Issue 2459
Today’s thought
“The purpose of life, after all, is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience.” —Eleanor Roosevelt
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Chop Suey Day!
On this day in history: 1898 – The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company is founded.
Tip of the day
Improve your RV’s shower with these tips and gadgets
I actually gasped out loud when I saw a friend’s 2024 RV shower recently. It was huge in comparison to ours. After recovering from a serious bout of “shower envy,” I decided to look for ways to improve our small, but sufficient, RV shower. I hope you can also make use of these tips to improve your RV shower.
The enviable 2024 RV shower featured a fold-down bench. Made of teak wood, it looked sleek, comfy, and quite serviceable. The best part? It folds up when not in use. Our RV shower has a seat, but it’s actually molded into the shower unit. There’s no folding it up or down, so it takes up space even when we’re not using it. Continue reading.
RV walk-through
Tour the Wildwood Grand Lodge 42VIEW Destination Trailer: A 2-story RV!
By Cheri Sicard
In the video below the team from Big Truck Big RV (voted one of our readers’ favorite RV YouTube channels) gives us a tour of a unique 2-story RV, the Grand Lodge 42VIEW.
This is a park model, now known by its PR-enhanced moniker of “Destination Trailer.” But for those of you whose idea of RVing is setting the rig down as a stationary vacation home, this one has a lot to offer. I have to confess that before watching this video, I never got the appeal of such RVs, but my opinion has definitely changed.
Ask Dave
How often should I lubricate my RV’s slide mechanism?
By Dave Solberg
Dear Dave,
My RV has two slideouts. The bed is enclosed; however, the living room is exposed. How often should the arm underneath be lubricated? —Michael, 2007 Terry 305RLDS by Fleetwood
Take an extra 10% off a GhostBed luxury RV mattress!
The GhostBed RV mattress is 10” deep, crafted with gel memory foam for coolness, has 3 layers of luxurious comfort and is perfectly sized for your RV! Ahhhh… Wake up relaxed and rejuvenated. RVtravel.com readers now get an EXTRA 10% OFF a GhostBed Luxury RV Mattress! CLICK HERE and use code RVTRAVEL10. Watch RVtravel.com’s Tony Barthel’s RV mattress review here.
Video of the day
Camping and a movie? Check out this drive-in theater campground in Oregon
By Cheri Sicard
In the video below we join Michelle and Jason, aka the EKKOnesters, for a trip to the Sutherlin/Umpqua Valley KOA Holiday in Sutherlin, Oregon, an unusual campground that happens to have a historic drive-in movie theater on site. Check this out! How cool!
Featured article
Most used accessory: Camco’s flat-folding step stool for RVs
By Cheri Sicard
This little gadget is one of my most-used RV accessories. The Camco folding step stool folds flat to be neatly tucked away into almost any closet or cubby and instantly unfolds into a sturdy step stool. When it’s time to put it away, just press in the hinged sides, which causes the hinged top to fold up. Couldn’t be easier. Read about many of its uses here.
Reader poll
Would you explore the past or future in a time machine?
Quick tip
Holding tank treatments
When buying holding tank treatments, check how many treatments are in the bottle. Treatment doses range from two ounces to eight ounces. Don’t be fooled by big jugs that may have fewer treatments than you think. —From Motorhomes Made Easy
On this day last year…
- Tip: Uneven cooling in your RV? Simple trick might help
- Ask Dave: Will RV’s house batteries ‘play nice together’ if I replace chassis battery with lithium?
- Video: Four seasons RVs: Confusion and exposing false R-values
- Featured article: Around the campfire: Jokes about high gas prices will make you laugh!
Website of the day
23 Tips to Save Water in an RV
This list from the blog Trying to Unwind has some helpful tips you can follow to save water while RVing.
?? MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY ??
“Not all who wander are lost.” Sure… right… errrr… Not quite???
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 highest percentage of voters, 49 percent, say driving five to six hours is the maximum amount they’ll drive in a day.
• When asked about the top reasons for stopping at rest areas, the main reasons RVers said, in order, were: resting and giving their eyes a break from driving, to grab a snack or a meal, or to get some exercise.
• 39 percent of fifth wheel owners have a Ford truck to tow their RV. The second most popular truck brand was Ram, followed by Chevrolet and GMC.
Recent poll: Do you lock your RV when you take a 10-minute walk around your campground?
Recipe of the day
French Toast Casserole
by Carolynn Ruark from Buena Park, CA
French toast lovers, you need to try this make-ahead breakfast casserole. It’s a delicious casserole filled with French toast filled with cinnamon and nutmeg. But, the sugary pecan topping makes this super special. Once baked, it’s almost like a praline pecan. Super rich, this would be perfect for a holiday morning or a special brunch. This French toast casserole doesn’t need syrup, but if you want to add a drizzle when serving it wouldn’t hurt. Here’s the recipe.
Trivia
What makes Magic Erasers so magic? The erasers are made from a compound called melamine foam, a micro-abrasive. The reason these erasers are so “magic” at removing stains is because they’re essentially sanding the stain off with a very, very fine grit sandpaper.
Readers’ pet of the day
“Cadee (Brittany Spaniel) loves our road trips. She will sit with us by the fire but is usually the first to go into the camper at night.” —Eric Suris
HELP! WE’RE RUNNING LOW ON PET PHOTOS! Send us a photo of your pet with a short description. No blurry photos and 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
Did you miss the latest RV Travel Newsletter? If so, read it here.
Oh, and if you missed the Latest News for RVers, make sure to catch up here.
TODAY’S WEATHER FORECAST ACROSS THE NATION
Visit Current National Radar Weather Map
If you shop at Amazon.com we’d appreciate you using this link. We get an itty bitty commission if you buy something, but they add up and help us pay our bills (most importantly our hard-working writers!).
RVtravel.com All-Star Team
Click here for information about our staff and how to contact us.
Love the addition of the “Weather Forecast Across the Nation” Thanks for adding this to the newsletter.
Yes, same here, a good quick visual look over the lower 48 is all I need to see what the weather is going to be in the great lakes region.
But it always shows Florida under threat of rain and thunderstorms.
Cadee is absolutely gorgeous! 😍
Eric, I love your dog!
No wonder almond milk is so expensive.
milking by hand! Get automated man.
Agreed. The way they’re doing it is just nuts!
🤣🤣 Have a great day, Vince and Thomas. 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
My main reason for stopping every two to three hours at rest areas is to let my 88 pound yellow Lab an opportunity to poop and/or pee. I do not use the creepy, filthy bathrooms at rest stops. I use my travel trailer’s bathroom where I know that the toilet has only seen my butt and no one else’s.
Thank you, Emily and Diane! 🙂 Cadee looks adorable, Eric, and like a great traveling companion! 🙂 Thanks again! I always wondered how they get almond milk. 😉 Have a great day, safe travels, amd safe stays! 🙂
Cadee is beautiful. We had a golden/brittany cross that we just lost in Feb at 15 years young. It is fun to see how much he really looked like a brittany only with the golden coloring. Identical facial structure tho. We sure miss him. Enjoy your pretty pup!
Chop suey is American made from the asians who came over and it is pretty much leftovers from what ever was left over the day before. So if you have left over veggies and meat? Combine with some asian sauce and you have dinner.