Issue 2421
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
“A dream you dream alone is only a dream. A dream you dream together is reality.” ―
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Raspberry Day!
On this day in history: 1947 – Reports are broadcast that a UFO crash-landed in Roswell, New Mexico, in what became known as the Roswell UFO incident.
Speaking of UFOs and Roswell, did you see the “UFO” that got pulled over by a cop last week? It’s true! Check it out.
Tip of the day
You might be merging lanes wrong. Are you?
By Steve Blume
Brake lights, slowing traffic and that orange “RIGHT LANE CLOSED AHEAD” sign just changed your relaxed cruise control pace to a turtle’s stop-and-go crawl. You’re in the right lane and have a decision to make. RVs aren’t exactly nimble when doing lane changes, and executing one is usually dependent on luck or the courtesy of another driver. Do you merge now, or hang out longer in the right lane and hope for sympathy when the time comes? Most drivers get this wrong!
Ask Dave
RV has two refrigerator vents, but top one blocked with plywood?
Dear Dave,
My RV’s refrigerator has two outside vents. The top vent has a piece of board just inside the cover. Is this normal? Picture attached. —Richard, 2023 Forest River FR3 34DS
RV review
2024 Forest River Wildwood X-Lite 171RBXL—couple’s small camper with big cargo capacity
By Tony Barthel
Today’s RV review is of the 2024 Forest River Wildwood X-Lite 171RBXL. This is a small, no-slide, couple’s camper that has the same layout as my very first new RV. This features a Murphy bed up front and a bathroom that spans the width of the trailer in the back. Unlike yesterday’s RV, the Coachmen Remote 19R, this one has two axles—which will make some of you very happy. That’s different than my first RV, which was a single-axle trailer. Those two axles result in a lot of cargo carrying capacity in a small trailer—more than 3,600 pounds CCC! That’s more than some toy haulers.
In the RV shop with Dustin
Five entry door upgrades for your RV
Today, I’m excited to talk about something that can make a big difference in your RV experience: entry door upgrades. Your RV’s entry door is the gateway to your home-on-wheels, and upgrading it can enhance security, comfort, and convenience. So, let’s dive into some popular RV entry door upgrades that are available and discuss how they can benefit you.
Video of the day
The best interstate routes for cross-country road trips rated
By Cheri Sicard
In the video below we join Kyle, aka the Geography King, for his countdown of the six best interstate routes for cross-country road trips. The “Geography King” is basing his picks on his experiences taking over 20 cross-country trips and counting.
The video focuses on interstate highways, as most major U.S. cities are near one. And, as the topic is crossing the country, it focuses on East/West routes.
The latest news for RVers
- Massive motorhome explosion injures three generations of family
- RV with your dog? Love’s has opened its 400th dog park
- Help National Park rangers find vandals spreading puzzling graffiti
- Thief steals occupied motorhome in RV park, injures several people
- Class A motorhome plunges into river – driver escapes
To read more recent news, click here.
Featured article
You see them everywhere, but are cairns a help or a hazard?
By Gail Marsh
You’ve probably seen them in campgrounds, on beaches and on hiking trails and paths, but if you don’t know, a cairn is defined by the Oxford Dictionary as a mound of stones built as a memorial or landmark, typically on a hilltop or skyline. Better known today as rock stacking, the practice of building cairns dates back to ancient times.
Reader poll
Do you start each day with a cup of coffee?
Quick tip
Do you level your RV? Why you probably should
That’s a question repeatedly posted on RV forums, regarding leveling an RV when stopping at the end of the day. Here’s a typical response: “I try to get it relatively close unless its just for an overnight stop, in which case I don’t bother.” Unless it’s an overnight stop? ALWAYS level your RV. Another comment tells you why: “I’m on my second Dometic 4-door. I level METICULOUSLY every time I stop to camp and I check level every morning. I refuse to go thru all that replacement AGAIN.” RV refrigerators need to be level to work properly, and to prevent damage. No absorption-type RV refrigerator has ever read the fine print that says, “Don’t count the damage caused by operating off-level if it’s only overnight.” Seriously, damage to an RV cooling unit is CUMULATIVE, and every “only overnight” adds up. Can’t level? Shut off the fridge.
