Issue 2461
Today’s thought
“Time is the longest distance between two places.” ―T
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is Labor Day!
On this day in history: 1901 – Vice President of the United States Theodore Roosevelt utters the famous phrase “Speak softly and carry a big stick” at the Minnesota State Fair.
Tip of the day
Don’t use a jack to change your tire; do this instead
By George Bliss
If you have a double- or triple-axle trailer, use blocks when a tire change is required. Blocking under a good tire will lift the bad tire off the ground. You’ll no longer need to search for the elusive jack or need to worry about your jack failing or falling over when the trailer is lifted. This works extremely well if you are stopped on ground that might be a little soft.
Another big plus to doing this is that you don’t need to crawl in the dirt, under your trailer, to put a jack in place. As jacks are inherently unstable, the wind of a semi-truck passing on a busy highway could push your trailer off a jack. With blocks, your vehicle is totally stable through the whole process of the tire change. Continue reading this helpful tip.
Bonus tips from this weekend:
Why it’s so important to take photos of your RV components and systems
By Gail Marsh
Have you ever found yourself in the middle of a beautiful RV adventure, only to have your trusty RV throw a tantrum? It’s like they have a knack for choosing the most inconvenient times to break down. Whether you’re a seasoned RVer or a newbie hitting the road for the first time, here’s a handy tip that can save you a ton of headaches: Take photos of your RV components and systems! Here’s why.
One very easy fix to keep mice and other freeloaders out of your RV
By Kate Doherty
As full-timers, we constantly work to keep mice, bugs, scorpions and other creepy crawly creatures from entering our house on wheels. So how can you prevent them from hitchhiking? After hearing many suggestions, from twisting towels to steel wool around the pipe, what worked best for us was this.
RV review
Brinkley Model Z 2670—The newest and smallest
By Tony Barthel
Today’s RV review is another preview from Brinkley RV, this time the Model Z 2670 fifth wheel. This is the latest offering from Brinkley and also the smallest and lightest fifth wheel they make. Now, before you jump to conclusions, know that this fifth wheel is not light. While it is under 30 feet in length, it’s over 10,000 pounds in dry weight. So why? Here’s why.
Ask Dave
Where is RV fresh water tank’s low-point drain? I can’t find it
By Dave Solberg
Hi, Dave,
I want to know how can I find my RV’s fresh water tank drain. To fill it up is easy. But when I want to drain it out for the winter, I can’t find any semblance of a tank drain anywhere near it. The way I’ve done it so far is to run my water pump and open up the valves to drain it. If that’s the way to do it, so be it. But, that doesn’t make sense to me. Thanks in advance! —Lou, 2021 Fleetwood Fortis 33HB Read Dave’s answer.
- To see how the recent, brand-new Ford Towing Bootcamp went, click here.
In the RV shop with Dustin
Prevent water heater explosions by knowing the signs
By Dustin Simpson
Water heater explosions are rare but when they do happen, they can be devastating. Do not wait for a catastrophe. Here are a few signs your water heater will give before bursting.
Video of the day
The top 10 strangest U.S. interstate oddities
By Cheri Sicard
The interstate highway system in the U.S. might just look like normal, boring highways. But some highways have quirks. In today’s video, the team from Beaver Geography count down what they consider the top 10 interstate oddities and quirks in the USA.
The latest news for RVers
- Man loses leg in freak RV awning mishap, sues Dometic, Camping World for $27M
- Plans for upscale developments at Florida state parks draw protests (updated)
- North America’s highest paved road to close until 2026
- Judge throws out most of case against RVer after NPS rangers act like Keystone Cops
- Bowlus’ newest travel trailer starts at a quarter-million+
To read more recent news, click here.
Featured article
Class A demolished in freeway crash – Lessons learned? (Video)
By Russ and Tiña De Maris
Picture yourself on busy Interstate 5 in Everett, Washington, north of Seattle. The seemingly normal flow of traffic is suddenly interrupted as a Class A motorhome careens from the “slow lane side” of the pavement and into the center barrier. The impact basically demolishes the fiberglass coach body. From the windshield, a dog is ejected. This freeway crash is not just a scenario, it really happened last February 15. What lessons can be learned? First, look at the heart-stopping video.
Reader poll
Are you doing anything special for Labor Day today?
Quick tip
Much ado about holding tank poo
“We’ve tried all kinds of different ‘holding tank sensor’ cleaning products and none of them seems to be able to ‘clean’ the sensors. None work—to any satisfactory degree. We even tried some stuff a guy was hawking at an RV rally two years ago where he claimed that his ‘struvites’ would gobble up all the nasties in our black tank and bring our sensors back to life. There IS no ‘back to life’ because they have never worked. We have just learned to estimate (with great precision, I might add) when we need to find a dump site.” Our “tanks” to Tommy Molnar!
