Issue 2361
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
“Life is a mirror: if you frown at it, it frowns back; if you smile, it returns the greeting.” ―
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Laundry Day!
On this day in history: 1912 – The British passenger liner RMS Titanic sinks in the North Atlantic at 2:20 a.m., two hours and forty minutes after hitting an iceberg. Only 710 of 2,224 passengers and crew on board survive.
Tip of the Day
Editor’s note: This article was originally published in 2021.
Readers say THIS is the worst kind of road to drive on. We offer tips
By Nanci Dixon
Back in 2021 we asked our readers, “What kind of roads do you dread driving down the most?” Of those who voted in our poll, the highest percentage answered that they dread driving down icy/snowy roads the most, followed by city/urban roads, winding roads through mountains, dirt roads and, finally, flat boring roads. We weren’t surprised that most people dislike icy and snowy roads the most. Winter driving, particularly driving on ice or snow, can white-knuckle even the calmest driver.
Here are some tips on how to tackle different types of difficult roads and driving conditions.
Ask Dave
My RV’s Dometic roof air conditioner isn’t working. How do I check if the thermostat is dead?
Hey, Dave,
I was hooked up to shore power in my 2016 Airstream Interstate 24GT. While changing the mode at the Dometic 10-button A/C thermostat control panel, it suddenly lost power. The panel is completely dead. I checked the breakers and fuses in the distribution center and they were all good. I removed the thermostat to check for power to the unit with a multimeter, but it has a phone-type jack. The A/C is totally dead. Is it possible that the thermostat panel is blown, or is there somewhere else I can check breakers or fuses? Please help. Thanks. —James, 2016 Airstream Interstate 24GT
RV Reviews
Outdoors RV Timber Ridge 22FQA: Check out a few variations of a great trailer
By Tony Barthel
Today’s RV review is of the Outdoors RV 22FQS. This is one of the smaller travel trailers from Outdoors RV and features some updated features and decor. I don’t get to see a lot of products from Outdoors RV products because the La Grande, Oregon, company is not very big. … In fact, our dealership inquired about selling Outdoors RV products and the company just was at capacity for production and dealerships. They don’t build a huge number of RVs but the RVs they build are extraordinarily well made.
In the RV Shop with Dustin
Checking out the Dicor Butyl Rubber Sealant
In this video I compare the original butyl/putty tape application to a fairly new product on the market – Dicor Butyl Rubber Sealant. I share my initial thoughts and the pros and cons of this new-ish product.
Video of the day
RV water pump troubleshooting and repair
By Cheri Sicard
Having trouble with your RV water pump? Chris from the Why Wait YouTube channel is here to help with RV water pump troubleshooting tips.
Chris will take you through things to check for if your pump runs but has no pressure. The video will show you how to disassemble the Shurflo RV water pump, the most common brand, and diagnose the most likely problem.
The latest news for RVers
- Grand Design’s motorhome debut: marvel or misfire? Anticipation turns to skepticism
- Woman riding in Airstream falls out, dies from fall
- Make money filming campgrounds
- Texans sue SpaceX in land dispute over Boca Chica State Park
To read more recent news, click here.
Quit struggling with hose and cable hookups at the campsite
Are you tired of struggling to hook up your coax cables, water hoses and other connections when you arrive at your campsite? It’s a snap with Cable and Hose Grips from J Wright Concepts. Save time and frustration! Life is too short to hassle with the little stuff! Learn more or order.
Thinking about renting an RV for a special adventure? Here’s advice
By Janet Groene
Owning an RV is no reason not to rent an RV. Thanks to rentals, I’ve explored RV life in Australia and New Zealand. I can fly to Alaska when vacation time is short and do a two-week rental instead of making the long drive from Florida. Rentals not only save time, but they also give me a chance to try different rigs, gear and layouts. The downside is that rental RVs are furnished with bare-bones essentials. Continue reading for 20 essentials to take along when renting an RV.
Reader poll
How many countries have you visited outside the North American continent?
Quick Tip
Easy campfire starters
Want fire starters for your campfire? Get a premanufactured fire log, cut it up in pieces, and use the pieces for fire starters.
