Issue 2345
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
“A person who has good thoughts cannot ever be ugly. You can have a wonky nose and a crooked mouth and a double chin and stick-out teeth, but if you have good thoughts they will shine out of your face like sunbeams and you will always look lovely.” ―
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Goof Off Day! Have fun!
On this day in history: 1933 – Cullen–Harrison Act: President Franklin Roosevelt signs an amendment to the Volstead Act, legalizing the manufacture and sale of “3.2 beer” (3.2% alcohol by weight, approximately 4% alcohol by volume) and light wines.
Tip of the Day
Tips for dealing with unresponsive RV shops
By Gail Marsh
We never had cause to complain before. In fact, I previously had a hard time believing the horror stories my RVing friends told about their rig repairs. But then, things changed. We quickly learned the most effective ways for dealing with unresponsive RV shops. I sincerely hope you never have problems like ours, but if you do, perhaps you will find these RV tips useful, as well.
The timing couldn’t have been much worse. We’d planned our trip for months. Arrangements were made and in place. Stop mail delivery? Check! Alert neighbors/police that we would be away? Check! Arrange for the stix-n-brix lawn to be mowed during our absence? Check! RV pre-trip checklist completed? Checkity, check, check!
We were ready to go. But then…
Ask Dave
My batteries don’t charge when connected to shoreline power. How can I test my converter?
Dear Dave,
My converter does not appear to be working. My batteries are not being charged when plugged into shoreline power. How can I test/check to verify an inoperative converter on my Airstream? —Jay, 2020 Airstream Classic 33
It’s Amazon’s BIG SPRING SALE EVENT!
Save on thousands of products! Hurry, sale ends on Monday.
Video of the day
RV expert reveals underrated and overrated RV gear
By Cheri Sicard
In the video above, join Jared Gillis from All About RVs, one of the winners of our 2024 RV Video Awards, for a discussion of the gear and gadgets that he counts as overrated RV gear. Jared also throws in a few items he thinks are underrated, too.
Make your toilet “rise” to the occasion—Install a riser!
By Russ and Tiña De Maris
Don’t know if it’s age, or if earth’s gravity is somehow getting stronger. As an example, whenever we’re called on to do work at floor level, our bones groan with the thought of having to get back up. Answer: Just avoid floor level work! But that doesn’t help “when nature calls.” Sometimes getting up from that toilet seat is a groaner on the throner! There’s a way to make trips to the terlit easier. Make your toilet rise to the occasion by installing an RV toilet riser. Learn how to do it here.
You may have missed these recent popular stories…
- RVer writes, “All RV dealers must go to the same ‘School of Shame”; and, “Camping World became a ‘House of Horrors'”
- Big-time boo-boo: RV door hits overhead light in brand-new RV
- Honest RV review – A back desk cutie: Salem-Wildwood FSX 163RDSK travel trailer
- RVer claims weekend campers are the problem; plus, the difference in amenities and space at RV resorts and state parks
Reader poll
Would you consider yourself an adventurous or a picky eater?
Quick Tip
Handy bedside water glass holder
Space tight in the bedroom? No room for a water glass? Your local auto parts store (or Amazon) has a great selection of folding cup holders that can screw onto a nearby wall or bulkhead.
On this day last year…
- Ask Dave: What size and type generator do I need for my RV?
- Video: Quick tour of the amazing Wildwood Heritage Glen 291RL 5th wheel
- Featured article: One of the U.S.’s most dangerous roads will have you bracing for impact!
Website of the day
The Best Ice-Fishing Road Trips in America
We know you probably have spring on your mind, but if you’ve ever wanted to try ice fishing, put these incredible places on your list for next year! We think this would be so fun! Did you know there’s an RV designed for ice fishing? Yep. Check it out.
?? MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY ??
We’ve always wanted this but never bought it. Since it’s spring and raining a lot, now is the perfect time to use it! You’ll like it.
Recipe of the Day
BBQ Sloppy Joe Sliders
by Virginia (Ginger) Dean from Toomsboro, GA
We really enjoyed these quick and easy bite-sized sloppy joes. It’s a tasty variation on a slider recipe. Sweet and tangy, store-bought barbecue sauce is jazzed up with ketchup, mustard, and onion flakes. The hardest part of this recipe is browning the ground beef. They’ll be great for a party. Set it out and let everyone make their own. We served ours with mini pickles and chips.
