Issue 2370
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
“Don’t count the days, make the days count.” —Muhammad Ali
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Kids and Pets Day!
On this day in history: 1956 – The SS Ideal X, the world’s first truly successful commercial container ship, leaves Port Newark, New Jersey, for Houston, Texas.
Tip of the Day
RV window shades—This is the “hack of the century!!!!”
By Dave Helgeson
I recently came across this post on social media about using pipe insulation to calm banging RV window shades.
“Okay, peeps. This is the hack of the century!!!!
“We’re in southern Texas and the winds have been blowing. It’s too cool for the A/C to be on so I opened up the windows. The window shades have been knocking on the window frames, irritating the husband. He found this to help…”
Ask Dave
My RV needs a new engine battery. What brand and size should I get?
By Dave Solberg
Dear Dave,
I think I need to replace my chassis batteries. Can you tell me which battery/part number I should be looking for? Not much information on the current batteries. Thanks. —Richard, 2017 Fleetwood Pace Arrow 36U
RV Reviews
2024 Forest River Ozark 2400BHLE – Who’s that, again?
By Tony Barthel
Today’s RV review is of the Forest River Ozark 2400BHLE. What’s that, you say? You haven’t heard of the Ozark brand name? Yeah, me neither.
You know how all these RV companies are working to make more affordable trailers in order to get folks like you and me back into RV dealerships? Well, what happened is the team that makes the Salem-Wildwood single-axle RVs were put in charge of doing something larger than what they had been—and now you have Ozark.
In the RV Shop with Dustin
Two additional uses for EternaBond tape on your RV
Back in February, I shared reasons why I don’t recommend utilizing EternaBond tape on your RV roof (outside of using it as a patch). But today, I want to share two additional ways I do recommend using EternaBond tape on your RV.
While I don’t recommend utilizing EternaBond® tape on the roof of the RV, I do recommend using it on the roof of your slide out. Specifically at the T-flange seam. In fact, RV manufacturers install EternaBond tape there, as well—this wasn’t the case years ago.
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!
How to prevent blisters: The hiker’s tips you need to know!
By Cheri Sicard
In today’s video, we join Joey, aka the Joyful Rambler, for her method of preventing blisters while hiking.
Joey says that a lot of people think that blisters are simply part of the hiking experience. But it does not have to be that way. She says there is a way to prevent blisters before they start.
New and improved Dump Buddy is a must-have gadget for RV dumping
Dump Buddy® will change the way you empty your waste tanks. It securely fastens your waste hose to the waste pipe, preventing a spill. Whether you’re doing a simple dump at the end of a trip or need a secure hookup for a long stay, Dump Buddy is there to assist. Read Tony Barthel’s review of it or click here to find it on Amazon.
The dealer won’t tell you about these hidden RV expenses
By Cheri Sicard
What are the actual RV expenses you can count on when embarking on an RV lifestyle? The short answer? It depends. It depends on a lot of factors. And what about all the hidden expenses the dealers never tell you about? Find out what some of them are here.
You may have missed these recent popular stories…
- Branson tourist attraction ranked most boring in the world
- Warranty requires yearly $200 inspection; missing the date voids the warranty
- First Airstream Clipper, owned by a President, resurfaces
- Boondocking: A comprehensive how-to guide for a great trip
ONE MORE THING NOT TO MISS… Yesterday’s brand-new Great RV Accessories newsletter! This one is filled with gadgets for your pups and kitties, as well as grilling gadgets, an essential fresh-water-saving gadget, and more! Read the issue here.
Reader poll
Do you read more fiction or non-fiction books?
Quick Tip
How to make sure you get the right replacement faucet for your RV
Need to replace a faucet in your RV? Or just don’t like the one that came with it? Best to remove the old one, then take it with you when you shop for the new one. Some RV faucets have different spacing than “house” faucets and you need to ensure the less expensive (or greater featured-filled) ones from the “big box” store will fit.
Our customers come first!
Family-run RV dealer Cheyenne Camping Center, one of America’s largest volume dealers, has served customers nationwide from Iowa since 1966. Get the lowest possible price without need to negotiate. No hard sell!! Long-time RVtravel.com supporter. Visit us today, (800) 397-5673.
