Issue 2367
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
“You get what anybody gets – you get a lifetime.” ―
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Picnic Day!
On this day in history: 1985 – Coca-Cola changes its formula and releases New Coke. The response is overwhelmingly negative, and the original formula is back on the market in less than three months.
Tip of the Day
Is your motorhome ready for an emergency? Follow these steps to make sure
By Randall Brink
Most motorhome owners view their RV as a route to adventure—the open road—free to roam where and when they please. Some take a more practical view and see their RV as a full-time home, whether roaming or stationary. Likely few of us may have considered that our motorhomes are also an asset in the event of a major unforeseen event, such as a natural emergency or other unexpected forms of chaos and uncertainty. The pandemic changed a lot of thinking about preparation for the unexpected. Is your RV ready for an emergency?
Ask Dave
Looking for new RV. Part 1: Why isn’t RV quality the same throughout a manufacturer’s lines?
Dear Dave,
Love reading RV Travel. I’ve learned so much! Please feel free to pass this on if you are unable to answer the million questions that I have.
My husband, Bob, and I currently own a small Passport Premier, 23-foot travel trailer. There are a few things that Bob wishes it had, and I have my own list. We’re thinking that when we retire, in 3 years, 10 months, 2 weeks and 3 days [but who’s counting?], that we’d like to look at getting a new travel trailer. We would like to take the next 2 to 3 years researching new RVs, and I am hoping you can help with some questions. They are in no specific order. …
Read the rest of the question and Dave’s answer
RV Tours
2024 Cherokee Grey Wolf 29NM travel trailer with office or two bedrooms
By Cheri Sicard
In today’s video tour we join Scott Hudgins from Northtown, Virginia’s Dodd RV (family-owned and operated since 1956!) for a tour of the 2024 Cherokee Grey Wolf 29NM travel trailer by Forest River.
This is a large bunkhouse trailer that would be perfect for families or as a hunting or fishing lodge camp base for fun with groups of friends.
Video of the day
Editor’s note: Don’t skip past these “videos”! Did you know that Cheri’s “Video of the Day” isn’t JUST a video? Cheri writes an article to go along with each video, summarizing the whole thing. Don’t like videos? You can read the article and skip the video! Don’t skip past these! And same goes for the above RV Tours, too!
RV inspector picks the best 30-amp inverter generators for RVers
By Cheri Sicard
In this video, our favorite RV inspector, Duane from the RV Inspection and Repair YouTube channel, reviews his picks of the best 30-amp generators for RVers. (As a side note, Duane was one of the nominees in our 2024 RV video awards.)
If your 30-amp RV did not come with a built-in generator, a portable 30-amp generator is a great alternative.
Recipe: Old prospector’s delicious and easy Camp Stew
By Randall Brink
This Camp Stew recipe is a favorite from the Klondike and 49ers’ Gold Rush days. It is a good way to use what you have available in meat and other ingredients, as almost any type of meat can be used. Get the recipe here. Yum!
Stop RV Repair Bills from Ruining Your 2026 Travels
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Reader poll
How many prescription drugs do you take on a regular basis?
Quick Tip
Easy way to add water to batteries
When adding distilled water to your batteries, try a plastic turkey baster. Makes the job very easy rather than trying to pour in the water. Our thanks to Ruth D. and several other of our sharp readers. Speaking of filling batteries, reader DW/ND suggests the following: ”Take a plastic ketchup bottle and insert a 1/4″ piece of plastic tubing. Insert the tube down into the distilled water and GENTLY squeeze the bottle. When finished pull the tube up above any remaining water to eliminate drips and accidental flow when handling the bottle. Works like a charm and re-purposes and recycles too!” Thanks, DW/ND aka D&J!
Website of the day
6 of the Best Reminders for Your Medications
Our poll question today inspired us to list this website. If you have trouble remembering to take your medications, or remembering if you took your medications, check out these six great websites, gadgets and apps.
?? MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY ??
If you’re hungry right now, consider yourself warned. We’re hungry and this just made it much, much worse! This is crazy!!
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:
• It’s a tie! 50 percent say they have feared for their safety in their RV because of an approaching threat of nature, but the other 50 percent say they have never feared for their safety.
• The highest percentage of voters, 35 percent, say a pop-up trailer was the first type of RV they ever owned.
• 36 percent say they cook more simply in their RV than they would in a normal sticks-and-bricks home.
Recent poll: If the price was excellent, would you buy a house if it were built using RV construction materials and techniques?
