Issue 2342
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
“In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt.” ―
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is the first day of spring! We made it! [Well, as of 11:06 p.m. EDT, technically.]
On this day in history: 1918 – The U.S. Congress establishes time zones and approves daylight saving time.
Tip of the Day
How I plan, pack, and book for six months on the road
By Nanci Dixon
We are going to be on the road for the next six months and planning, scheduling, booking and packing is a momentous job! It was a lot easier when we were full-time. Then it was basically plan, pull up jacks, bring in slides, and go.
This year we will be making the long haul from Arizona to Washington, D.C., for our first ever Caravan Rally. We have to be there on a set date and there is very little leeway for breakdowns, storms, or heavy winds. I have had to be diligent in making sure we have campsites along the route booked and that there is flexibility. After the rally, the schedule is pretty loose, as not much is booked and we have no particular plan.
Although there are many other good RV trip planners available, I use RV LIFE Trip Wizard to plan the route. When researching campgrounds I always look at their cancellation policy. If I can’t find it on their website, I give them a call. I also read lots of reviews but take them with a proverbial grain of salt (here’s why). If there are full hookups and roomy sites but somebody doesn’t like how far a walk it is to the bathrooms, I may book it. However, if in a state park and the roads are terrible, restrooms filthy, and the sites are packed together, I’ll keep looking.
Ask Dave
I installed a new water pump and it’s still loud. Now what?
Dear Dave,
When the water pump comes on it shakes everything. I changed the water pump but it still rattles everything. Please help. —Joseph, 2014 Forest River Salem 29QBDS
RV Tours
Tour the 2024 Lance 825 short-bed truck camper
By Cheri Sicard
In this video, we join Scott Hudgins from Yorktown, Virginia’s Dodd RV (family-owned and operated since 1956!) for a tour of the 2024 Lance 825 short-bed truck camper.
Lance has long been known for their quality trailers and truck campers and the 825, one of Lance’s most popular campers, is no exception. The camper in the video is loaded with options like solar and an extra bunk, so be sure to watch to see how it all goes together.
Video of the day
Las Vegas food tour: 6 restaurants you HAVE to try!
By Cheri Sicard
RVing foodies take note! In the video above we join Kelly and Kevin, aka The Awkward Tourists, for a Las Vegas food tour of six spectacular special occasion restaurants you are surely going to want to check out to celebrate a Las Vegas vacation.
With so many Las Vegas restaurants to choose from these days, Kelly and Kevin’s Las Vegas food tour will give you some excellent suggestions to add to your Las Vegas dining plans. And since the list includes both brunch and dinner options, you’ll be covered no matter what time of day.
Amazing 20-year dream 1935 Bowlus restoration is completed
By Paul Lacitinola
In the current issue of the Vintage Camper Trailers Magazine, we featured two of Monte Osborne’s vintage vehicles: his King slide-in camper and his rare 1935 Bowlus Road Chief. Anna Scribner of Flyte Camp shared the following builder’s notes about this trailer’s restoration. Check this out!
Reader poll
Will you travel in your RV to view the upcoming eclipse?
Quick Tip
Use big enough leveling blocks
Got leveling blocks for under the tires? Make sure the blocks are big enough that the tire sits completely on the block — not overhanging it. Dually rig owners, BOTH the tires must be supported, not just “one or ‘tuther.”
Website of the day
Over The Fire Cooking
Now that it’s spring and nice (well, nicer) weather has arrived, we can finally start cooking outside again! Check out this website for tons of recipes and cooking ideas for the campfire!
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:
• 48 percent have never visited Yellowstone National Park with an RV.
• In a typical summer month, 20 percent say they have a campfire for at least 10 nights if not more.
• 5 percent of our readers were not born in the country they currently live.
Recent poll: Do you always wear your seatbelt while driving your RV or tow vehicle?
?? MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY ??
Okay, waiiiiiiit… these are actually kinda nice. No, they’re really nice! Might be the coolest ones of these we’ve ever seen. Just don’t lose them on the picnic table because you’ll never find them!
Recipe of the Day
Shrimp and Grits Casserole
by Joyce Lowery from Sterlington, LA
If you love shrimp and grits, you’ll love this casserole. The grits are creamy and full of flavor. Soaking the shrimp in lemon juice along with veggies adds bright flavor. This casserole is great for dinner, brunch, or even a holiday breakfast.
