, then it stopped again. Any advice? —Don, Salem Cruise Lite 24RLXL
Take an extra 10% off a GhostBed luxury RV mattress!
The GhostBed RV mattress is 10” deep, crafted with gel memory foam for coolness, has 3 layers of luxurious comfort and is perfectly sized for your RV! Ahhhh… Wake up relaxed and rejuvenated. RVtravel.com readers now get an EXTRA 10% OFF a GhostBed Luxury RV Mattress! CLICK HERE and use code RVTRAVEL10. Watch RVtravel.com’s Tony Barthel’s RV mattress review here.
RV Reviews
The 2024 Salem FSX 30VCVIEW—redefining towable RVs (with secrets!)
By Tony Barthel
Today’s RV review is of the Salem FSX 30VCVIEW travel trailer. Before we go further, I’d like to encourage you to clear your mind of what you know about towable RVs. If you’ve already looked at the photo, which I imagine you have, you’re going to have a preconceived notion of what this is, but it’s almost not what it is. What am I getting at?
In the RV Shop with Dustin
My RV water heater clicks multiple times but won’t light. Why?
By Dustin Simpson
Here is a sample from one of our past Talkin’ RV Tech shows where one of our viewers asked for help diagnosing their Suburban water heater. It’s a common problem: “My water heater clicks multiple times, but won’t light.”
If the water heater attempts to light but does not sense the flame, it’s a telltale sign that something is wrong with the electrode…
Camping activity and puzzle book perfect for indoor winter fun
Even though this activity and puzzle book is meant for children, we bet you’ll have fun with it too. All the puzzles are camping-themed. It’s perfect to bring along in the RV to have fun when it’s too cold or wet to go outside. Inside you’ll find word searches, mazes, scavenger hunts, animal tracks, hidden pictures, word scrambles, hiking logs and much more! Learn more or order.
Video of the day
The 7 red flags of potential bad RV neighbors
By Cheri Sicard
Mike and Jennifer, the team behind the RV Lifestyle YouTube channel, have a lot of experience at campgrounds. In the video below they talk about how you can often choose your perfect campsite, in the perfect park or location, only to have your trip ruined by bad RV neighbors. Ugggh.
We have certainly all been there, from rude, loud music at all hours, to trashy campsites, to bright lights left on all night. So Mike and Jennifer set out to figure out how to spot rude RV neighbors BEFORE you park next to them and set up camp.
In memory of Martin Luther King Jr.—A historic site tells an important story
By Chris Epting
During this month when we pay particular attention to Martin Luther King Jr., I wanted to recommend the tragic site where he was killed in 1968, which has become a profoundly interesting and well-developed museum. We all know what happened at the Lorraine Motel on that fateful day when King was assassinated. We can see the images of his entourage pointing across the parking lot toward the window where James Earl Ray fired the fatal shot. Continue reading.
Reader poll
When was the last time you saw a movie at a movie theater?
Quick Tip
Wash out your water heater!
UPDATED Jan. 15, 2024, 5:10 p.m.: A lot of people overlook washing out their water heaters a minimum of once a year. It’s simple. Suburban water heaters usually have an anode rod. It takes a 1-1/16 socket to remove it. Your Atwood water heater only needs a plug, no anode rod. Also, after you clean your water heater do not turn it on immediately. Contrary to popular belief, turning on an empty RV water heater will not result in the “motherboard” circuit burning up. However, turning it on electric (120 volts AC) will burn up the heating element. Turning it on gas (propane), while not a good idea, will not result in any immediate damage. Make sure water comes out of the pressure relief valve after refilling, assuring water is in the tank, and you can turn it on immediately. Otherwise, give it about a half-hour before turning it on. If your faucets are not running well after cleaning, remove the screens on each faucet and clean them. —Thanks to Steve K. for the tip from the RVtravel.com RV Advice Facebook page. And thanks to Dave Helgeson for the updated info.
Website of the day
Winners of Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2023
These photos are truly something—they’re beautiful and incredible and wow-inducing! You won’t believe some of them are real (but they are!).
?? MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY ??
You know we love a handy product, and this, for people who spend so much time in the driver and passenger seat, is handy! Trust us, we think you’ll want this!
Popular articles you may have missed at RVtravel.com
- Are boondocking myths limiting you to crowded campgrounds?
- Every RVer has a gear, gadget or accessory purchase they regret
- See what happened when RVers overfilled their fresh water tank
Recipe of the Day
Colby Jack Cheesy Bread
by Anthony Nicometi Jr from Cheektowaga, NY
This savory bread is a must for any cheese fan. It can be served with anything from spaghetti to barbecue. Enjoy it fresh from the oven, toast it with a bit of butter or add a little garlic spread on top for cheesy garlic bread. The amount of Colby Jack in this bread is perfect. Yum!
[wbcr_snippet id=”337364″ title=”AHM Video Recipe Widget”]
Trivia
About 2,000 people are estimated to have plunged to their deaths from the Golden Gate Bridge since 1937 — an average of about two people a month.
Readers’ Pets of the Day
“In our sticks-n-bricks home, Miss Kitty never wanted outside. Now, she lets me know when she wants out and sits patiently while getting her harness/leash on. I leave the screen door open, and she heads in when ready. That’s 14.5-year-old Booboo (Pomeranian) watching.” —Karen Talley
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
What happens if you eat aluminum foil?
You sheet metal!
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 2024 by RV Travel LLC.
MLK had it right… Judge a person by the quality of their character and not the color of their skin. Nuff said.
So true!
Yes; Agree!!
I tell my kids, ONE RACE. The human race.
Thank you, Emily and Diane! Boy, that is a lot of bridge jumpers! 🙁 So sad.
If Chicago is the windy city then maybe the Golden Gate Bridge should be renamed the windy bridge? Just a thought.
Today’s laugh…Groan ! Really sad to see the trivia results
Heartfelt wishes from the Proofs for a steady handed surgeon followed by a quick and complete recovery from your upcoming procedure Bill. For your wife, our wish for her is a patient that follows orders and isn’t too grouchy. ✌️
A lot of comments yesterday on Gail and Keith’s recent health scare or I may have chimed in yesterday. Didn’t want to step on her message which was moving and important.
Yes her message was very moving and I really hesitated to step on her story, but the opportunity presented itself for me to finally get it “off my chest” so to speak.
Thank you for your kind thoughts and I promise to be the best, well behaved patient that I can be for my wife !🤗
Your message was a value add to an already great article. No stepping on implied from me for you. When my handle pops up and I’m sure it is a value subtract for some people, for some topics. I’ll leave it there, God Bless.
Your handle is almost always a plus for me Cancel 👍
Loved Kitty and Boo-boo!😀