Take an extra 10% off a GhostBed luxury RV mattress!
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Website of the day
The Most Epic Dog Parks in the U.S.
You heard it here, pups! It’s time you put on that leash and take Mom and/or Dad out to the dog park (and make them buy you a treat too, while they’re at it!).
Recipe of the day
Sausage & Zucchini Casserole
by Diane Schmidt from Comstock Park, MI
We’ve tried many types of zucchini casserole, but Diane’s is unique in that she adds browned sausage. The sausage adds another layer of flavor to the creamy filling of this side dish. The crunchy cornbread topping has wonderful flavor from herbs and spices. This is a very hearty side dish and a great way to serve zucchini in the summer.
Trivia
North Dakota has the highest rate of speeding tickets in the United States, with 8.7% of drivers having at least one speeding violation on their record. This rate is more than double the national average of 4.1%. Other states with high rates of speeding tickets include Wisconsin and Ohio, both at 7.8%, and Iowa and Idaho, both at 7.1%
?? MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY ??
You’d win so many points if you gave this to someone as a gift. Maybe you’d even… get a strike?
Readers’ pets of the day
“Jade and Jaspurr go camping with us in our travel trailer. They are shown here in the linens loft of the back bathroom where they are saying, ‘We are okay, but where are you guys going to sleep?'” —David Hughes
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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Zippering at the end with lane closures causes no road rage or need to block. You get same exact results and not any more dangerous.
It’s too bad more people don’t know how to “zipper” or just refuse to do so.
I think most know about it, they just don’t want the other vehicle to get in front of them. I don’t really understand the mentality of this reasoning, but it is extremely common. Mr. Hyde/Dr.Jekyll syndrome, I guess. Nicest people get behind the steering wheel of a car….and there goes being nice.
Zippering is not supposed to cause road rage or blocking but God forbid that dude in the closed lane get in front of anyone……
I call it the grand march after a roller skating routine we did as kids.
Reading the real reviews on the Jet-Nozzle, buyers beware. No one was happy with the ordering process or the products results.
https://www.trustpilot.com/review/jetnozzle.com
Jet Nozzle reviews found here.
https://www.trustpilot.com/review/jetnozzle.com
Sort of a fanatic about leveling, regardless if using the frig or not. I like my bed to be level. I have a calibrated bubble level on all 4 sides of the cabin, a little T-level attached to the tongue to get me close. When I switched to a curved leveler, I also installed a LevelMate Pro so I can side-to-side level from behind the wheel and decide whether I need to unhitch on quick night stops.
People who abbreviate the word refrigerator using frig need to Google “meaning of frig.” Fridge is more appropriate (not vulgar/crude).
I like my stove to be level.
I’d go inside and ask the clerk if they’re out of ‘Unfrozen Ice’….
Got rid of the piece of junk NotSoCold aka Norcold 1200 years ago and installed a Samsung residential RF-197 fridge. It never has to get turned off for anything. It has been running since 2012 and still running to this day.
1200 years eh? 🙂
Thank you, Emily, Diane, and Kim! 🙂 Jade and Jaspurr are certainly pretty companions, David! Thanks again, have a great weekend, safe travels, and safe stays! 🙂
Looking for a maps program for trailers and class a. I have a Northwood 5th wheel, and need help with bridges and roads
We have been using a Garmin RV specific GPS unit for our 34′ 5th wheel for the last 4 yrs. You can enter your type, length and height into the profile and it steers you away from risky routes. Mine is a model #777, but newer versions have come out since that one. (787,797, etc.). I recommend it.
I’ve had the Garmin RV770 since 2019. It’s not perfect, but very close. When towing, I always use it. We have logged over 19,000 miles using the Garmin GPS, and I think I reset the trip once?? It’s a great accessory for your RV safety. We also use the Rand McNally Motor Carrier’s Atlas.
Stay safe, Joe
Thanks for correcting my model # error, Joe. RV770 is the correct number. And it has advanced to higher numbers with newer versions.
Think I make a sign – “We serve unfrozen ice”.
We have frozen ice. I thought frozen ice wasn’t frozen?