Issue 2392
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
“The starting point of all achievement is DESIRE. Keep this constantly in mind. Weak desire brings weak results, just as a small fire makes a small amount of heat.” ―
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Hamburger Day!
On this day in history: 1892 – In San Francisco, John Muir organizes the Sierra Club.
Tip of the Day
Tips for RVers receiving packages from Amazon and others
By Gail Marsh
I love shopping on Amazon! Not only am I able to snap up some incredible buys, but I can also shop on my own time—even if it’s in the middle of the night. That frees our days for traveling and exploring in our RV. Here are some Amazon tips and tricks for RVers.
First, did you know that Amazon has an Outlet store? It’s true. Click here to browse the most discounted items on Amazon. Clearance and overstock items come from every category and can save you up to 80%! Type “RV” into the search bar at the top of this special page and you’ll see dozens of deals for your rig. Regular prices are listed along with the clearance/overstock price, so you’ll see how much you’re saving.
Ask Dave
My RV black water tank always reads full, no matter what. What can I do?
Dear Dave,
Is there any method to clean/clear the various tank sensors? Even empty, my black water tank reads 3/4 full. Had the tanks pressure cleaned, but no joy. Any possibility of a replacement system? I would really like to get semi-accurate level readings. —Thomas, 2017 Phoenix Cruiser 2552
RV walk-through
The EPIK Scout offroad camper fits in your garage yet has tons of features
By Cheri Sicard
In [this video], we join Marissa from Adventure Series RV and Patrick from New Jersey Outdoor Adventures, who give us a walk-through tour of what they call THE most capable 6 X 12 camper trailer they have ever seen, the EPIK Scout. It is made by Adventure Series RV.
This compact trailer will fit in most garages, as the height is under 8’ with the pop-top down. Yet it features a rear kitchen, a large slide-out, and a pop-up roof for extra headspace and sleeping space.
Video of the day
No RV oven? No problem! Bake on the stovetop
By Cheri Sicard
Does your RV lack an oven? No problem! In this video, Robin Barrett of Creativity RV (one of the winners of our 2024 RV Video awards) shows us how to bake on the stovetop. According to Robin, you can bake almost anything and everything on your RV’s stovetop.
Why your RV’s GVWR is different than its GAWR
By Andrew Herrick
Alphabet soup is hard to choke down, I know. But if you can stomach the acronyms for a few minutes, I think you’ll learn something important about your RV’s weight capacity—and maybe save yourself a tire blowout along the way. Today’s question: Why does your RV’s GVWR not match its GAWR? In other words, why is your RV allowed to weigh more or less than what the axles can carry alone? Find out here. I break it down and make the math easy for you.
Reader poll
How important to you is socializing with other RVers at campgrounds or RV parks?
S
mall blind spot mirror good for all vehicles
If you don’t have one of these on your RV or tow vehicle, you need one! These small 2″ round glass blind spot mirrors easily stick onto your current mirror, no hard work is needed! They’re waterproof and rust-resistant and can rotate and sway to be adjusted for the best visibility. They’re affordable and could save you from an accident. Learn more or order.
Quick Tip
Saving for the breakdown
With most insurance policies you can either pay your insurance all in one annual payment or you can pay monthly. That’s the way to look at RV maintenance expenses. Things may go bad a little bit at a time, but you usually don’t know it until all of a sudden when something totally fails. In other words, most maintenance problems hit you all at once, but put some money in your maintenance account each month, and when something expensive happens, you’ve already paid for it.
Of course, this money is in addition to your emergency fund, which should be for a true emergency and not just for predictable expenses. Every mile you drive you’re using up your gasoline (or diesel fuel). You’re also using up your tires, but you pay for tires every few years, not a little for every trip. Even if you took a 500-mile trip and didn’t have to spend anything on maintenance, that doesn’t mean you didn’t get that much closer to having to spend some money on repairs. One RVer told me that every time he puts $100 worth of gas in his rig he also puts $100 in an envelope that he keeps for maintenance expenses. My maintenance doesn’t run to nearly that much, but his technique may not be a bad idea.
