Issue 2309
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
“Under the giving snow blossoms a daring spring.” ―
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Optimist Day!
On this day in history: 1964 – The Beatles have their first number one hit in the United States with “I Want to Hold Your Hand”. Listen while you read today’s newsletter.
Tip of the Day
Beware of flood damage when buying a used vehicle
When buying a used vehicle, take the recent weather into consideration.
Heavy storms are all the more reason to pay close attention to a vehicle’s condition and history, especially in private sales. Cars damaged by floodwaters such as those resulting from rainstorms in California and other states can sometimes find their way to other states, commonly Arizona, to be sold.
If a vehicle is flood-damaged, the title should say “salvage” or “flood damage.” But, scammers fraudulently remove flood history from vehicle titles.
Ask Dave
To change flooring in my RV, how do I get under the slide—overextend it?
Dear Dave,
I’m trying to either replace the carpet or put vinyl click flooring in my RV. How do I get under the slide? People say block the top outside and bring it in slow and the slide will lift off the floor. Others say to overextend the slide, but that sounds scary. Any suggestions? —James, 2000 Winnebago Adventurer 35U
If you’re in the neighborhood, be sure to attend Dave’s educational and entertaining seminars at the Huntsville (AL) RV Show, February 2-4. He’d love to meet you! Tell him RVtravel.com sent you.😀
New and improved Dump Buddy is a must-have gadget for RV dumping
Dump Buddy® will change the way you empty your waste tanks. It securely fastens your waste hose to the waste pipe, preventing a spill. Whether you’re doing a simple dump at the end of a trip or need a secure hookup for a long stay, Dump Buddy is there to assist. Read Tony Barthel’s review of it or click here to find it on Amazon.
RV Tours
Tour the 2024 r-pod RP-107C travel trailer—basic and compact
By Cheri Sicard
In the video below, we join one of our readers’ favorite RV vloggers, JD of Big Truck Big RV, for a tour of the 2024 r-pod RP-107C travel trailer. JD says Forest River made some big changes in the new r-pod RP-107C (although he fails to point out what they are). Nonetheless, this is a super-compact, barebones RV, to say the least. On the pro side, most 1/2-ton trucks or SUVs can tow it.
Video of the day
Meteorite hunting: How to find a valuable meteorite in 5 steps
By Cheri Sicard
Rockhounding is a popular hobby for many RVers, probably because we frequently find ourselves camping in such great rock hunting locations. But have you ever thought about meteorite hunting? In the video below, join The Desert Hunter, who is going to show us the five steps he uses to find meteorites.
How many sewer hoses does an RVer need?
By Dave Helgeson
I have been around RVs all my life. … A while ago my wife and I decided to join my son and his family camping in a full-hookup campground, the first one we had camped at in more than a year. As I was escorting my grandson on his tricycle around one of the campground loops, I was rather shocked to see some RVs using THREE and even FOUR sewer hoses! Reflecting on my 50+ years being around RVs, I began to think, is this really where advances and “modern convenience” have brought us? Read more.
Reader poll
Do you color your hair?
Quick Tip
Where to buy inexpensive “clean” firewood
Can’t find a good source of campfire wood? Restrictions to keep invasive bug species at bay make it even harder. Hit the “big box” lumberyard and buy cheap “utility”-grade 2x4s. Cut ’em in foot or foot-and-a-half lengths. They are easy to chop into kindling, if desired, and they light easily, don’t support bugs, and put out plenty of heat and light.
?? MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY ??
We bet almost exactly 50 percent of our readers will want this! We think it’s true!
For Lovers Only…
To: Puddy
From: Beast
“Can’t wait for more fabulous adventures!”
To: Tumbleweed
From: Lil Zeke
“Closing in on our 45th anniversary and I love you more and more each and every day ❤️.”
Listen up, romantics. Valentine’s Day is coming up. If you have a special someone you’d like to surprise with a secret message right here on this website (could be your wife, husband, partner, child, neighbor, friend, etc.) submit it to us here. Don’t use their real names, use a special name that only they’ll recognize. Oh, how fun it will be when they read it! You’ll make their day! We’ll feature these in our upcoming newsletters, so check back often and see if yours has been featured.
On this day last year…
- Ask Dave: RV plugged into garage outlet. What can, and can’t, I run?
- Video: Awesome “Aironado”: 1970s Toronado and Airstream hybrid
- Featured article: Knife River Indian Villages, an amazing place of history!
Website of the day
The 13 Best Places to Celebrate Black History Month
Today is the start of Black History Month. Spend the month learning more about this important part of our country’s history.
Grip tape won’t let you slip
This heavy-duty grip tape sticks to any surface and gives you traction on things like your RV steps, ladder or roof, and at home on your deck or in your basement, or even on your boat. It’s good stuff to keep around. You can find it for a good price (and in multiple size rolls) here.