Website of the day
20 Hilarious One-Star Yelp Reviews of National Parks
This should really be under our “Leave here with a laugh” section. You’ll laugh out loud at these! Some people just don’t get it…
?? MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY ??
This could so easily save your life or that of a loved one! This is no joke! We are dead serious. (Oh, bad pun. Sorry.) Get this for yourself or give it as a gift.
Recipe of the Day
Blue Ribbon Garlic Shrimp Scampi and Pasta
by Jim Frigyes from Waynesburg, OH
This shrimp scampi gets a big punch of flavor from garlic and pepper flakes. The buttery sauce soaks into the shrimp and spaghetti for a wonderful bite. Shrimp scampi is usually made with butter, garlic, and white wine. This version is made without wine and uses chicken stock instead, making it a delicious option if you’re avoiding alcohol. Gather the ingredients before cooking, as Jim suggests, and this decadent seafood dish will come together in no time.
Trivia
What even is Pickleball, anyway?
Pickleball is the sport that increased in popularity from 3.4 million participants in 2019 to a whopping 36.5 million pickleball players in the United States alone, according to data released in January 2023 by the Association of Pickleball Professionals (APP). Pickleball’s unprecedented rise in popularity makes it the fastest-growing sport in the country. And no wonder! Pickleball is played and enjoyed by folks of every age and competency level. Read all about it here.
Readers’ Pet of the Day
“Loki (Maine Coon) likes to stretch out on the couch, all 21 pounds of him.” —Don & Betsy Stiker
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
How do you console an English teacher?
There, their, they’re.
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Contact information
Editor: Emily Woodbury, editor@rvtravel.com
Help desk: Contact us
Mail us at 9792 Edmonds Way, #265, Edmonds, WA 98020.
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. RVtravel.com is a participant in many affiliate programs, including the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Regardless of the potential revenue, unless stated otherwise, we only recommend products or services we believe provide value to our readers. This newsletter is copyright 2024 by RV Travel LLC.
His coach that he might share.
My concern about ‘pre-manufactured logs’ for starting fires is what’s it made with and is it toxic?
…and, they smell like burning garbage.
WHAT are you buying? Man made logs and fire starters are made of natural wood (sawdust, and chips) held together with wax or paraffin. This binder is the same thing found in household candles. What’s to smell??
Have you seen the ones that are supposed to smell like Kentucky Fried Chicken?
😂🤣No, have not seen those, but they sound finger lickin good. 🤠
Just don’t burn your fingers!!😃
Only if you consider cyanide gas toxic. Don’t cook over one, it will likely make you sick.
Would be like cooking over a burning sofa cushion.
Loki is a big kitty and beautiful
Tony, Tony, Tony. I’m 100% sure that La Grange is in Texas and Outdoors RV is located in La Grande, Oregon. Let’s chalk it up to auto correct!
Good catch … I am not the only one who caught that.
Thanks, J B and John. It’s been corrected. I should have caught that! Sorry, folks, including Tony.😖 Have a great day. 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
I use Kingsford tumble weed fire starters for my Weber.
Use propane fire pit.
Dont burn wood fire pits.
Very dangerous and they are smokey.
NO propane to cook grub with …carcinogens are not good for you.
I guess that leaves electric because anything burning is releasing something that probably is not good for you. Oh … but that electric is produced by burning coal, or nukes, or windmills supposedly chopping up eagles and hawks, or…….. 😉
Campfires with wood for sixty years. Propane for cooking all my life. Wish it wasn’t harmful. I’m only 77. Oh well!
We have owned the Outdoors RV travel trailer and 5th wheel. Both have been everything you mentioned in your article for an RV. Our 5th is six years old and still like new in every way. Ok, I’m OCD in its upkeep. Well worth the time and effort. I can highly recommend purchasing one of the Outdoors RV units.
A real comfy kitty there, Loki!!!
I sincerely hope that those people that gave one star reviews to the national parks will sell their rvs and take up a different hobby…lol
Thank you, Emily and Diane! 🙂 We just use the entire premanufactured firelog to start our campfires and fires in our wood-burning fireplaces at home too! 🙂 Have a great week and safe travels! 🙂
FAT WOOD… one small piece does the trick and a whole lot cheaper
Thank you, Scott B! Safe travels! 🙂