Issue 2410
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
”We act as though comfort and luxury were the chief requirements of life, when all that we need to make us happy is something to be enthusiastic about.” —Charles Kingsley
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Daylight Appreciation Day!
On this day in history: 1788 – New Hampshire becomes the ninth state to ratify the Constitution of the United States.
Tip of the day
Why storing your RV outside can be a bad idea
By Dave Solberg
Every year hundreds of thousands of RV owners all across the country need to store their RVs. Whether it is due to harsh winter conditions or because work and school activities limit the time they can “recreate,” RVers must find the best method to put their unit into hibernation. Trying to find a nice, heated, indoor facility can be difficult and very expensive. So most of them are forced to store their RVs outside, which is not always a good idea and can create some very expensive issues.
Ask Dave
Should I use dielectric grease on my RV? If so, where?
By Dave Solberg
Dear Dave,
With all of the electrical connections on my Class A, I’m not sure when, where, or if I should use dielectric grease. Thanks. —Mike, 2007 Winnebago Sightseer
Stop RV Repair Bills from Ruining Your 2026 Travels
Say goodbye to rising RV repair costs when you protect your RV and your travel budget with Wholesale Warranties this new year. With 20+ years of experience, personalized coverage options, and 5-star customer support, we help RVers stay on the road. Save on costly repairs, enjoy flexible coverage including mobile mechanics, and travel worry-free all year long. Get your FREE personalized RV warranty quote today and enjoy peace of mind for every mile.
RV review
Prime Time Manufacturing Tracer 32DSB travel trailer – Check out that workspace!
By Tony Barthel
Today’s RV review is the last of the models I saw at an open house with Prime Time Manufacturing in their Tracer 32DSB floor plan. While this certainly is a bunkhouse trailer, even if you don’t really want a bunkhouse but work from the road, this could be a logical choice.
In the RV shop with Dustin
RV water heater anode rod and flush wand explained
By Dustin Simpson
This series was created to help our customers to shop in confidence. Know what the product is, what it’s used for, and why it’s important for you. Today, we’re looking at water heater anode rods and flush wands.
Video of the day
KOA campgrounds: Good? Bad? Worth the price?
By Cheri Sicard
In the video below, Jason Epperson of RV Miles, one of the winners of our 2024 RV Video Awards, leads a discussion about KOA campgrounds.
With the astronomical prices of campgrounds these days, many are saying that KOA campgrounds are just no longer worth it. Jason discusses the pros and cons and, as always, gives us a lot to think about that we may or may not have considered before.
Featured article
Does picturesque Civil War-era Fort Macomb, LA, look familiar?
In this month’s edition of ghost town trails, Dave Helgeson takes us to Fort Macomb, an abandoned Civil War-era fort in Louisiana. It is a beautiful location with an interesting history. Even if you’ve never been there, it may look familiar to you. Does it?
You may have missed these recent popular stories…
- Even dealer calls them ‘COVID campers’; they’re not safe!
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- Severe illness sickens more than 300 visitors to Grand Canyon
- What are these mystery lights at Yosemite National Park?
Reader poll
Have you ever experienced food poisoning when RVing?
(Sorta) Quick tip
Water pressure regulator tips
Water pressure varies from campground to campground. Some have in excess of one hundred pounds per square inch pressure. Modern rigs are designed for less than fifty. If you do not use a water pressure regulator, you could rupture an interior water hose. Believe me, you do not want to clean up after that, not to mention the expense of a very difficult repair. Most folks don’t know the difference between pressure and flow, but you should.
“Flow” is a measure of volume of water delivered in a period of time, usually measured in gallons per minute, or gpm. The poor shower is caused by low flow, as are most other RV water supply problems. “Pressure” is a measure of the force of the water, and it is measured when no water is flowing (“static” pressure). It is measured in pounds of pressure per square inch, or psi. RV plumbing systems in an RV fresh water system are generally tested to a pressure of 100 to 125 pounds per square inch (psi), but to prevent warranty problems, RV manufacturers may recommend only 40-50 psi. Unfortunately, this may not provide the shower you’re looking for. Most house plumbing operates at about 60 psi, and this can be adequate for RVs, too.
The cheaper pressure regulators are really water flow restrictors, and you will notice the restriction when you have to dance around under the shower to get wet. The best way to go is with an adjustable water pressure regulator with a pressure gauge so you know what water pressure is entering your rig. There will be an adjusting screw to raise or lower the pressure. I set ours between 45 and 50 pounds psi. Get one of these, available at RV parts stores or online. You’ll be glad you did. —From “So, You Want To Be an RVer? And Enjoy the RV Lifestyle? [Revised].” Available on Amazon.
It’s here! It’s here! A brand-new issue of our Great RV Accessories newsletter is here!
And just in time… this one is about hot fun in the summertime. Read it here.
On this day last year…
- Tip: Shoes all over your RV? This couple built custom shoe storage; you could too
- Ask Dave: My RV’s roof has black mold. How do I get rid of it?
- Video: How to stay cool while boondocking
- Featured article: Ways you can brighten the campground manager’s day
Website of the day
Our 43 Best Summer Cocktails
We’re so excited that it’s the first day of summer today that we’re doing all we can to celebrate, and that includes a cocktail (or two!). Join us, won’t you? Cheers!
?? MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY ??
This was the second most popular product our readers purchased through our Amazon affiliate program in the last few months. When we think about it, we can understand why they would appreciate having this inexpensive item along on their trips.
Recipe of the day
Strawberry Key Lime Smoothie
by Sharon Whitley from Houston, TX
This is a thick, creamy, and delicious smoothie that can compete with any smoothie shop. The tang of the key lime is noticeable but the sweetness of the fruit balances the flavors. This smoothie would be a great light breakfast or an afternoon pick-me-up.
