Issue 2302
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
“There are no happy endings.
Endings are the saddest part,
So just give me a happy middle
And a very happy start.” ―
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Pie Day!
On this day in history: 1957 – American inventor Walter Frederick Morrison sells the rights to his flying disc to the Wham-O toy company, which later renames it the “Frisbee”.
Tip of the Day
Unusual uses for safety pins while RVing
Walter Hunt is not what I would call a household name. Most people have never heard of Hunt, even though they routinely use his clever invention—the safety pin. Today’s safety pins come in a variety of sizes and colors. They are generally used by seamstresses and quilters and new parents using cloth diapers. I’m sure Mr. Hunt never would have guessed that there could be so many unusual uses for the safety pin. But here they are!
- Pair up. Before tossing socks, mittens, or gloves into the campground washing machine, use safety pins to fasten matched pairs together. You’ll eliminate precious time spent matching up the items when they come out of the dryer and have more time to hike, sightsee, or relax.
- Emergency zip pull. A safety pin can be used as an emergency zipper pull. Just thread the pin through the hole on the zip fastener.
Ask Dave
I want to change the RV kitchen faucet. How do I disconnect supply lines?
Dear Dave,
How do these fittings [underneath sink] disconnect? The new faucet has 1/2” male connections. —Kim, 2018 Jayco Eagle
Stop RV Repair Bills from Ruining Your 2026 Travels
Say goodbye to rising RV repair costs when you protect your RV and your travel budget with Wholesale Warranties this new year. With 20+ years of experience, personalized coverage options, and 5-star customer support, we help RVers stay on the road. Save on costly repairs, enjoy flexible coverage including mobile mechanics, and travel worry-free all year long. Get your FREE personalized RV warranty quote today and enjoy peace of mind for every mile.
RV Tours
Tour the tiny 2024 Imagine Aim 14MS travel trailer by Grand Design
By Cheri Sicard
In the video below we join one of our readers’ favorite RV YouTube vloggers, Josh the RV Nerd, from Bish’s RV, for a tour of the small but mighty travel trailer, the Imagine 14MS by Grand Design. Josh says he has been working in the RV industry for over 15 years, but he’s never seen a travel trailer quite like the Imagine 14MS before.
I concur and am truly impressed. Good things do come in small packages! Despite the items in the “what’s not to like” section, this is the most functional and well-equipped tiny trailer I have seen.
Video of the day
22 essential dry camping tips for boondockers
By Cheri Sicard
Chris and Lindsay, from the Called to Wander YouTube channel, share their best dry camping tips and tricks in the video below. The video title says there are 20 tips, but I counted 22.
If you’re an experienced boondocker you probably know many of these tips already. But so many people are hesitant to try RV off-grid living, and these tips can help get them started.
Don’t struggle to get in or out of your car!
Easily get in and out of your car with these car door handle assist supports. The ergonomic design is comfortable and is suited for almost all U-shaped latch cars and will ease any worries of falling. They’re made of high-quality steel and are anti-rust and anti-corrosion. Each handle holds up to 400 lbs. Learn more about these here, and never struggle to get in or out of the car again!
In defense of the good ol’ American V8 pickup. It’s still the best for RVing
By Tony Barthel
The best kind of vehicle for RVing is the simple American V8 pickup truck. Period. And I also realize those are fighting words with some people. Further, my defense is of the gasoline V8 pickup. Why do I feel this way? Find out here.
Reader poll
Have you pulled off the highway with your RV because of high winds?
Quick Tip
Don’t allow antenna “wings” to contact RV roof
Add this to your inspection list: Are your roof-top antenna “wings” coming in contact with the roof when in travel position? If so, they may rub against the roof with road vibration and can actually chew a hole in your rubber roof. If it looks as if they are, GENTLY bend and flex them upward enough that they lose contact with the roof.
On this day last year…
- Tip: 16 ways bungee cords can make RVing life easier
- Ask Dave: Can I swap my RV’s manual driver seat base for an electric one?