Website of the day
History.com: Labor Day 2024
How much do you really know about Labor Day? This page on History.com tells you facts, the meaning behind the day, and its founding. It’s fascinating!
?? MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY ??
You’ve never going to believe it… but this is what came up when we typed in “helpful RV tool.” You can see proof in the search bar! Don’t hate us for showing you this—you’ve got to have a sense of humor!
Recipe of the day
3 delicious corn recipes to kick off fall cooking
What food transitions from summer to fall better than corn? These three delicious recipes will help you use the last bit of that yummy, sweet summer corn. (Plus, these would make a great Labor Day meal, too!)
Trivia
The first European travelers in a hot air balloon were a sheep, a duck and a rooster. Joseph and Jacques Montgolfier, the French brothers who invented the hot air balloon, made this first successful launch and eight-minute flight in 1783 in the presence of King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette. All three animals survived.
Readers’ pet of the day
“Our two-year-old Vizsla, Ruby, is the best RV traveler. She gets excited when we bring the RV home to pack up and she wants in the truck long before we hook up to leave. The best part of seeing the U.S., by what I call the ‘slow way’ in our 5th wheel, is that Ruby goes with us wherever we go. This photo was taken on a recent trip from our home in Arkansas to Napa.” —Vicki Cowling
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.
It’s Labor Day today, but be patriotic year-round!
If you’re going to be patriotic, why not do so with an American flag made out of motorhomes? How cool is this shirt? It comes in men’s, women’s and children’s sizes, so you can match with the whole family. And it’s 100% cotton so you know it will be soft! This is so neat! Get one for yourself here.
Leave here with a laugh
A ghost walks into a bar and orders a whiskey. The bartender says, “Sorry, we don’t serve spirits here.”
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.
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RVtravel.com All-Star Team
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Open the dump valve on the toilet. Look down into black tank. Use a flashlight and see what the visible liquid level shows.
Did you see any eyeballs staring back?
Although the least glamorous, I think this is the most reliable method.
Tank products need water and agitation to do any work which are the two things most folks try to reduce.
Tanks can be rinsed out to preserve optimal capacity but unlike your barbecue grill and contrary to those trying to sell you something, they don’t need to be clean enough to eat off of.
Think about it – Where’s all the YouTube videos of tanks being lowered with a forklift because their accumulation became so immense? Not loaded up with tampons, diapers and butt wipes, full. They don’t exist.
Just use plenty water when flushing the toilet and flushing the tank.
And start with water in the tank before using.
My “C” motorhome is straight down the chute.
my fiver toilet takes a turn Elbow or 45°?
no looking down it.
i purchased Sea level sensors always accurate
Anyone with a macerator toilet also cannot see into the tank.
make sure you aren’t looking up the lower dump valve…..
Your Mystery Product of the Day is very similar to what the Roman Soldiers used in their latrines back in the days of the Roman Empire. We saw an example at the Roman Fort at Wall’s End near Newcastle in England.
If you look at the fine print for most black tank products there is a word or description of “agitation”. You can dissolve most solids, but without sufficient agitation you aren’t going to flush the gunk off the sensors. When we are seasonally stationary, I use Camco’s flexible high pressure wand after about 8-12 tank flushes to go in and spray off the sensors. It has worked for 7 years. None the less, it is a good idea to also have some idea of how long you can safely wait between flushes.
It should be Keystone Kops — with a K.
“Much ado about holding tank poo” I concur with Tommy. I have tried all kinds of snake oil remedies and gimmicks to clean sensors..best I have found that works is plain old liquid laundry detergent and a bottle of Calgon.
I do exactly the same…however, I only use a couple of cap fulls of the Calgon…not the whole bottle!! This has always worked for me in keeping both tanks clean enough so that they flow nicely without any problems with the sensors or odors.
Ruby is a beautiful girl!
We installed sea level sensors on all our tanks. They attach to the exterior and I believe they sense the temperature difference. They were easy to install and connect to our main panel. They work great.
Class a driver clearly at fault. Another argument for extra training and licensing for driving or towing anything over 26 feet.
Thank you, Emily and Diane! 🙂 Ruby is beautiful, Vicki! May you have thousands of miles and hundreds of nights sharing travels! 🙂 I read today’s laugh to DW and she smiled; pretty lofty praise, if you ask me. 🙂 Have a great holiday, great week, safe travels (redundant and otherwise), and safe stays! 🙂
Sounds like both the US and Soviet space programs took a page out of history on their first “manned” flights. They just used a dog and a chimp instead of the Montgolfier brothers sheep, duck, and rooster!
The first European travelers in a hot air balloon were a sheep, a duck and a rooster. Sounds like a running joke to the answer is one can fly, one can try and the other is scr-ewed. Thanks for todays trivia.