Recipe of the Day
Grilled Steak and Veggies Tacos
by Joann Gough-Stallbaumer from Lenexa, KS
Nearly every element of these steak tacos is grilled. A fantastic dinner option when you don’t want to turn on the oven. The steak is tender, hearty, and full of flavor from the marinade. It’s a wonderful complement to the caramelized red onion and tangy grilled tomatillos. Crumbled queso fresco and sliced avocado add a bit of creaminess to every bite. Be prepared to make a full taco bar. You and your family will not be able to eat just one.
Trivia
Where did the word cubbyhole originate? From the Old English term, cub, for a pen for animals or chickens comes the transferred term for a basket. In castles, a hole was built into the family chamber wall, just large enough to hold a baby in its cubby (basket). Hence the term “cubbyhole.” It refers to a small, snug space for storage.
Readers’ Pet of the Day
“This is Maxwell (Terrier mix) sitting on a beaver-cut log at Boya Lake Provincial Park in British Columbia in July 2016. There was lots of beaver activity in the area and the largest beaver dam we have ever seen on the lake. We even saw a brown bear across the cove. I think Maxwell was a little worried the animal that chewed this log was going to come back. He is 15 now and I know he still dreams of all those wonderful smells from our Alaska trip.” —Debby Kliever
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, editor@rvtravel.com
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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. 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.
While a turkey baster makes battery maintenance simpler, before I switched from flooded lead acid batteries to lithium batteries which require no maintenance, I used (in my opinion) a greatly superior method. Battery watering systems sell for around $65. They consist of a series of tubes and caps which all connect to a single tube with a squeeze bulb. You simply place the short tube on the squeeze bulb into a container of distilled water, squeeze the bulb until resistance is felt, and all cells are filled to the correct level. Takes about 30 seconds.
You just have to remember not to use it for basting turkeys after that! 😂 LOL
tangy ….
Your method is a good one for those people who cannot reach their batteries to keep them filled. Mine are on a slide so I chose to use a Battery Filler Jug which holds 2 quarts of distilled water. Stick it in the hole and water stops flowing when full. Purchased at Amazon – https://tinyurl.com/4vsmj33j
Exactly… no fuss, no muss.
Before switching to lithium batteries I used a French’s mustard container for topping up my batteries. I still use it for the truck and our car.
The “Mystery Product of the Day” would be all I’d need to put me in diabetic shock. 😀 😀
Doesn’t all that mustard shorten the battery life?
Nope. Gave my batteries at least five extra years . . .
Grey Poupon?
Quick Tip:
I check my battery acid level every other month using EZRED SP101 Hydrometer. It takes a couple of minutes. I have a disposable cup of distilled water handy. If any cell is low, I squeeze the bulb and add distilled water to the EZRED and add to the cell. SP101 is about $10 on Amazon and Made in the USA. I’ve had mine 4 years and it works great!
Stay safe and check your acid regularly, Joe
For the last four years I have been using the “automatic” approach to keeping my batteries filled. I installed a series of tubes and caps which all connect to a single tube with a squeeze bulb. I simply place the short tube on the squeeze bulb into a container of distilled water, squeeze the bulb until resistance is felt, and all cells are filled to the correct level. I do this about once a month. I also installed an LED light that monitors the water level. Just a visual way of confirming the batteries are full.
Hi Mickey: How did you install an LED lite in the batteries? Interesting! Thanks.
I’ve got an easier way to deal with lead acid batteries – I buy AGM (maintenance free) rather than flooded. Our RV is stored in a remote location with a battery maintainer. Water monitoring and addition isn’t possible for several months (unless I somehow hired somebody to do it). Further, I don’t have to store distilled water. The additional cost for AGM vs flooded is minimal.
Maxwell todays “Pet of the day” has really cool story bro!
Snoopy
I’d keep an eye out Maxwell, those beaver have big teeth.
Thank you, Emily and Diane! 🙂 Another excellent issue; thanks! 🙂 I may not be paying enough, given what you and the writers and Kim routinely provide. 🙂 I’ll study on that. Meanwhile, thanks again and safe travels! 🙂
No matter how we try and yes we are completely filling it out and add picture it won’t let submit it… help
Sorry, Cdp. I’ve just sent your comment to Kim, our IT dude, and Emily. Hopefully they can figure out what’s going on.🤞 Thank you for your patience. Have a good evening/night. 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
Thx
Good morning, Cdp. Well, Kim (IT dude) couldn’t find anything wrong on our end regarding submitting pet pictures. He suggested, and Emily agreed, that anyone who runs into the problem that you did can submit the picture, and info, to editor(at)rvtravel.com. Hopefully that works for you, and others who are having an issue, because we’re very low on pet pictures.🙁 Sorry for the hassle, Cdp, but thank you for your patience. Have a great day. 😀 –Diane
Maxwell is adorable!
I only thought you added water to batteries in the 60″s