Issue 2298
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
“Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless.” ―
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Hot Buttered Rum Day!
On this day in history: 1920 – Alcohol Prohibition begins in the United States as the Volstead Act goes into effect.
Tip of the Day
Tips for optimizing and organizing your RV refrigerator
By Gail Marsh
Most every RVer I know has things they like and don’t like about their rig. For us? It’s the fridge that we don’t particularly care for. It’s not a residential model so I feel like a magician when I attempt to put groceries inside—it’s just so small! An “abracadabra” won’t help enlarge or organize our RV fridge, but there are a few tips that have helped optimize our RV refrigerator usage.
Note: Because there are so many different styles and models of RV refrigerators, it’s impossible to offer meaningful tips that will apply to everyone. That said, most of these should be able to be applied to whatever type of fridge you have in your RV.
One of the things I like to do is experiment with storage products that are commonly used for other applications.
Ask Dave
Sewer smell in RV and vacuum question update, comments, and a possible solution
Last week I posted a question from a reader who was having issues with sewer smells and a vacuum when dumping. I got some feedback from the original poster as well as some criticism from DonH. I also got an email just now from another reader who had a similar situation and found the answer. So I thought it was a good idea to post the comments and to provide an update, as most comments are not viewed and a couple of the comments were direct emails that you would not have seen.
Never lose your glasses or sunglasses again—always keep them nearby
This glasses holder clips to your car’s or RV’s visor so they’re always easily accessible to you. The glasses clip is closed with a magnet, holding it strong enough so that it won’t ever fall out, but is still easy enough to open with one hand. If you find yourself losing your glasses often, or have a hard time keeping them organized, this is for you. We love this! Learn more or order.
RV Reviews
2024 Forest River Cherokee Black Label 256RRBL fifth wheel—no slideouts!
By Tony Barthel
Today’s RV review is of the new-for-2024 Forest River Cherokee Black Label 256RRBL fifth wheel. This is an unusual floor plan in that it’s a fifth wheel trailer at the more affordable end of the price spectrum and one that does not have any slide whatsoever. … I like this package overall, especially for the money. Depending on your style of travel, it may be a great choice.
In the RV Shop with Dustin
Holding tank treatments to help make your RV lifestyle more enjoyable
Holding tanks, especially the black tank, can be the most problematic smell for RVers. These tanks can collect solids and become a strong source of unwanted odor. Water is your friend here. It, along with an effective holding tank treatment, is what allows the tank, and nature, to do their work. Too little water and solids pile up on the bottom of the tank and can accumulate to the point where they prevent complete tank flushing, which is nasty and will produce an equally nasty repair bill.
Video of the day
5 ways around the RV 10-year rule
By Cheri Sicard
The video below from the team at Drivin’ and Vibin’ discusses a heated topic among RVers, the 10-year rule. Many parks have a rule that RVs staying there must be under 10 years old.
While we can all understand the sentiment behind the rule is to keep out junker RVs, it remains unpopular because there are many, many well-kept RVs that are older than 10 years.
Best demonstration of travel trailer sway danger
Trailer sway is dangerous and can ultimately prove deadly when it results in a crash. Here, we believe, is the best video demonstration of how trailer sway occurs and how to prevent it.
Reader poll
Are you a caregiver for a relative?
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.
Helpful resources
• NATIONAL TRAFFIC AND ROAD CLOSURE INFORMATION
• ROAD AND TRAFFIC CONDITIONS ACROSS THE NATION
• WEATHER ALERTS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
• LATEST RV RECALLS
• DIRECTORY OF RV PARKS WITH STORM SHELTERS
• THE BEST RV TRIP PLANNER APPS AND TOOLS
Did you buy a lemon RV? Here’s more about RV lemons and lawyers who will represent you if you need help.
Quick Tip
Removing an overhead mattress
Need to remove a mattress from your motorhome or truck camper overhead? It can be a tight proposition! Start to roll up the mattress, then bind it around with ratchet-style tie down straps. Cinch them up tight, then pull the mattress out. Or buy your new mattress from an outfit that will deliver and install your new mattress!
On this day last year…
- Ask Dave: What sealant should I use on my RV’s exterior?
- Video: Are new heavy-duty trucks cracking in half? This one did!
- Featured article: These are the most common ways to die in a National Park
?? MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY ??
Just when we thought we’d seen them all, we find one we’ve never seen before! And, actually, all these are quite cute…
Website of the day
Find Free Food and Groceries
If you need help getting food or groceries, Feeding America can help. Put in your current area’s ZIP code and find a food bank near you.
Popular articles you may have missed at RVtravel.com
- The covered bridges of Madison County are a sight to behold, especially in fall
- Volley your anger right out of the campground
- Truck and RV catalytic converter theft prevention
Recipe of the Day
Beef and Cheese Enchiladas
by Debbie W. from SW, LA
If you love Mexican food, these enchiladas are a must. The sauce is full of Mexican flavor and slightly spicy. It makes the whole house smell like a Mexican restaurant. Coating the corn tortillas in sauce not only softens them but allows them to soak up all the sauce flavor. What meat you use in this recipe is up to you (we used shredded beef since that’s what’s in the name). The sauce is where it’s at for this enchilada recipe
[wbcr_snippet id=”337364″ title=”AHM Video Recipe Widget”]
Trivia
Have you ever said a word so many times over and over again that it starts to sound REALLY weird and lose its meaning? If you’ve had this happen, you experience semantic satiation. Parts of your brain can, in fact, become overstimulated causing temporary exhaustion. When you say a word over and over and over again, you tire out that part of your brain and your verbal centers become inhibited. Interesting, huh?
Readers’ Pets of the Day
“Murdock (left) and Tango are dressed up to celebrate New Year’s Eve. It might seem crazy to travel with Great Danes, but since they spend most of their time sleeping, they are great traveling companions. As a matter of fact, that’s how they actually will spend New Year’s Eve!” —Gary Steiner
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!
Pet First Aid: The basic kit you should carry with you at all times. This is important!
Our top 10 best-selling products for RVers last month
These best-selling gadgets and books are RVers’ favorites for a reason! See what products we sold most of last month in December. If you’re looking for a way to clean your holding tank sensors, test and see how clean your drinking water is, learn how you can camp in city/town parks and county parks, how you can safely RV with a firearm, or get out that stubborn stain on your favorite shirt… this list is for you.
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 2024 by RV Travel LLC.
Great Danes! My favorite breed! Beautiful 😊
Gary was who we met on the beach in Port Aransas a few years ago, actually during COVID, you had a Harlequin Great Dane and we had the Dalmatians. You just started living full time, I believe you told my husband. We lived up near Fort Worth. The Perkins
Thank you, Emily and Diane! 🙂
You can tell by the look on their faces they are really into celebrating New Years, why do people insist on dressing their pets up in human attire for their own enjoyment. The animal hates it.
Why do some people insist on sharing their opinion when it is unsolicited and unnecessary? These two love dressing up and posing, and get lots of treats and pets during and afterward, which makes them happy. There is no reason for you to assume they, or other pets, are unhappy because of “the look on their faces”. That is their normal, everyday look. Please keep your unfriendly opinions to yourself.
LHWaL. So true. My PW tank is empty.