From: RVing: Less Hassle—More Joy: Secrets of Having More Fun with Your RV—Even on a Limited Budget. Available on amazon.
Website of the day
Working Couples.com
WorkingCouples.com is an active website with many quality job offerings, all aimed at couples. The work is varied — there are jobs for caregiver, apartment manager, “houseparent couple,” ranch hand, building manager, campground host… and the list goes on. Search for jobs by location or type. WorkingCouples.com bills itself as “the single largest resource of jobs-for-two anywhere.”
?? MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY ??
This is PERFECT for RVers! Leave your valuables in plain sight and nobody will ever know! How? Well, you’ll see!
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:
• 72 percent say there is no “yuck” factor in dumping their RV’s holding tanks. They say it’s an easy process with seldom any mess.
• 20 percent have stayed three months or more in a campground or RV park at one time.
• 19 percent have hiked more than 15 miles in one day.
Recent poll: Will high fuel prices affect your RV travels this summer?
Recipe of the Day
Quick London Broil
by Juliann Esquivel from Florida City, FL
Keep a packet of Montreal steak seasoning handy so you can easily make this London Broil. Simply sprinkling the seasoning packet over the steak adds tons of flavor to the meat. We opted to broil it and the meal came together quickly. Drizzling the savory and sweet marinade over the meat after it has rested just adds to the flavor. Cutting against the grain of the meat helps tenderize this traditionally tougher cut of meat.
Trivia
Hidden cameras in photocopiers helped the U.S. gain access to Soviet secrets during the Cold War. In 1961, CIA agents realized that the Soviet Embassy was on lockdown and only high-clearance Soviets were allowed to enter or exit… except the Xerox repairman. They approached the Xerox VP with their idea: hide cameras in each copy machine to photograph every document that the Soviet clerks photocopied. The project was successful and tens of thousands of documents were viewed by the U.S., which helped them navigate the politics and conflicts of the Cold War.
Readers’ Pet of the Day
“This is (one-eyed, Shih Tzu mix) Sammie, when he was 1 year old. I rescued him in October 2022, and four days later we went camping. I’m thinking he’s telling me he’s had enough and it’s time to leave. Now, all I have to do is say ‘Go in the camper?’ and he joyfully runs in. He’s so affectionate, joyful, playful. Life is great with him!” —Catherine Rubin
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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RVtravel.com All Star Team
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Link to “Dave’s answer” is not working
Same here. Links not working here seems to occur somewhat frequently in the last couple of years.
I’m having the same problem, link will not open this morning. Fist time for me.
https://www.rvtravel.com/my-rv-black-water-tank-always-reads-full-no-matter-what-what-can-i-do/
I apologize. I messed up.😔 The link has been fixed. –Diane at RVtravel.com
Put your emergency funds in a fireproof safe, hidden somewhere in the RV. Hopefully, the firefighters will be able to find it for you.
True emergency fund, not normal repair kitty.
Another option is to house the fund in a bank. When needed, use a credit/debit card to pay for it then use the funds in the bank to pay that off.
After seeing the remains after the Paradise, CA fire- NO “fireproof” safety box will survive!!
Good Morning, I can’t open Dave’s column today. The link doesn’t seem to be functioning. Everything else I’ve tried works no problem. Can you look into it please? I’d like to read his response today. Thanks
Same problem after multiple tries.
Same here
Ditto
Not to pile on but there’s no link in Dave’s “Read More” button….. Was hopin’ not to have to check my tank with a stick and a flashlight again!
https://www.rvtravel.com/my-rv-black-water-tank-always-reads-full-no-matter-what-what-can-i-do/
My apologies to everyone, especially to Dave. I messed up.😔 The link has been fixed. –Diane at RVtravel.com
Thank you, Emily, Diane, and Kim! 🙂 Have a great day and safe travels! 🙂
Today’s trivia; so that’s how Belichik got the idea to film opponents’ practices and walk throughs…
For those who don’t know about it, i use SEA LEVEL for my tanks. Works like radar or something. Very accurate and no tank penetrating the tank. Sensors glue on