Trivia
The world’s oldest bottle of wine dates back to around 325 A.D. Discovered in 1867, this ancient bottle was found in a Roman sarcophagus near the town of Speyer in Germany. Known as the Speyer wine bottle or the Römerwein, it is now housed in the Historical Museum of the Palatinate in Speyer. Despite its age, the bottle still contains liquid, though it’s more of a brownish vinegar now due to centuries of oxidation.
Readers’ Pet of the Day
“This is Teddy, our 1-year-old Mini Goldendoodle. He has taken well to camping and likes to keep an eye on the camping neighbors from the back of the recliners. He loves new people and dogs and loses his mind when they come around.” —Marshall Wright
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!
Leave here with a laugh
Q: When a fly hits a windshield, what’s the last thing that goes through its head?
A: Its butt.
(groan)
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Editor: Emily Woodbury
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We’ve RV for almost 50 years and went full time in 96. My 5er was checked for all mechanical parts and all tools taken for any repairs. We would buy food when needed, ate most lunches out, and we took most of our clothes with us and threw items away when anything happened to them. Food was bought when needed.
After a year we got rid of all not needed and tired of clothes. Left most tools at son’s house as new vehicles I could not work on anyway.
After 22 years decided to settle down in Tennessee, where son’s family is but kept taking trips. Has been fun, met lots of people, made lots of lasting friends, put on lots of miles and went through 4 RVs. Had FUN.
Sounds like you did it right, Gary.
Outstanding. My compliments to you Sir.
I remain amazed at the number of old RV’s parked, and forgotten. If you can find the owner, they are going to fix it up someday, or they quote an imaginary price in California. Right now I am trying to contact an owner of an Argosy trailer parked in a junk pile.
Nanci- I refer to such time sensitive trips as a ‘forced march’. And at a minimum we do them twice a year to travel between our summer and winter locales. Yes, LOTS of planning is involved – including shutting down a house and opening it up, change of address for deliveries, gathering tax records, in addition to the travel related arrangements. It’s a different kind of RVing.
“Forced march!” Great way to term it, Jim! Thank you! Safe travels too! 🙂
Teddy is AWSOME.
I love the description of Teddy, the mini goldendoodle. We have a “maxi” goldendoodle and she too loses her mind when people and dogs come around!!
On the “Use big enough leveling blocks” article I don’t understand why both dual rear wheels (DRW) need to be supported unless there is a load placed on the truck. If you have a SRW (single rear wheel) you’d only support that one wheel. Therefore, on a DRW and while supporting one wheel, you’d then have the other dual wheel just hanging in the air which would be no different than putting your vehicle up on jack stands and having all the wheels hanging in the air. If your truck is loaded or your trailer is still attached then supporting both dual wheels makes sense, otherwise it doesn’t.
BECAUSE DUAL RW rig is Heavier than single tire rig, and you are thereby overloading the one tire when supporting only one…. which is why, after a blowout, you need to replace BOTH tires ASAP; the remaining tire likely had rolling overload damage…. which is WHY so many blow the 2nd tire within the next 100-miles.
We live in Luling Tx in winter so we should be in a prime eclipse viewing area. As a bonus my wife’s birthday is on April 8, so I told her I arranged the eclipse as a present.
Happy Birthday! My mother passed away April 7. 4 years ago. So again enjoy the eclipse. You will not find me participating.
Thank you, Emily and Diane! 🙂 Have a wonderful afternoon! 🙂
I found the best shrimp and grits at WDW. I asked the chef and she told me the secret. A good cheese sauce, knowing how to make good grits and how to cook the shrimp. Just add a favorite veggie and you have dinner. I know a few people heading to Erie Pa for the total eclipse. They had rsvp 5 years ago. I will head outside go oh and ah and head back in to do something else. This event is no big deal to me. Seriously. Maybe watch Heidi?
The joke is “What’s the last thing the fly sees?”
I’ve always thought it was: Q: What’s the last thing that goes through a bugs mind when he hits your windshield. A: His a_ _.
The second half of the fly joke is:
He’d do it again if he had more guts