Issue 2378
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
“So we shall let the reader answer this question for himself: who is the happier man, he who has braved the storm of life and lived or he who has stayed securely on shore and merely existed?” ―
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Coconut Cream Pie Day!
On this day in history: 1886 – Pharmacist John Pemberton first sells a carbonated beverage named “Coca-Cola” as a patent medicine.
Tip of the Day
#1 tip on how to maximize the life of RV batteries
By Cheri Sicard
No matter if you are a new or experienced RVer, you probably have encountered times when it just seemed like your RV battery did not last that long. Josh the RV Nerd regularly sees RVers who are changing their batteries every year or two!
If you have had that experience, Josh wants to share why that’s happening and what you can do to avoid it and thereby get a better return on investment from your RV batteries
Click here to read the article and watch the video
Ask Dave
Why does RV fridge stop working after awhile even when plugged in?
Dear Dave,
We are getting my parents’ motorhome ready for them to visit and live in this summer and we are having some issues. After losing power to the fridge and TVs, we thought maybe the batteries were bad so we replaced the house and engine batteries. (The engine batteries were 6 years old so we did them, too.) Once we replaced them and plugged into shore power, the fridge and TVs powered right up and stayed on for several days, but by the following weekend, they had gone back out and wouldn’t come back on. We checked the house batteries and they both said “weak.” …
Read the rest of Debbie’s question and Dave’s answer
RV Reviews
Jayco Jay Feather 25RB travel trailer – Great layout, but what an “oops”
Today’s RV review is of the 2024 Jayco Jay Feather 25RB travel trailer. This is one of the more popular floor plans in the RV industry for good reason. As a couple’s camper, you get a lot of usable functionality and plenty of living space.
But this trailer, very specifically, made me question what would make you very specifically rule out an RV if you were out there shopping. What do I mean? I’ll get to it.
In the RV Shop with Dustin
Ways you can prevent RV fender skirt cracks
Prevent RV fender skirt cracks! Join Terry and me as we replace the fender skirts on this 2020 Grand Design Reflection. I’ll show you and explain why fender skirt cracking is so prevalent. The video shows you how we install fender skirts to prevent cracking.
Video of the day
Amazing free scenic SC river camping at Santee Coastal Reserve
By Cheri Sicard
In the video above we join Lou and Melody of Living our Dream Now, one of the winners of our 2024 RV Video awards, for a tour of a terrific free South Carolina camping spot that also happens to be convenient to Charleston. The Santee Coastal Reserve is a hidden gem that frugal RVers are sure to fall in love with.
RVers debate ATVs, other motorized “toys,” in campgrounds
By Gail Marsh
“We love it,” Kyle’s smile beamed. “Having our ATVs with us at the campground when we camp has opened up a whole new side of the RVing experience.” Kyle’s wife agreed. “Remember when the kids just wanted to look at their phones the entire camping weekend? Now they can’t wait to get outside!” We never used to see so many motorized vehicles such as ATVs inside campgrounds. It seems like more and more folks are bringing motorcycles, minibikes, 4-wheelers, and other toys to the campground. So, what do RVers think about all this movin’ and shakin’? Our campfire discussion revealed two distinctly opposite opinions.
Reader poll
What’s the most you’ve ever spent on a pet?
Helpful resources
• NATIONAL TRAFFIC AND ROAD CLOSURE INFORMATION
• ROAD AND TRAFFIC CONDITIONS ACROSS THE NATION
• WEATHER ALERTS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
• LATEST RV RECALLS
• DIRECTORY OF RV PARKS WITH STORM SHELTERS
• THE BEST RV TRIP PLANNER APPS AND TOOLS
Did you buy a lemon RV? Here’s more about RV lemons and lawyers who will represent you if you need help.
Quick Tip
Handy spray lube can storage
Finding it hard to find a place to put those cans of WD-40 and similar spray lube cans? The irksome things just get up and roll around or, in a worst-case-scenario, run up against something and squirt. Here’s a suggestion from Lew W. on Facebook. He stores his in a “magazine” storage bin. You can find them on Amazon, or in your local Walmart.
On this day last year…
- Ask Dave: Does liquid weight in tanks factor into GVWR when sitting in a campground?
- Video: A contractor’s RV advice for maintaining your RV
- Featured article: Important lessons learned from RVing apply to other parts of life too
Website of the day
The Best Historic Town to Visit in Each State
Love history? Love exploring new and scenic towns? This list from Sherman’s Travel will point you in the direction of the best historic towns in each state across the U.S. Have fun!
?? MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY ??
We SO want to tell you that this is a silly, stupid invention… but there’s just no way we can deny that they might actually come in handy.
