Issue 2402
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
“Even if you are on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there.” ―
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Corn On The Cob Day!
On this day in history: 1935 – Inventor Edwin Armstrong gives the first public demonstration of FM broadcasting in the United States at Alpine, New Jersey.
Tip of the day
Trailer users – Here’s a front/rear leveling tip
By Dave Helgeson
When you’re logging long miles and pull into a campsite for the night, the last thing you want to do is take the time to unhitch, just to hitch back up to leave the next morning. If you have a level campsite you can just stay hooked up, but what do you do when the campsite slopes to the front or rear so much that you are unable to level the RV without unhitching?
Ask Dave
RV generator shuts down; only starts with starting fluid. Fuel pump?
Dear Dave,
Our 2016 Winnebago Aspect has the Onan gas generator and has about 232 hours on it. It was serviced as part of our purchase last October and has been running fine when we perform a periodic ops check with the A/C on for a load. When I ran it a few weeks ago, it shut down, seeming like it was starved for gas. The RV was just under half a tank, so I thought maybe it was the failsafe to keep from running out of gas for the RV. It started and ran fine and did OK with a load.
Today, it started and starved for fuel again. I pulled the air cleaner cover off and shot some starter fluid in and it started right up. So I’m thinking a fuel pump issue (that would be the case for an auto engine). Where is the fuel pump? Is it something a user could remove and replace, or is it a shop issue? Thanks… as always. —Charles, 2016 Winnebago Aspect
RV walk-through
2024 Northern Lite 9-6 truck camper—solar and storage galore
By Cheri Sicard
In this walk-through, we join the Runaway Roses for a tour of the 2024 Northern Lite 9-6 truck camper, a high-quality combination of form and function.
This is a true 4-seasons RV that can go from Canadian winters to Arizona summers with ease. The body is molded fiberglass, which, in theory, should reduce maintenance and leaks.
Click here to read more and tour
Video of the day
RV inverters 101: Portable and large inverters for off-grid power
By Cheri Sicard
In the video below, we join Sean Michael from the Long Long Honeymoon YouTube channel (one of the winners of our 2024 RV video awards), for a short tutorial about RV inverters. If you are confused about RV inverters versus RV converters, be sure to see this post first.
Sean says inverters are the most affordable way to bring electricity to your off-grid campsite.
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.
Featured article
“Max psi” on tire sidewall. What does it really mean?
By Roger Marble
I know I have answered this question in the past, but maybe it was on an RV forum for a single-brand RV so not everyone has heard this. So here goes. Many, but not all, tires have the words “Max psi” followed by a number on the tire sidewall. I have no idea which lawyer wrote the requirement, but he or she didn’t understand how those words would be misinterpreted.
Reader poll
Do you collect National Park mementos from each park you visit?
Quick tip
Full-time RVing insurance shopping? It pays to be frank
[No, not necessarily Frank.😉] A full-timer will require personal liability insurance similar to what you had in your sticks-and-bricks house. Someone can slip on your top step and sue you as a result. This alone could wipe you out without adequate liability protection. Because of the additional cost, you might not tell your RV insurance company that you are living full-time in your RV. Please do not do this. The liability issues alone could cause you to lose your rig and other assets. It’s just not a good idea to falsify an insurance document. Some full-timers’ rates are actually lower! —From So, You Want to be an RVer? And Enjoy the RV Lifestyle? [Revised]. Available on Amazon.
Website of the day
Unusual RVs: Pinterest
You’ll love this! This Pinterest page features hundreds of unusual RVs. Just scroll through and look at some of these—Wow!
?? MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY ??
Get a whole new set of tires AND a cup of coffee for about $25! Hey, would we lie? We never lie!
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:
• 10 percent met their current spouse or partner online.
• 41 percent have had a mechanical problem with their RV’s slideout that required professional repair.
• 18 percent of couples say they get along better in their RV than they do at their traditional home.
Recent poll: How many U.S. RV parks are too undesirable to stay in?
Recipe of the day
Kahlua Mocha Frappe
by Mary Lee from N/W, IN
This mocha frappe would be a great cool-down drink on a hot summer evening. It’s a fantastic adult version of a frappe with classic coffee and chocolate flavors. Thick and creamy, it goes down very easily.
Trivia
America made it to the moon before they had suitcases with wheels, which were not patented here until 1972.
Readers’ pets of the day
“Jitterbug is Coaster’s mother. She’s 13.5 years old and he’s 9 years old (Belgian Tervurens). We travel the U.S. to attend dog shows and have camping adventures. This is visiting White Sands National Park after going to Texas to see the eclipse.” —Karyn Cowdrey
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
Gail Marsh saw this while she was out last week. Funny! Want your own? Click here.
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Dear Dave
Generator not starting. I had the same problem. Turned out the fuel line was installed too far back, kinking the hose as it turned vertically. Shifted it forwards. Runs great now!
I had a similar issue, but found the oil level was low and it shuts off to save the Gen!
Looked into the new Soft Start product. $1300! Holy cow! Glad I have their original product installed in our a/c. I think I’ll pass.
We have 2 original SoftStarts installed- one on each 15k heat pump- in our Tiffin Phaeton. Was looking to install the 120/240 house product on our 2 ton central AC. Has anyone had any experience with this version of SoftStart? The RV version works just fine.
I thought about installing the stix & brix model as well. When we had an inspection done, the guy doing it mentioned that the first thing that goes bad on home ac units has to do with the ‘snap’ we hear when the unit starts up.
Thank you, Emily, Diane, and Kim! 🙂 Jitterbug and Coaster look like great dogs! 🙂 I have considered that coffee mug in the past, but I don’t think that I know anyone that fits it. Thanks again, have a great day, and safe travels! 🙂
Those dogs are real beauties! Hope they go on many more rv trips!
$73,000 for a pickup camper? Should have a gold toilet. Even at half the price still a no.
What does Roger Marble have to say about the Mystery Product? None of the four tires match? What is the PSI difference between hot coffee and cold beer? What size lug nut does the wrench fit? Did Roger authorize this product? (sorry, couldn’t help it)