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:
• 73 percent said they would not buy an RV made in China even if the quality of it was equal to or greater than one made in the USA. Even if it were priced less!
• 11 percent never use their RV’s oven (traditional or convection).
• 36 percent are not happy about the influx of new RVers and say it’s making finding places to stay much harder.
Recent poll: How do you feel about RVers who constantly walk through your campsite?
Recipe of the Day
Orzo and Spinach Salad
by Grace Pulley from Gillette, WY
The dressing is what makes this orzo salad recipe special. If you taste it on its own, it seems strong and tangy. But once it’s combined with the orzo and other ingredients, magic happens. From the spicy taste of cumin to the minty taste of thyme, you can taste each spice. This salad is cool and full of Mediterranean flavors. Feta cheese and roasted pine nuts are the perfect topping and add a wonderful nuttiness to the salad. This is a great salad to transport if you’re heading to a cookout. And, it tastes even better the next day.
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Trivia
In 2023, there was a convenience store in the United States for every 2,204 people, or 152,396 total stores, an increase of 1.5% over 2022. Texas has the most with 16,304 stores, according to the NACS/Nielsen Convenience Industry Store Count dated January 23, 2024. California is second with 12,230 stores.
Readers’ Pet of the Day
“Buddy was always up for a camping trip. Unfortunately, he took his last trip in 2023, but we had 13 years of camping memories with this sweet boy.” —Karen Saunders
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!
• RVing with Dogs group on Facebook. You’ll love it.
Test the RV park water before you drink it!
How pure is the water at the RV park you just entered? Is it pure enough to drink or full of contaminants? This TDS meter provides an inexpensive and convenient way to instantly check your overall water quality. Don’t risk drinking bad water! Use this hand-held device to check the condition of your water filter, too. Every RVer should have one of these! Learn more or order.
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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The 13 Best Places to Celebrate Black History Month take me to celebrations in 2023. Events are in 2023.
The firewood tip is great except, it’s pine which burns fast, hot, with many hot sparks coming out of the fire creating potential fire hazards, plus I don’t normally carry a saw. In my younger days when I camped in state parks I carried an electric chain saw and would go for walks in the woods finding branches that had fallen out of trees during storms and take them back to camp and cut them up. That way I was helping the ecosystem get rid of dangerous wildfire wood and getting my campfire wood.
I do the same with a small portable rechargeable battery chain saw, saved a lot of money and always have plenty of firewood and good exercise getting it.
I am not aware of any pubic campgrounds in California that allow collection of fallen wood. There might be areas in California where fallen wood can be taken, likely not near any campground and with a permit. The only wood that can normally be taken is drift wood. I suppose taking drift wood is beneficial, where taking fallen wood is considered necessary to replenish nutrients for living trees when it decomposes, even if a fire hazard as when it burns, ash is still beneficial for the soil.
In C*****fornia your not allowed to do anything they can’t tax as I understand it. [Bleeped by Diane aka “Big Sister”]
“cheap “utility”-grade 2x4s”. Where are THESE? Actually, since we upgraded our fireplace insert to a fancy schmancy extremely efficient model I no longer burn wood while camping. That’s potential house heat! 😀 🙂
2X4’s cost at least $5 each around here. They burn fast and actually don’t put out much heat. We have a home improvement store near us that sells 2 bundles of clean dry firewood for $10. Those two bundles burn for at least 2 hours.
Once we got the aforementioned fireplace insert that actually throws out heat and allows infinite adjustment of both the input and output of ‘air’, we bought two cords of wood, stacked this in the back yard, and have been heating for two years! I see how much Home Depot charges for dinky little bundles and there’s no way. You’re right about the cheap 2x4s burning fast. We cruise the industrial area near us on weekends and grab all the scrap pallets they leave out. We use the pallets to make
kindling’ for fire starter.
Buddy looks like he was a sweet boy!
Thank you, Emily and Diane! Safe travels! 🙂
Check those 2x4s carefully. Many are treated with zinc chloride or other chemicals specifically to ward off termites, beetles, etc. Don’t think I want my steaks flavored with zinc or any other wood preservative.
Yep. Never use pressure treated lumber !
On Feb. 11, 2023, Urban Atlanta and Taste Urban Atlanta will be hosting the Atlanta Black Expo at the Cobb Galleria Centre from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Typo? Is it 2024?
Sorry, Paul. That was actually a link to an article from last year. I looked up that event and this year it is on Saturday, Feb. 10, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., at the Cobb Galleria Centre. Have a great day. 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
Quick tip get cut-offs at lumber Yard usually Free.
Building sites too! Used to “gather” starter for our girl scout camping trips….just in case!
My dad told me it’s not the fire that warms you, it’s remembering all the work that went into the cutting and stacking of the wood that keeps you warm. 🤔😊
True words.
That kitten is getting a real a$$ chewing from Mom….I can remember getting a few of those.
When mama has had enough? Mama will let you know. I know when we need to hide or else its our hides that get it.