Recipe of the Day
Sam’s Panko Crusted Fried Shrimp with Tartar Sauce
by Sammie Allen from Salisbury, NC
Easy to prepare, this fried shrimp could be a light meal or a snack. The batter coats the shrimp wonderfully. Once fried to a golden brown, the batter is crunchy with the perfectly cooked shrimp inside. Don’t skimp on the sprinkle of salt once everything is fried. The balance of flavors in the homemade tartar sauce is spot on. Perfect for dipping the fried shrimp.
Trivia
Did you know that a group of flamingos is called a “flamboyance”? This is because of their distinctive bright pink color and their elaborate courtship displays, which involve synchronized wing-flapping and group marching.
Readers’ Pets of the Day
“Heidi and Max were both adopted from Austin Boxer Rescue. They are both well-behaved, highly social Boxers who love to travel. They have joined us on our extended camping adventures throughout the United States. We would never leave home without them.” —Liz Cahalan
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!
Here’s everything to do if you lose your pet. This is an excellent resource!
Leave here with a laugh
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If you are towing a toy hauler, you ain’t camping. Camping is quiet, serene, enjoyment of nature. Hiking, fishing, sitting around campfires, and meeting like minded folk is camping. COVID has brought the noisy, rude intruders with loud vehicles and blasting music. With the exception of people with mobility issues, nothing should be allowed. Even adults do not adhere to speed limits and someone thinks young children will? When something happens, the lawyers will have a field day.
These ATV maniacs have been going at it for a long time…even before covid. No respect for others…no morals and no ethics now days.
Can I be your neighbor, Bob?
Be careful with your answer, Bob. Just sayin’.😉🤣 Oh, hi, Kelly.🤗 (That’s for you, Kelly, ‘cuz I was giving you a bad time, and because I don’t know Bob [yet].😉) I hope you both have a good night. 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
The “Mystery Product of the Day”. Yeah, I can just see myself eating popcorn or peanuts with these ‘chop sticks’. Or chips? Is this the latest food bugaboo? Touching your food with your own hands? The horror!
If you are that darned hungry, put down your device and go eat!! On the other hand; invent something that no one needs and make a fortune.
Totally agree, Kelly. This is a good example of what you mentioned about inventing something no one needs, and making a fortune. Wish I’d thought of it . . .
Though I doubt they are making a fortune on these.
I have found that putting your spray cans in a “six pack” you brought your beer home in works perfectly.
Setting the Record Straight regarding my comments to Gail Marsh’s article yesterday on RV toilet usage. I DO NOT deposit 5 gallon pails of human waste along our Nation’s highways (that’s a different Sven Yohnson). It was a joke people!
I personally find it funny that there are some who do not use their RV toilets as intended.
Twice annually I police the ditches on the mile block on which we live. I ALWAYS leave campsites cleaner than when I arrive. I even spent a morning cleaning up trash left behind from a hurricane and previous guests, at a beach front VRBO rental a couple of years ago.
My motto; If you’re not part of the solution, you ARE the problem.
Even tho I was not one of those 128 comments, enough had hit the fan with my bucket added, I laughed out loud at your post Sven. 😂
Happy trails of pails….
When making a joke I would suggest you follow it up with Ha Ha! Without, your comment reads like that was your practice – it seemed a bit odd – however…… Thanks for helping keep campgrounds and areas presentable – I too clean the site leaving only rake marks!
When you clean up the ditches do you leave the trash in the 5 gal. buckets along the highway ? As suggested below – Ha! Ha! Some people just do not get absurd humor — gets me in trouble all the time. Hate it when I have to explain a joke.
Thank you, Emily and Diane! 🙂 The laugh of the day immediately made me think of Mary Chapin Capenter’s song, “The Bug.” Here is a link to a YouTube video of it in case anyone unfamiliar with it wants to hear it, or someone familiar with it wants to hear it again, https://youtu.be/5hW_maN0eSs?feature=shared. Thanks again, have a great day, and safe travels! 🙂
Here’s one for you!
What’s the last thing that goes through a bug’s mind as it splats against your windshield?
.
.
.
Its butt!
😯😆😅😂🤣
Plastic 50 caliber ammo cans work well for spray lubes and other oily products as they always seem to leak and the plastic is easy to clean.
Did you know that flamingo feathers gradually lose their pink color & turn gray when no longer attached to the flamingo? The pink color is a product of the flamingo’s diet; no flamingo blood supply, no pink color.
Ok the rest of the news letter was as always Top Notch, but the leave here with a laugh sent this one beyond my wildest dreams. 🤣🤣🤣🤣