Trivia
In the 1870s, citizens of Greensburg, Indiana, noticed a small sprig growing out of the corner of their courthouse tower. Somehow a tree had taken root in the crevices of the roof some 110 feet above the ground. Other sprigs sprouted, as well. All were removed but two. One of them grew to 15 feet tall and five feet around. When that tree died, another two trees began growing and have now been there for more than a century.
Readers’ pet of the day
“Jackson traveled with us for our first six years of RVing. He went to Alaska, on numerous RV trips, and several home college football-game-tailgating trips. He oversaw our purchase of RV #2 and endured it despite having far less room for himself. This is DW, Jackson, and me the day he died last June.” —Neal Davis
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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KOAs. I don’t need pools, play grounds, indoor gaming rooms, just clean campsite.
KOAs cater to family camping. If you were to ask the children, you would be in the minority.
What a touching picture of Jackson and wonderful story!❤️
Thank you, Christine. Although I sent the picture, seeing it again brought tears to my eyes. 🙂
Great RVT quote today and very appropriate for RVing in general, as well as a great everyday approach to happiness.
Neal Davis: Thanks for sharing that photo filled with so much love. Really touched me, really did. Happy trails.
You’re very welcome, Cancelproof. I do miss the boy. Seeing him again brought tears to my eyes. 🙂 Happy trails and safe travels to you, too! 🙂
Neal,
Great photo! We had a Jackson too, black lab mix but had the same “white” nose. He didn’t go camping but loved grilling outside, especially when something “accidentally” fell off the grill!
Thank you, Dave! 🙂 We did that too! 😉 I still recall when he was a puppy, one time he did not wait that long. We had steaks, still in plastic wrap, thawing in the sink. When I went into the kitchen to get them, there was only styrofoam and plastic wrap. There also was one very contented (and full, as we discovered later) puppy. 🤔😯😊
Neal,
Very touching photo of Jackson. He was a very handsome fellow. Sure loved and cared for. Maybe another Jackson to fill the void.
Thank you, Skip! Yes, he was an adorable puppy and, as you said, a handsome dog. We miss him still. His successor, Weagle, who we may have gotten a bit prematurely, is a year-old this week, and we have had him 10 months. Jackson was half Aussie and Weagle is all Aussie, but both came from rescues.
Neal,
So sorry for your loss. Jackson was obviously loved and treasured his whole life.
Thamk you, Drew! I greatly appreciate your comment and condolences! 🙂 Safe travels! 🙂
Thank you, Emily, Diane, and Kim! 🙂 I did buy the mystery product sometime in the last year or two. It isn’t used often, but I do use it. The pet of the day picture caught me by surprise and I mourned Jackson’s absence again. Thank you for running it! 🙂 It brought back so many great memories that preceded that particular day. 🤔😯😊 Thanks again, have a great weekend, and safe travels! 🙂
Hi, Neal. I love the picture of you, your beautiful wife and sweet/handsome Jackson. What a beautiful tribute to your much-loved family member. But every time I see it, e.g., every time I’m working in the newsletter, it makes me tear up. Now, moderating the comments, I tear up every time I read one referencing Jackson. (I’m tearing up now.) But it sounds like Weagle is helping to fill the void in your lives, not to mention keeping you busy and out of mischief.😉 Take care. 🤗 –Diane
Hi Diane! Me, too, as much as Weagle occupies our time, I still miss Jackson. He was such a sweet dog; very low maintenance once he got past being a puppy (and scarfing down unguarded raw steaks). We have to work to keep Weagle from mischief. 😉 Hence he goes to day care as much as three times weekly to allow us to work around the farm undistracted. Thank you, Diane! Have a great weekend and safe travels (and walks)! 🙂
Hi Neal,
The last photo of you, your wife and Jackson is very touching. As I am a former dog owner I know this scene too well. I stayed with my dogs to the very end in the vets exam room. It is so hard to say good by. I read an article a long time ago about being with your dog right to the end! It said in their final moments of their life they are searching for their master, I kept talking until they were gone! As hard as those moments are for us that is the least we can do for our furry friends! Maybe that’s why I don’t have a dog now!!!!
Hardest thing I’ve had to do was hold my pups as they left. I felt it was the least I could do for them both since they gave me years of unconditional love. I think we owe them that.
Exactly, we can’t go through that ever again….
Thank you, Gary! Yes, we talked to the little boy to the end, telling him how much we loved him. He was so tired those last days. 🙁 Thanks again, Gary, and safe travels! 🙂
So sorry for your loss of Jackson, but glad you have so many camping memories.
Thank you so much, Lyn W! Safe travels! 🙂
KOA’s are just like everything else. Some are great and some are garbage. We’ve stayed in some that were wonderful, and you wish you could stay there on every trip. We stayed in one in El Paso, TX where you could talk to the neighbor while shaving in the morning because the sites were so narrow, and the bathrooms, showers were nasty. We always pull in and then look at things before signing up. If they don’t want you to, then we put the rig in “R” and find someplace else.
Thank you for sharing your photo and story of your travels with Jackson, Neal. Our heart goes out to you for the loss of your traveling companion, but it’s warmed knowing that you still have Weagle to fill some of the void left by that loss.
Thank you so much, Bill! 🙂 Words can mean so much in this situation; thanks! 🙂 Have a great weekend and safe travels! 🙂
Sorry for the loss of your buddy, Jackson. Handsome boy. It is so hard to say goodbye. They are part of the family for sure. Glad you have some great memories of your time & travels with your boy.
Thank you so much, Kathy H! 🙂 Have a great weekend and safe travels! 🙂