- Video: Jaw-dropping super rare 1970s Camelot Cruiser RV
- Featured article: All RVers will relate to this catchy song. You’re going to love it!
Website of the day
sommsation
This one is for the wine drinkers out there… This is so neat! Get your friends or family together, even if they’re scattered around the country or globe, and enjoy a sommelier-led wine tasting class (all virtual). We’ll join you—Cheers!
?? MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY ??
How do we feel about this? Ermmmm… we’re not quite sure. We’re also not quite sure what it would be like to go to the bathroom after this… (There, we said it!)
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:
• 83 percent tent camped before buying their first RV.
• 42 percent say their RV has at least one permanently mounted solar panel.
• 20 percent do not carry a generator with them on their RV travels.
Recent poll: Has RVing lost its allure?
Recipe of the Day
Chicken and Dumpling Casserole
by Carla Skiles from Greeley, KS
A wonderful twist on chicken and dumplings. The base is creamy and full of chicken. Fresh cooked onions and celery add the flavor you expect. The touch of basil is a different, and delicious, twist. Peas give the easy casserole a pop of sweetness. The “dumpling” is like a drop biscuit that is infused with hints of basil. Once baked, the biscuit is firm but underneath is a little gooey like a traditional dumpling.
[wbcr_snippet id=”337364″ title=”AHM Video Recipe Widget”]
Trivia
The deadliest natural disaster in U.S. history was a… forest fire? Volcanic eruption? Earthquake? Hurricane? If you guessed hurricane, you’re correct. Called the Great Galveston Hurricane, the Category 4 storm ripped through Galveston, Texas, in 1900. When it made landfall, it had a peak wind speed of 145 mph. The storm destroyed more than 3,600 homes and killed about 8,000 people. That makes it the deadliest natural disaster in U.S. history.
Readers’ Pet of the Day
“Bear (Cockapoo) was a smart dog who was easy to train. He travelled to 27 states, 4 provinces and 1 territory. He loved camping but was not a relaxed traveler. He crossed the Rainbow Bridge at 14.” —George Bliss
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!
RV Maintenance Log Book keeps track of everything for you!
This RV maintenance log book allows you to document and track all repairs and work done on your RV. If you bought your RV used, wouldn’t this have been nice to have with the sale?! Keep track of everything in your RV – all the work done on it (and where and when), specific part models, your favorite black tank cleaner, the lightbulb bases you use, paints and fabrics, and much more. This will be a lifesaver down the road. Learn more or order.
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.
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.
For those that like to read, there is a good book on the Galveston Hurricane mentioned in today’s Trivia, Isaac’s Storm by Erik Larson. Also, if I followed Kermit the Frogs advice, I wouldn’t go outside from October to May!
I read Isaac’s Storm shortly after spending time in Galveston on an RV trip. A wonderful place to visit and a GREAT book.
Antenna wings tip: – No you don’t want the metal wings to contact the roof, but the electronics unit between them should be touching the roof or you may damage the arm or overstress the swivel base plate or roof. The electronics unit usually has rubber pads on the underside to handle vibrations, but if you want extra protection, adhere a ‘landing pad’ to your roof to absorb any vibrations.
As I age; tend to follow Kermit’s Advice. True!!
Thank you, Emily and Diane! Bear looks like a great dog; belated condolences to George Bliss. 🙁 I agree with the funny, but cannot wait that long; too many fallen trees to clean up while the reptiles hibernate. 🙂
I can’t believe that anybody would suggest consuming that totally awful “syrup”. Do you realize how many food additives are forbidden in Europe and other countries and totally OK in our country? A little education about nourishment might be in order.
OK, the sparkles are “interesting”, but yummy on the real maple syrup, as opposed to the “pancake syrup” that so many people use.
Bear did not cross the Rainbow Bridge. He is waiting there for you.
Today is not pie day, pie day is march 14 (3.14)