Trivia
Speaking of sloppy joes… Ever wonder where such a strange, messy sandwich originated? Well, we did too.
One theory states the sandwich’s origin can be traced back to 1917 Havana, Cuba, where a bar owner named José “Sloppy Joe” Abeal y Otero created a sandwich consisting of ground beef stewed in tomatoes, possibly his version of the ropa vieja. This bar was frequented by Americans and Britons, including famous personalities such as Errol Flynn, Ernest Hemingway, and Graham Greene. However, Marilyn Brown, director of the consumer test kitchen at H.J. Heinz in Pittsburgh, says that research through the Carnegie Library suggests that the sloppy joe’s origins can be traced back to Sioux City, Iowa, in the 1930s, where a cook named Joe created the “loose meat sandwiches” that were sold at the time.
Readers’ Pets of the Day
“Willie and Callie (Lab mix and Bearded Collie mix). Best friends and loyal companions at home and on the road. We’ve had both from pups. Our two cats don’t travel. Not yet.” —Bill Brogan
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
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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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Thank you Emily and Diane! I laughed at today’s funny. Dog #2 often had that expression, which suggested that he wished that he could have picked his family rather than his family picking him. I think he eventually accepted us as his own. 😉 Have a wonderful day and weekend! 🙂
Been a loyal reader for many years, The pop up adds are so bad I’m now considering unsubscribing!
Switch your browser to DuckDuckGo.
Do what you must do. Good luck finding another newsletter that doesn’t have advertising.
We sure get a lot of snivelers here, just because they have to make a few extra clicks. Jeez. You guys are doing a great job!
The pop up ads are starting to drive me crazy. It seems like they are getting worse everyday. I use to look forward to reading the newsletter but I’m beginning to question remaining a member
Duckduckgo!
Looking at Ralph…he may be wondering what Gender the driver is.
I know that you had to add more ads for financial needs. The problem is now that your news letter is almost unreadable. It constantly jumps around both when trying to scroll through or while trying to read an article. We are thinking of unsubscribing which makes me sad.
Use Duckduckgo as your browser. No ads!
Cry babies get over the pop up adds, not that bad deal with it boohoohoo!!
I am sadly considering unsubscribing. The uninitiated scrolling is aggravating as is having to return to the beginning of the newsletter after clicking the back button. Personally (and I believe I am in the minority) I do not enjoy the video reviews and articles that have overtaken the print articles. Invariably, the persons creating the video spend 15 minutes presenting 5 minutes of data. Some are woefully unskilled to the point of being annoying. I find it easier to locate or relocate the data that is relevent to me in printed form. I guess I am old and crotchety. The one shining exception: Dave Solberg.
The pop up ads are a pain.
Switched browser to DuckDuckGo. Blocks ads and tracking cookies as well. So much better. I run everything through it. Suggest before you give up try it.
I have adjusted to the advertising . You need the revenue to continue. People don’t work for free.
Thank you for your patience and understanding, Robert. We appreciate them, and we appreciate YOU!🤗 –Diane at RVtravel.com
It wasn’t very long ago that Chuck asked everyone to be patient as they work on trying to eliminate some of the pop ups. He said it could take a month or more. Please give them the chance to follow through. At least they care enough to listen.
We appreciate your kind words of support, T & S. Thank you!🤗 Have a great day. 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
Just want to let RVTravel know I am not getting any ads anymore. I use Firefox browser, and also I sometimes use Duck Duck Go browser, and AdBlock. Thanks to Chuck, Emily, and Diane for all the hard work y’all put in each day, and to all the writers that provide so much information. Too bad all the complainers that leave RVTravel will be missing out on great information.
Hi, Linda. Thank you so much for your very kind words, and for your patience as we sort things out. We appreciate them, and we appreciate YOU! Have a great day.🤗 –Diane at RVtravel.com
I’m not sure why but everything is back to normal on my computer. No more pop up ads all over the place and things are staying put. Thanks for all your hard work putting this together. I hope people will calm down and give things a little time.
I used to enjoy reading the comments. Lately it’s just everybody complaining about the ads. Get over it or learn to make your device block them. It’s not that hard.
Laugh of the day hilarious ~ my dog has given me that look! My hubby too!