Issue 2340
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
“To get back to my youth I would do anything in the world, except exercise, get up early, or be respectable.” —Oscar Wilde
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Kansas Day!
On this day in history: 1906 – Rolls-Royce Limited is incorporated.
Tip of the Day
RV spring shakedown primer
By Gary Bunzer
(This RV spring shakedown primer originally appeared on RV Travel in February 2020. It was one of Gary’s final contributions before dying from COVID-19 in April 2020. Gary always told us that if something happened to him that we should continue publicizing his articles. He loved teaching and wanted to keep doing it even after he was gone. We sure do miss you, Gary.)
Now that spring is almost here and, hopefully, memories of a long, cold winter begin to wane, many of us get antsy for that first RV excursion of the season. Holed up all winter, we’ve been making travel plans, waiting for the trees to blossom, the birds to chirp and the campgrounds to open.
The majority of us readied our coaches last fall for storage; some fully winterized for colder temperatures. After each period of non-use, regardless if the RV was winterized for sub-freezing temperatures or simply stored in the driveway, every coach must be properly prepped for use prior to simply taking off down the highway. Many call this preparation process the “spring shakedown.”
NOTICING MORE OR DIFFERENT ADS THAN “USUAL”? Make sure you read Chuck’s essay in last Sunday’s newsletter for an explanation. (And thank you for bearing with us as we make this new adjustment! We appreciate you!)
Ask Dave
How can I clean my RV furnace ductwork?
Dear Dave,
I would like to know if you have some heating duct cleaning advice. I have a floor duct system, LP gas and basement heat pump unit which is centrally located. There are overhead ceiling vents and I need to clean the floor duct system. Any assistance with this issue is greatly appreciated. Thanks. —Dave, 2001 34 ft. Winnebago Journey
In the RV Shop with Dustin
Your RV takes on water damage through more than rain: Protect those sealants!
In this video, I walk you around to several RVs currently parked on my RV repair lot. You’ll see just how much morning condensation drips off the RVs, even during moderate conditions. This video proves why keeping up on your RV roof and body sealants is so important—your RV is taking on water damage even when it’s NOT raining!
Click here to read and watch the video
Video of the day
DIY motorhome stairs mod prevents falls for RVers and pets!
By Cheri Sicard
The video below from the Fix it Now YouTube channel shows a DIY motorhome stairs mod designed to prevent RVing children, dogs, and/or their parents/owners, from falling down the stairwell while the motorhome is traveling.
DON’T MISS YESTERDAY’S BRAND-NEW GREAT RV ACCESSORIES NEWSLETTER! If you like gadgets, you’ll love this newsletter! Read it here.
RVer’s anxiety: Worrying is just a part of the lifestyle
By Jeff Clemishaw
In no area of life does Murphy’s Law apply more succinctly than with RVing. As the saying goes, “Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong.” While RVing is often associated with a carefree, wanderlust life, the actual day-to-day of it all can be starkly different. Continue reading about RVer’s anxiety. Do you agree?
You may have missed these recent popular stories…
- Starlink Roam news for the week of March 4, 2024
- New-for-2024 Aliner Evolution 15 Twin Bed popup camper
- Train versus motorhome – RVer escapes death by seconds – Video
- Disabled veteran writes of being turned down at campgrounds, judged, and snubbed; plus, are campgrounds really ‘handicap-accessible’?
Reader poll
Are you shy?
Quick Tip
Easy check for plumbing system water leaks
Check your RV for plumbing system water leaks easily. With water in the fresh tank, turn on your water pump. After it shuts off, signaling the system is pressurized, it won’t turn on again until you “call for water.” If it does turn on, you have a leak.
On this day last year…
- Tip: When RV parts are discontinued, DIY projects to the rescue!
- Ask Dave: RV’s batteries charge with solar but drain overnight when plugged in. Why?
- In the RV Shop with Dustin: Don’t let physical limitations stop you from enjoying the RV lifestyle!
- Video: Kitchen creativity with innovative cast iron pan recipes
- Featured article: Have RVs become too complicated?
Website of the day
Where and when to see cherry blossoms in 2024: 10 best places in the U.S.
It’s cherry blossom season! The little pink flowers are popping up everywhere and, boy, are we happy to see them! Here are some of the best places to see them across the U.S.
?? MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY ??
We’ve always enjoyed the other ones of these, and this one is no different. The best part? It’s aimed right at us RVers! *Adds to cart*
Recipe of the Day
Corned Beef and Cabbage (Slow Cooker)
by Sandy Williams from Salt Lake City, UT
Corned beef and cabbage isn’t just for St. Patrick’s Day. This slow cooker recipe is so easy you’ll make it year-round. The dish has all the classic flavors you expect but the hardest part is peeling the potatoes. Fresh onion in the bottom permeates and gives a wonderful flavor to the meat. The corned beef is tender and melts in your mouth. Since the cabbage is on top and not completely submerged, it doesn’t get soggy. This recipe is warm, comforting, and the easiest way to prepare corned beef and cabbage.
Trivia
Adding cream to your coffee will actually keep it warmer longer. Wait, what? It seems counterintuitive, but it’s true! Think about this: The higher the temperature, the faster it sheds heat, right? Adding cream initially lowers the temperature of the coffee, and then further slows the release of heat since the fats in the cream act as an insulator. This makes the cup of coffee stay warmer longer, even though it spends less time at its maximum temperature.
Readers’ Pet of the Day
“Rylie a 5-year-old Golden Retriever waiting outside ready to take a walk around the campground. She loves to meet new people and visit new campgrounds.” —Glenn Halpin
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.
Leave here with a laugh
A cop stopped a man for speeding. He said, “Do you know how fast you were going?”
“I was trying to keep up with traffic,” the guy replied.
The cop said, “But there is no traffic.”
And the guy answered, “That’s how far behind I am.”
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Contact information
Editor: Emily Woodbury
CONTACT US
Editorial (all but news): editor@rvtravel.com
Editorial (news): chuck@rvtravel.com
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.
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I have been using a cover over our motorhome stairs since we first bought it a year ago. (had pull behinds and 5th wheels for almost 30 years) We put it down after we are in for the evening. After we are set up, the passenger seat in our class A swivels backward and in the process places your feet in close proximity to the steps. Looked to us like an accident waiting to happen.
Thank you, Emily and Diane! Happy Saint Patrick’s Day! (That’s today, 3/15, isn’t it?)
Neal, you are so close, it’s Sunday 3/17 but that’s okay. I had to look it up.
Hi, Dale. I have a feeling Neal was being facetious.😉 Have a great day! 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
Thank you for being so charitable, Diane! 🙂 I was just being clueless and blonde (and balding). 🙂
Thank you, Dale! I tend to carpet-bomb greetings for stuff I tend to overlook (e g., St. Patrick’s Day). I figure “early and often” beats “late and rarely.” Safe travels! 🙂
Thanks, Neal. Happy Saint Patrick’s Day (soon) to you and yours, also.🍀 😀 –Diane
You’re very welcome, Diane, and thank you, too! 🙂
I built a step well cover. It was OK, but it was in the way more often than useful. I gave it away.
I agree
We haven’t had a need – yet – to have stairwell cover. However, if I were to do this I would have used a similar vinyl cover but used a high performance fabric glue rather than staples and put a piano hinge on one side and a small handle on the other, folding it up; easier to handle, especially in an emergency.
Use of 5/8” plywood would’ve solved his storage problem, almost s strong as 3/4” but an 1/8” thinner. I used that for flooring in a storage loft in my pole barn, it never flexed or sagged.