Issue 2315
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
“Your visions will become clear only when you can look into your own heart. Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes.” ―
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Pizza Day!
On this day in history: 1942 – Year-round daylight saving time (aka war time) is reinstated in the United States as a wartime measure to help conserve energy resources.
Tip of the Day
Defrost your vehicle’s windshield in half the time with these tricks
By Gail Marsh
You’re ready to roll on down the road. New adventures await! But no. The windshield is iced over or fogged up. Departure time is delayed—again. Have you ever wished you could quickly defrost/defog your motorhome’s or truck’s windshield? Me, too! Check out the quick solutions that I discovered. Then choose the trick that works best for you. You’ll hit the road in no time!
Cautions: No matter what, never attempt to drive a vehicle with a frosted/fogged-over windshield. It’s just not worth the risk of an accident. Also, never slosh hot water onto a freezing windshield. The temperature difference can cause the glass to break. Stay safe out there!
Ask Dave
There’s a leak in my bedroom slide. The seals look good, so now what?
Dear Dave,
On the bedroom slide I noticed dampness at the headboard on the floor. I cannot see anywhere that there is a leak. I checked the seal on the outside trim and everything looks good. I removed the carpet due to mold. Any ideas? —Judy, 2021 Cedar Creek 371FL
DON’T MISS ANY RV REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE ARTICLES! Every Tuesday we issue a free weekly email digest of all our articles from the past week on the subject. Sign up here for RV Repair and Maintenance Tips (and check out all our other reports and newsletters).
Say goodbye to rodents with Tomcat Rodent Repellent
The Camping Loop uses Tomcat Rodent Repellent spray to keep rodents away from his RV. Made with ingredients like cinnamon, peppermint, and garlic oils, it is safe around kids and pets while repelling rodents. Use it on the RV frame, the outside electrical connections, around (but not on) the tires, etc. As it lasts about 9 months, Tomcat Rodent Repellent provides another form of cheap insurance against a mouse infestation. Watch the video and learn even more ways to keep rodents out of your RV.
In the RV Shop with Dustin
Are SumoSprings worth it?
By Dustin Simpson
If you have questions, we have answers! Here is a clip from one of our past Talkin’ RV Tech shows where one of our viewers inquired about SumoSprings®. They asked, “Are SumoSprings all they are cracked up to be? I see Winnebago is now offering them as an option.”
Click here for Dustin’s (and Dave’s and Zach’s) answer
Video of the day
How to choose the best portable power station for your needs
By Cheri Sicard
In the video below, Ray from ReeWray Outdoors helps you learn how to choose the best portable power station for your needs.
Personally, I LOVE my portable power stations, with Ugreen’s PowerRoam 1200 being my favorite. They have completely transformed the way I RV.
But I know that the vast amount of different models, power levels, and brands can overwhelm would-be consumers trying to decide which portable power station will best meet their needs. Ray’s video can help. At this point, he has tested and reviewed over 30 different portable power stations!
RV furnace operation and preventive maintenance
By Cheri Sicard
Mark Polk of RV Education 101 has produced an invaluable video about your RV’s furnace, how it operates, and preventive maintenance tips to keep it running efficiently. Click here to read and watch.
You may have missed these recent popular stories…
- Lemon law lawyer says, “You must be insane to buy an RV these days.”
- Travel trailer resale value: RV inspector reveals the best brands
- RV Self-Park breaks ground on second automated RV park
- RV expenses rising faster than inflation rates; housing crisis vs. RVers is “a nationwide, silent, untold story”
Reader poll
Does your RV have a spare tire?
Quick Tip
Easy non-skid shower stall floor
Shower stall floor too slick for safety? Cut a piece or two of non-skid mat (normally used in the kitchen cupboard to restrain unruly dishes) and lay it in the shower.
Hide dirty laundry, and save space too!
Sometimes where to put those worn clothes waiting for wash day is the pits. Many hide a basket in the shower stall, but here’s another approach: Hang that dirty laundry out – not for everyone to see, but on the back of a closet door. Zippers on this one make it easy to open, and the company includes a couple of different hooks to help you hang it. Find it here for a great price.
For Lovers Only…
To: Baby cakes
From: Honey buns
“Another Valentine’s Day and I love you more than ever. Love you so much. Happy Valentine’s Day while on our trip down south with the RV to warmer weather.”
To: My Favorite Sailor
From: Pumpkin B***
“I love you so much—what a great adventure we’re having! Let’s have more!”
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…
- Tip: 12 helpful tips for using sugar while RVing
- Ask Dave: What size BatteryMINDer do I need for my Class A?
- Video: Weird bike, boat and RV combo—the ultimate adventure vehicle!
- Featured article: Several of my friends are quitting RVing. You can probably relate to why they’re doing so
Website of the day
53 Incredible Things To Do With Canned Biscuits
Making biscuits is easy… when they come from a can! Step up those biscuits with these delicious-sounding recipes. Yum!
?? MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY ??
You have these, right? All RVers HAVE to have these. If you don’t have them yet, or don’t know about them (and how truly magic they are), you’ll want to try them out yourself.
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.
Recipe of the Day
Pizza Casserole
by Cathie Valentine from Graniteville, SC
A quick, easy, and delicious casserole recipe all busy cooks should have in their recipe box. Basically, whatever you love on your pizza you can include in this casserole. So, it can be easy or elaborate – whatever you have time for. In the Test Kitchen, we used all the suggested veggies and loved it. The mixture of ground beef and pork really adds a different flavor. Pepperoni mixed in gives the casserole a little zip. Mozzarella cheese bakes to bubbly perfection. We opted to add mini pepperoni on top to make the casserole pretty, but that step is not needed. Super yummy!
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Trivia
Lakes formed by meteor impacts are called annular lakes. One of the world’s largest annular lakes is Lake Manicouagan in Quebec, Canada. The lake is so large that it can be seen from space and is known as the “Eye of Quebec.” It covers 750 square miles and was formed 214 million years ago.
Readers’ Pet of the Day
“Taz (Samoyed) loves to go to places in the travel trailer and she hasn’t passed a picnic table yet she didn’t want to jump on!” —Jan Fields
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!
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Editor: Emily Woodbury
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That ‘pizza’ recipe looked SO good I had Wifey download it. During the winter we’re all about stuff that goes in the oven. Anything to help heat the house . . .
I sure hope the Pet of the Day isn’t scooting on all those picnic tables.
Yes, Taz is a beautiful dog, but allowing her to jump up on picnic tables is just wrong. It equates to people putting their sewer hose on the table to rinse it out.
Not hardly
So who puts food on a bare public picnic table? Bird poop & all kinds of nasties reside there. Grab a place mat or table cloth.
That’s funny! Picnic tables, boats, etc. Our dog just loves to jump on them. Most of the time before being invited.
Krylon Non-skid spray easily solves the slippery-surface problem.
Thank you, Emily and Diane! 🙂 Yes, we do have some of the space-saver storage bags, but only for non-RV travel. We have plenty of storage in the RV, but not so much room in suitcases used to travel in airplanes. Have a great afternoon and weekend! 🙂 (Looking forward to meeting Dave Helgeson Sunday.) 🙂
Cool, Neal! I’m glad you’re going to meet Dave H. He’s a super terrific guy.👍 Have a great day, and a safe trip! 😀 –Diane
Thank you, Diane! Will do! 🙂
👍😄 –Diane
Great quote today.
Taz is a beautiful dog! She is welcome on my picnic table anytime!
Agreed. The picnic table police are out in full force.
The pizza idea is great for those who can not have any wheat products, or watching blood sugars. Been doing this for years.
Jung saw the world as the introvert he was.