Issue 2323
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
“Have you ever lost someone you love and wanted one more conversation, one more chance to make up for the time when you thought they would be here forever? If so, then you know you can go your whole life collecting days, and none will outweigh the one you wish you had back.” ―
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Sticky Bun Day!
On this day in history: 1885 – The newly completed Washington Monument is dedicated.
Tip of the Day
How to conquer the fear of breaking down in remote areas
By Dave Helgeson
Do you have a fear of breaking down in remote areas with your RV?
This question came up during a Zoom meeting among RVtravel.com writers and staff. Given the sometimes-still-ongoing shortage of repair parts, trained technicians, lack of qualified service centers, potential supply chain issues, labor shortages and potential problems with obtaining emergency road service, it was deemed a legitimate concern.
Since remote areas (aka middle of nowhere ) are my favorite places to visit, I agreed to pose the question and share my thoughts.
As previously mentioned, my wife and I frequently RV to remote areas in search of ghost towns, unique geological formations, mining camps and other lesser-known, forgotten places. As such, we have become proficient in navigating to these places, become self-reliant taking care of our needs, and are prepared for emergencies.
Ask Dave
What is the best portable generator for my trailer, and the correct way to connect it?
Dear Dave,
What is the best portable generator for my trailer when boondocking and, more important, what is the correct way to hook it up? —Brian, Winnebago Voyage 2831RB
PLUS: Updates from RV shows halfway through the spring show season—It’s a buyers’ market; units below cost
Dave had back-to-back RV shows the past couple of weeks at the Alabama RV Show in Huntsville, AL, and this past weekend at the Charleston RV Show in Charleston, SC. See what he’s observing regarding units and pricing, and see which famous RV celebrity he met up with here.
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
Renegade Classic 45CBF—the Big Daddy Rabbit of Super C motorhomes
By Tony Barthel
Today’s RV review is of the 2024 Renegade Classic 45CBF motorhome. This is described as a Super C but, for something like this, there should be a Super Duper C category. So who would want something like this?
Let’s say you want a motorhome that’s good at towing. Not like towing your Smart car, but towing serious stuff. That might be one type of customer for this. The vehicle is rated to tow 32,000 pounds, with more than 6,000 pounds of tongue weight. … Essentially, this isn’t going to be something you likely see at your local RV park. That is, unless that RV park happens to be located at a carnival or raceway or someplace where someone needs to haul a tremendous amount of cargo but also keep a crew happy, even if that crew is just your spouse.
In the RV Shop with Dustin
Cool Tools: The AWBLIN Automotive Test Light
Dave Solberg and I used to meet for a weekly livestream called “Talkin’ RV Tech.” We not only answered technical questions, but we also shared what we like to call “cool tools.” These are tools and gadgets that we actually use! We also believe they will be helpful to you.
This clip captures one of our shares, the AWBLIN Automotive Test Light. Watch the video to learn what it’s used for, how to use it, and why we like it so much.
A must-have gadget for RV dumping
Dump Buddy® will change the way you empty your waste tanks. No longer will you need a second set of hands to prevent a spill. Rocks and branches are a thing of the past. Dump Buddy securely fastens your waste hose to the waste pipe, preventing a spill. Whether you are doing a simple dump at the end of a trip or need a more permanent hookup for longer stays, Dump Buddy is there to assist. Read Tony Barthel’s review of it here, or click here to find it on Amazon.
Video of the day
Dealing with medical emergencies on the road while RVing
By Cheri Sicard
The video below from Dustin and Leslie, aka Wayward Waggs, is an important one in that it could save your life or the life of someone you know. That’s because it covers dealing with medical emergencies on the road.
The time to think about preparing for medical emergencies on the road is BEFORE they happen. Therefore, the Waggs cover the emergency medical supplies they keep with them on the road at all times.
Has your RV refrigerator cooling unit gone bad?
High on the list of RVer nightmares is this one: Opening the refrigerator door to grab a “cool one,” and coming back with something warm. An RV refrigerator that’s lost its cool just isn’t funny. While some fridge problems aren’t too difficult to fix, a bad cooling unit is decidedly a “bad news” situation. How do you know if your cooling unit is shot? Read all about fridge cooling units here.
