Issue 2441
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Today’s thought
“Successful people make a habit of doing things that unsuccessful people don’t like to do.” —Bob Bowman, coach to Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Oyster Day!
On this day in history: 1914 – In Cleveland, Ohio, the first electric traffic light is installed.
Tip of the day
It’s time to change your water filters. Yes, now!
By Nanci Dixon
We have only had our three water filters in the motorhome for three months while traveling but decided after some dubious water it would be a good idea to change them. I am so glad we did!
We were at an RV park that had massive amounts of rain and noticed that the water started smelling terrible. We were drinking bottled water but after showering, we could smell the pungent odor on us. And in the clothes we washed!
We asked the park owner about the smell and were told that after heavy rains, the well water rises and brings iron and the smell with it. I was assured that the sewer and well water were not mixing but… It was time to leave anyway so we got to the next campground and decided to change our water filters.
Bonus tips from yesterday’s newsletter…
12 simple ways you can make fellow campers happy
By Gail Marsh
We all want to be happy campers, right? Well, here are ten tips to make sure your fellow campers are happy to be camping near you. A little consideration and simple campground manners will make everyone happier. Continue reading.
Phantom driver totals RV. This could happen to you!
Russ and Tiña De Maris report on “phantom drivers”: What they are, what they cause, and what you should do if it happens to you. (Includes video of “North American Car Driving Fails.” Ouch!) Continue reading for very important information.
Our gas was stolen! Tips for protecting against fuel theft
By Gail Marsh
This was a first for us: The first time someone stole fuel from our truck. It must have happened during the nighttime hours. We didn’t hear a thing. When we fired up the truck a few days later, we noticed that our fuel level was significantly lower than before. We’d been robbed! Here are ways to prevent fuel theft we’re considering…
PLUS, want to know where to find the best green chile cheeseburger in all of New Mexico? Cheri Sicard found it! Click here.
Ask Dave
What monitor do you recommend for lithium batteries?
By Dave Solberg
Dear Dave,
I’m looking for a meter that will indicate the remaining charge in my lithium battery. I picked one up that said it would work but it always reads 100%, even after a couple of days of use. Any suggestions? Thank you. —Ray, 2019 Wolf Pup 16FQ
RV review
New 2025 Alliance RV Delta Ultra Lite RK234—easier to join “the Alliance”
By Tony Barthel
Today’s RV review is of the new 2025 Alliance RV Delta Ultra Lite RK234 travel trailer. This is a new series from Alliance RV currently available in two floor plans.
There’s a lot to like about this and the overall feel isn’t that you’ve got something cheap by any means. This has a lot of what has earned Alliance RV a solid reputation in a relatively short time. It’s just in a smaller, lighter, and somewhat less expensive package.
In the RV shop with Dustin
Even small roof tear can lead to damaging dry rot
By Dustin Simpson
Join Terry and me in our RV shop as we check out this small tear in a roof membrane. Even something this small can cause BIG dry rot.
This is why routine inspections of your RV matter!
Video of the day
Extra and hidden fees at campgrounds RVers hate
By Cheri Sicard
In the video below we join Jared Gillis of All About RVs (one of the winners of our 2024 RV video awards) as he leads a discussion of an RV life problem that angers many RVers, namely, extra and/or hidden fees at campgrounds that regularly add significant dollars to already expensive campground rates.
Click here to watch (and read)
Pssst! Here’s a secret: Cheri’s “videos” aren’t just videos. Did you know she writes articles to go along with them? Don’t feel like watching the video? Don’t worry, she’s summed the whole thing up for you!
The latest news for RVers
- Crime, ‘residential camping’ force closure of Lake Mead boondocking area
- More Camping World would-be takeovers nosedive
- A third of West Coast camping trips disrupted by wildfires, disasters
- Expect long traffic delays on I-5 in southern Washington state
- Expect 2-hour traffic delays on I-80 in Sierra
To read more recent news, click here.
Featured article
RV Short Stop: Long-dead blue whale still produces oil
By Chuck Woodbury
I love traveling, and I love traveling with my RV the most. But regardless of how I travel, what I love the most is learning. I have a serious problem passing by a museum without stopping. I always learn something new. Recently, in Massachusetts, I visited the Whaling Museum in New Bedford, where I met a 66-foot-long juvenile blue whale named Kobo. He’s not “totally” there, just his skeleton.
Reader poll
How many languages do you speak?
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Quick tip
Keep bad water out of your fresh water tank
Before filling your rig’s fresh water tank, do what the cowboys did before leading in the cattle: Take a sip and see what the water tastes like. You can put bad-tasting water in your tank easily, but getting that bad taste out is a tough job!
Website of the day
The 10 Best Oyster Bars in America Right Now
Since it’s National Oyster Day, it’s time to go eat some oysters! This list from Esquire lists some of the best places to do so across the U.S. And we know it’s a good list because we’ve been to quite a few of these places!
?? MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY ??
You know you can drink out of your toilet, right? Hey, would we ever lie to you? It’s true!
Recipe of the day
Easy Orange Chicken
by Cathie Valentine from Graniteville, SC
One of our favorite things to order for take-out is orange chicken. Cathie’s easy recipe means we can make it at home anytime a craving hits. Using corn starch helps to make the chicken extra crispy. The sauce is sweet, but not too sweet, and the chicken soaks up all its delicious orange flavor. Serve over steamed rice for the perfect at-home take-out dish.
Trivia
On average, a single Panda Express store sells about 120 pounds of orange chicken per day, which adds up to over 110 million pounds of the signature dish sold annually across the chain’s 2,300 stores. This is about one-third of the restaurant’s total business.
Readers’ pet of the day
“The Girls, Chloe and Abby, loved our recent trip to the Oregon Coast and Haystack Rock. The sand between their toe paws felt soooo good. ‘Thanks, Mom!'” —Rod Poeschl
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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Aunt killer…and nobody caught it…
Why do you say “nobody caught it”?
Hi, Charlie. He’s probably referring to the person who made the sign and other store employees walking by it.🤔 Have a great day. 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
Probably means the sign creator or posters or employees missed the spelling. Of course he or she might not have known there was a difference – in this day and age!
I could not understand the AUNT killer, but then could not understand the need for germicide. Then it is in a two pack, so how many AUNTS do you want to kill? Sounds like a really dysfunctional family to me. Still do not understand the germicide. However, I did see it was sold by Home Depot, so …… Oh, Well ! The Leave With a Laugh, left me CONFUSED. Then I got it. The laugh was on me!
Lol
What I liked about the “Website of the Day” was the link to “The Best Martinis in America 2023”. None near us, but some hints on how to improve on one of our “house drinks”.
Thank you, Emily and Diane! 🙂 Today’s laugh is great; I laughed out loud! 🙂 Sometimes people just get in too much of a hurry. 🤔 Or spelling in schools needs greater emphasis. 🤔 Chloe and Abby look so happy and adorable! 🙂 I might buy the mystery product for a coffee-adicted friend. We’ll see. 😉 Thanks again, have a great week, safe travels, and safe stays! 🙂