Issue 2409
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 only way that we can live is if we grow. The only way that we can grow is if we change. The only way that we can change is if we learn. The only way we can learn is if we are exposed. And the only way that we can become exposed is if we throw ourselves out into the open. Do it. Throw yourself.” ―
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is the first day of summer!
On this day in history: 1877 – Alexander Graham Bell installs the world’s first commercial telephone service in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
Tip of the day
Viral fast-food sauce hack will help RVers with take-out
By Dave Helgeson
As RVers, we’ve all experienced this scenario: You’re logging miles to reach your destination, stuck in traffic, and too tired to stop and fix lunch. So, you pull into a fast-food place and the co-pilot—my wife, in my case—runs in to grab lunch while the driver—me— takes a break.
The challenge then becomes how to carry the fast food dipping sauces back to the RV without spilling them. After all, the sauces, especially those specialty ones beyond mustard and ketchup, often make the meal, and you likely already have mustard and ketchup in your RV’s refrigerator anyway.
Here’s what to do.
Ask Dave
Can I plug into 50-amp pedestal with “Y” adapter to run 30-amp TT and outside heater?
By Dave Solberg
Dear Dave,
If a 50 amp is available at the campground pedestal, it will have “two 30-amp legs.“ is there a dogbone-type splitter that provides two 30-amp female plugs: one to go to my camper and the other to go to an outside electric heater? Or is this not recommended? —Joe, 2024 Imagine 2500RL
RV walk-through
Telescoping Hitch Hotel, world’s tiniest travel trailer; 42 inches long and can fit queen-sized bed!
By Cheri Sicard
If you are ready to stop tent camping, but not quite ready for an RV, and if you want to be able to tow your “RV” with whatever you are currently driving, and be able to store it anywhere, then you must check out the Hitch Hotel. It’s the world’s tiniest travel trailer… at least in its compacted state. You won’t believe how small it is. In the video below, we get a tour, or I should say a demonstration, from mixflip.
Video of the day
PA’s Tobyhanna State Park review; plus campground jerk ruins it for all
By Cheri Sicard
The video below from Endless RVing, one of the winners of our 2024 RV Video Awards, started out as a simple campground review of northeastern Pennsylvania’s Tobyhanna State Park.
Tobyhanna State Park covers 5,440 acres, including the gorgeous 170-acre Tobyhanna Lake in the Poconos Mountains.
Featured article
Duck pond mistaken for hot spring; hilarity ensues
By Nanci Dixon
I love quirky RV spots and had never actually been in a hot spring before, so after reading a number of reviews for El Dorado Hot Springs that ranged from “kitschy” to “rustic,” we decided to try it. After all, we had our choice of a private hot spring or the not-so-modest public nude one. I chose private. That they rented by the hour should have rung at least a few warning bells, but it didn’t. The Hot Spring sign should have been an additional warning [snicker]…
Reader poll
Have you had COVID?
Quick tip
Storing your “stinky slinky”
For that menace the “stinky slinky” [sewer dump hose], I recommend getting a plastic tote with a sealable gasket for the lid. Trust me on this, the stinky slinky … well, it stinks. Hence, the name! I have stored it in a normal tote to find that wherever I have stored the tote, the area smells like poop. Yes, the bumpers in RVs have a place to slide and store the stinky slinky, but I have found that this location makes my bumper and the rear of the RV stink. You can wash out the tote, or throw it away if it becomes unusable down the line. You can’t do that with your RV bumper.
From The Simple Life Guide To RV Living: The Road to Freedom and the Mobile Lifestyle Revolution. Available on Amazon.
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On this day last year…
- Tip: Tips for a lighter, brighter RV bathroom
- Ask Dave: Will a tripod help to stabilize my 5th wheel RV?
- RV walk-through: Tour nuCamp’s Cirrus 620 Lightweight Short Bed Truck Camper
- Video: The ultimate DIY fire starters: Cheap, easy, and reliable!
Website of the day
The best underwater attractions in the U.S.
Okay, odds are that you aren’t a scuba diver (but cool if you are!). However, even just looking at the photos on this page is incredible! Did you know all this existed in our country’s waters?
?? MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY ??
Wow, this item is not trash! So, then, what’s the opposite of trash? This!
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:
• 41 percent never have nightmares and can’t even remember the last time they had one.
• 14 percent do not allow shoes to be worn inside their RV.
• 19 percent say they would never handle a snake, even if it was non-poisonous.
Recent poll: Do you leave online campground reviews after your stay?
Recipe of the day
Avocado Deviled Eggs
by Lora DiGs from Staten Island, NY
Avocado deviled eggs are a nice twist on the traditional recipe. If you love avocados, you’ll love these deviled eggs. The yolks and avocado blend together nice and smooth. Adding a bit of lime juice is the perfect zing. Very versatile, these are party-perfect.
Trivia
The largest number of country names starts with what letter? T? M? U? Or S? If you guessed S, you’re correct. There are 26 country names that start with the letter S.
Readers’ pet of the day
“Roxy, Corgi/Pomeranian, is an 11-year-old rescue. ‘Come on, Dad! Let’s go!’ Very smart and friendly. Queen of the park wherever we go.” —Steven Ostrander
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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As far as the stink slinky, I extend the hose completely and thoroughly rinse it while it’s connected to the drain, and put the end caps on. Never had an odor problem. There is a slight smell when I remove the caps though. Our is stored in a tube under the trailer.
Agree with you, Bob. By draining grey tanks AFTER the black tank the soapy water washes it out quite well. In 5 years of long trip travels I’ve never had an oder issue with my bumper storage area.
Right, and to keep the inside of the bumper’s rust from damaging our slinky I’ve shoved a plastic rain gutter in. No rust, and no damage.
Since I have a toy hauler, there is no rear bumper. I bought the Valterra holder that mounts to the frame. All plastic and no rust. Adjustable up to 94 inches.
I also open both ends once in a while and blast the holder clean
Agreement here Bob. Never had an issue by rinsing well and draining the gray tank 2nd. Whether I am using the maceration hose or slinky, gray water second and always rinse it well.
Absolutely agree, Bob. Thorough rinse and then stored in an open top waterproof container in the basement drain compartment. (Class A). No issues with smell.
I have never had a problem with it smelling. I rinse it completely, and I store mine in a 5 gallon bucket which I fill with the hose use to flush the tank through the toilet after I first dump the black. I then store it in my basement storage area.
I do like the idea of using a plastic tote though. I use the totes to store many other items.
The quick tip is just a little bit of shameless advertising to sell a outside slinky storage device to someone who already has one.
Ah!! Midnight is a good time For Bed> Even if it is only 9:00 p.m.!!
Thank you, Emily, Diane, and Kim! 🙂 Roxy is a cute dog! Today’s laugh is pretty funny. But, I typically find midnight the new 9 PM. Unfortunately, I seem to have to get up way too much at 7 AM; I much prefer 8:30 AM as a civilized time to exit the bed. 😉 Thanks again and safe travels! 🙂
I noticed the article about the website of the day about underwater attractions.
Few people realize that NOAA has 16 sanctuaries and 2 marine national monuments along both coast and in Hawaii. Some are land based, some underwater based. At this time there are no admission fees. If there were they would be covered by all of the America the Beautiful passes.
Roxy is adorable and ready for co-pilot duties!