Issue 2412
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
“Stuff your eyes with wonder. Live as if you’d drop dead in ten seconds. See the world. It’s more fantastic than any dream made or paid for in factories.” ―
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Catfish Day!
On this day in history: 1848 – A photograph of the June Days uprising becomes the first known instance of photojournalism.
Tip of the day
Using ketchup to clean your RV’s BBQ grill, plus other tips to keep it like new
By Gail Marsh
Everyone loves to use it, but very few of us like to clean it. What is it? A BBQ grill. This trusty workhorse helps RVers enjoy yummy burgers, steaks, and hotdogs all season long. And that’s exactly why we all need some tips, tricks, and hacks to easily clean our RV’s BBQ grill.
Even a top grill master can have trouble cooking on a dirty gas grill. Excess carbon deposits, burned-on food, and grease buildup all can cause a grill to heat unevenly. And no one wants to taste last night’s grilled fish when they bite into today’s veggie shish kabobs.
Experts advise that grill owners thoroughly clean their propane grills at least twice a year. (Clean even more often if you notice grime building up on your grill grates.) The first cleaning should happen before you grill the first burger of the grilling season.
Ask Dave
What SoftStartUSA product will work on my travel trailer?
Dear Dave,
I have two questions: What soft start device would you recommend for this camper? How can we make the A/C unit quieter? Thank you. —Ray, 2019 Wolf Pup16FQ
RV walk-through
2025 Vanspeed Summit custom Class B camper van is impressive
By Cheri Sicard
Looking for a customized Class B camper van? Take a look at the 2025 Vanspeed Summit. I was impressed with this one and if I were in the market for a Class B motorhome, it would be high on my list.
This high-quality, dependable rig is prepared for anything, whether on- or off-road without limitation while still providing comfortable accommodation for travelers. The Summit’s versatile living space seamlessly transitions between sleeping, dining, and entertaining.
Video of the day
12-second RV mod is a brilliant swimsuit season hack
By Cheri Sicard
Our favorite RV gearhead, Joshua from the RV Gear & Far YouTube channel, shares a brilliant RV swimsuit season hack in the video.
It’s also so smart (How smart is it?), it will have you saying to yourself, “Now, why didn’t I think of that?”
Take an extra 10% off a GhostBed luxury RV mattress!
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Featured article
Reader inspires fun travel game while driving and exploring. Try it!
By Cheri Sicard
When I was compiling the articles on our readers’ favorite hobbies, I discovered that one of our readers has a highly unusual hobby that also makes a terrific travel game that the entire family can enjoy! I was so intrigued by Janis Blevins and her art, I wanted to do a separate piece about it because: Janis creates beautiful photographic art that’s inspiring to look at, and finding the subjects for that art is a fun travel game for children and adults alike that can be played virtually anywhere in the world.
You might want to try this too!
Reader poll
Do you enjoy visiting “haunted” or spooky locations?
Quick tip
Freezing leftovers? Remember these easy tips
You probably already know that you should never put hot food in the freezer. That can cause nearby food to partially thaw and then refreeze, and may alter its texture and taste. Always let your food cool to almost room temp, and then cool even further in the refrigerator before transferring to the freezer. Be sure the food has room in the container to expand when it freezes. —From RV Living Full Time: 100+ Amazing Tips, Secrets, Hacks & Resources to Motorhome Living. Available on Amazon.com.
Website of the day
20 Best Trail Mix Recipes
Trail mix and summer go hand in hand, and now that it’s summer, it’s snack time! Check out these 20 recipes from The Pioneer Woman’s website for making trail mix at home. They’re easy and delicious!
?? MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY ??
We’re not going to tell you which one of our staff members uses this, but let’s just say this thing will forever change the way you use the bathroom… (in the best way possible).
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:
• The majority of readers, 53 percent, spend the night in commercial (or membership) RV parks most often.
• The highest percentage of voters, 32 percent, shop at Home Depot more than any other hardware store.
• 68 percent say they don’t care about celebrating their birthday—it’s just another day.