On this day last year…
- Tip: These are six critical photos to keep on your phone
- Ask Dave: Can I leave the RV’s water heater on electric all the time when plugged into shore power?
- In the RV Shop with Dustin: We bought an RV with delamination. How much will it cost to fix it?
- Video: RV Troubleshooting: 5 important RV checks to do each spring
- Featured article: Everything to know about crossing the border between San Diego and Tijuana in an RV
Website of the day
The 51 Most Beautiful Places in the World
This list from Condé Nast Traveler will inspire you to leave that RV behind and go explore other parts of our beautiful world. Some of these places are in the U.S., but you’ll surely want to book a plane ticket after reading this one! (Note: You do have to enter your email to read any Condé Nast articles, but we think it’s worth it.)
?? MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY ??
You’ve seen a prairie dog, right? So you know how cute they are? Good. Well, what if we told you that you could become a prairie dog for a day? Or even a week! Check this out—you can!
Recipe of the Day
Chicken Pesto Pasta
by Shawn Lansing from Nolanville, TX
Super satisfying, this chicken pesto pasta is fantastic. The pesto gives the pasta a delightfully tangy, sweet, and savory flavor. It’s filled with Italian seasonings from the diced tomato. We liked using penne for this casserole because the sauce gets into the pasta. Chicken breasts, along with the pasta, make the dish very hearty. Nice and cheesy, this is a recipe your family won’t complain about eating the leftovers.
Trivia
Wildlife vehicle collisions are a safety issue, especially in rural areas. Each year in the United States, roughly 200 people are killed – and many more are injured – in more than one million collisions involving wildlife and vehicles.
Readers’ Pets of the Day
“Roxy and Rusty, Dalmatians, in Fredericksburg, Texas, to see the wildflowers.” —Patty Perk
HELP! We’re running low on pet photos! 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
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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.
The Trivia statistic could improve dramatically if society wanted it to. But that is an acceptable loss for how we choose to conduct ourselves. Maybe to improve ( or reduce ) the loss of the higher life forms, we could reduce the vehicular speed limit through nature parks and low ways across the country. Another way to preserve the higher life forms is to increase the vehicular speed limits to 70 mph through urban areas. That would reduce the population of non-rational life forms that caused the problem in the first place.
That Trivia statistic did not mention how many life forms are killed each year with no fatalities, injuries to the lower life forms or damage to their vehicles.
Plus, be aware of the surroundings. If you are driving in an area inhabited by wildlife, slow down and pay attention.
There are more accidents and fatalities caused by so called ‘intelligent’ people running stop signs, crossing into oncoming traffic and pulling out in front of other vehicles than those caused by wildlife.
https://www.cbsnews.com/video/how-wildlife-crossings-protect-both-animals-and-people/
Thank you, Emily and Diane! 🙂 The mystery product of the day has me baffled. I haven’t any idea what the picture on the t-shirt is. Perhaps that’s because I haven’t ever seen a prarie dog. In any case, have a great day (all 26, or 28 hours of it 🤔😯😉) and weekend! 🙂
So far, so good.👍 Thanks, Neal. We hope you have a great day and weekend, also. 😀 –Diane
Thank you, Diane! 🙂 So far, so good. Almost everything is mowed. 🙂
Good job, Neal! I’ll bet you sleep well after all that mowing, i.e., fresh air and exercise.👍 Have a good night. 😀 –Diane
Cheri video TOOOO wordy! Get to the point.
Hi, Herb. If you’re talking about the video itself being too wordy, Cheri has nothing to do with that. If you’re talking about Cheri’s explanation of the information presented in the video, I think it is succinct and to the point. –Diane at RVtravel.com
Is no one happy??? Someone needs a nap. I eagerly wait for the next article from Cheri on a variety of subjects. Her contributions to RVT are interesting and varied but can not appeal to everyone all the time. Herb, why don’t you try to add some interesting articles to the newsletter instead of belly aching…
That pesto dish looks really good. Although I would have to cut that in half because that would make enough for one person to eat for a month. Looks yummy. As for that bald eagle? Uh yeah thats me on a good day.