Reader poll (and article)
Would you rather park next to barking dogs or noisy children?
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
Carrying bicycles on a pop-up trailer
Got a pop-up trailer and want to carry bicycles? Because of their lightweight nature, they may not be amenable to carrying bikes on the back bumper. It may be best to carry a bike rack on the top of your towable. Consider roof-mounted bike racks designed for cars.
?? MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY ??
If you’re not into this kind of stuff, you’re not going to like this. But if you ARE into this kind of stuff, you’re going to LOVE this! (We LOVE it!) Check it out and see.
On this day last year…
- Ask Dave: How can I access the RV’s shower faucet to change it?
- Video: Easy DIY “Yeti”-type cooler: Make your ice LAST!
- Featured article: Ditch the gas guzzler and try a bicycle camper. These are amazing!
Website of the day
Pinterest: Unusual RVs
Only click on the link if you have some time to spare because you’re going to want to be exploring this unusual RV Pinterest page for a loooong time.
Popular articles you may have missed at RVtravel.com
- How it Happened: A church choir is to thank for Post-it Notes
- These additions to your RV make it a vital “escape pod”
- How to waterproof fabric: Turn old sheets into waterproof tarps
Recipe of the Day
Amazing Twice-Baked Potatoes
by Samantha Jolin from Grand Forks, ND
Truly amazing, these twice-baked potatoes are savory and oh so creamy. Bell peppers add pops of sweetness to the potatoes. Ham and bacon give them the smoky flavor you expect in a twice-baked potato. There is melty cheese in every bite. Super yummy, we highly recommend giving this side dish a try.
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Trivia
There are 91 towns named “Washington” across the U.S.—the most popular town name. (BTW, there’s no city named “Washington” in the state of Washington, but there is a George, Washington.)
Readers’ Pets of the Day
“Annie (yellow) and Maddie (black) are Lab sisters. Here they are in their favorite positions in the motorhome.” —John and Lil Wilkins
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.
It’s almost Spring: Time to change your water filter!
Camco’s TastePURE Water Filter with Flexible Hose Protector reduces bad taste, odor, chlorine and sediment in drinking water with a 100 micron fiber filter. Its durable in-line, exterior mount filter has a wider body to increase flow. Use it at your campsite to keep sediment out of your RV water tank and to improve the taste and smell of your drinking water for a whole season. Many RVers consider this essential equipment. Learn more or order at a big discount.
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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On the Readers Poll today, how about a third option?! Neither! If I knew these were my only choices, I’d search for other places to Glamp!
Right on, Bro!
About as bad as an experience I had 46 years ago when my family started camping in a state park. A big diesel pusher backed in next to us, leveled up, started the generator and sat there all weekend, never seen anyone except through the windshield. Never hooked up to electricity, Sunday PM they raised the jacks started the engine and left, they had their weekend camping experience. All the park provided was electric so we all used our water tanks.
Agree. Today parents seem to be less responsible and fail to raise their kids without instilling respect for others. It’s all about me!
I’ve always heard it as “Fast, Cheap or Good, Pick 2”
Leave Here with a Laugh, must have been an actual sign at an RV dealership.
Excellent, important info on First Aid or perhaps better called Emergency Aid First. Thanks for including it.
I love those labs. What beautiful faces and oh my-those eyes.
Thank you, Emily and Diane! The funny was funny, very funny AND accurate. (We finished four trees today, only 12 more on the ground needing to be cleaned-up by hay-cutting season.) 🙂
Hi, Neal. Why did Paul Bunyan just pop into my head? Is your dog named “Blue,” by any chance?😉 BTW, do you always have so many trees come down each year? Have a good evening/night. 😀 –Diane
Back in the day when I had a pop up I too traveled with bicycles as well. What I found was a dual hitch that with a bike hitch you can travel with bikes and hook up the travel traveler from the cars hitch without struggling to put the bikes on top of the pop up. We still have it if anyone wants it. Cleaning out the garage in Michigan. Just saying this was a handy dandy item to have. We no longer travel with a pop up nor bikes. I got myself a seasonal site in Maine and I plan to rent an E bike this summer. Happy trails.