Recent poll: Do you fully hook up for just an overnight stop?
Recipe of the day
Grilled Squash With Balsamic Drizzle
by Sherri Williams from Crestview, FL
This summertime side dish is easy to make and so tasty. Grilling the summer squash and zucchini adds a slightly smoky flavor. The balsamic sauce, though, gives them a sweet and tart punch of flavor. It’s a delicious way to jazz up zucchini and squash.
Trivia
The United States has the 5th highest cost of living in the world. It ranks behind Switzerland (#1), Singapore, Australia, and Hong Kong.
Readers’ pets of the day
“Penny (light brown) is a rescue from a puppy mill when she was 6 years old because she was no longer needed. Max is also a rescue as an owner “give up” due to the deteriorating health of the owner. He was also 6 years old when we adopted him. They both love going camping with us. Here is a picture of them before our morning walk in the forest.” —Ed Cryer
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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Bailey’s in the coffee works for me.
Carolans for me, but the idea is the same. Ever try Costco’s attempt at Irish cream? Meh.
The Costco Irish cream in WA and OR is not good, but the stuff they sell in AZ is different and much better. Something about liquor laws in those states. Other states may be in or out of the mix. We stock up in AZ before we go home to WA.
That’s interesting. If I ever get back to the Phoenix area I’ll have to hunt down Costco and check that out. But it would be a leap of blind faith to try their Irish Cream again after having the bad experience I had here in the Reno area. Thanks for bringing that up, just the same.
Sorry for the late reply.
Penny & Max are cuties, so glad that you rescued them! They look like they enjoy camping!
Do yourself a favor and read the third review of today’s “mystery product of the day”. Mark Jaquith is the reviewers name. You’ll thank me later.
You are correct!!!
“Thank You”
9,964 “Helpful” votes as of this reading. This is no average reviewer. He’s a master at humor.
Thank you, Greg, for ensuring that I did not fail to be entertained by what certainly must be THE most entertaining helpful review of all time. Thanks again and SAFE travels! 🙂
OUTSTANDING review, none better. 😜
Thank you for bringing that to our attention! I had to go back and check it out. Hysterical! 🙂
Thanks Greg! Got my laugh for the day!
I had to scroll back and check out the mystery product and review. What a way to start the day! The laugh….not the poop!
Thanks for pointing it out!
Thank you, Emily, Diane, and Kim! 🙂 Thank you, too, to Ed Cryer for providing a home, and love and care to Penny and Max! 🙂 We got a Christmas present one year that at least resembled the mystery product, if it was not the mystery product. Thanks again, have a great day, and SAFE travels! 🙂
According to Worlddata.info, the U.S. has the 7th highest average annual income @ $76,770. Income includes all sources of income, not just working wages.
Their data has the U.S. ranked 12th in cost of living. What’s interesting is to ratio the two statistics to show relative purchasing power. The U.S. is 7th, by their data. Qatar is #1 with average purchasing power 31% more than the U.S.
I would be curious about the dates used for the trivia segment having US at 5th versus 12th.
Regardless, with 19.7% total inflation since 2021, a person would need a pay increase of 35% pretax over that same period to have stayed even. Wages uo 4% per year for 3 years means Americans have fallen behind by 20% in purchasing power since 2021.
How many regular Joe’s or Jane’s have received a 35% pay increase since 2021? Even if so, how would it feel making 35% more and still not getting further ahead?
All of our elected politicians have received that kind of pay raise and still do nothing for the country.
Regarding the mystery product, my puborectalis muscle is already loose enough…Lol
Penny and Max (so absolutely cute!) are one of the reasons so many love to RV, we can enjoy our pets and they get a more fulfulled life of fun, travel and enjoyment!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Today’s Laugh: I do not consider myself to be a drinker, BUT; there have been a few times that it has taken a Screwdriver or two to complete a frustrating repair.
Hey, whatever “tool” works to get the job done.👍🤣 Have a good evening/night, Kelly. 😀 –Diane