Issue 2468
Today’s thought
“What separates us from the animals, what separates us from the chaos, is our ability to mourn people we’ve never met.” —David Levithan
Today is Patriot Day and National Day of Service and Remembrance.
Tip of the day
Ways to put your RV bumper to good use
While walking around our current campground, I was amazed to see all the clever ways fellow RVers were utilizing their RV bumpers. From bike racks to storage solutions, the possibilities for RV bumper attachments are almost endless.
Before you start strapping items to your bumper, it’s crucial to know how much weight it can safely support. Overloading your bumper can lead to dangerous tail sway, especially in travel trailers and pop-up campers. Always check with your RV manufacturer or local RV dealer to ensure your bumper can handle the load.
Here are some creative ways to make the most of your RV bumper, provided it can safely handle the weight.
RV (p)review
Forthcoming Bean Squared trailer – Overlanding overachiever
By Tony Barthel
Today’s RV review is of the forthcoming Bean Squared (Bean2) trailer. If there is one hot spot in the RV industry, it’s in what are called overlanding trailers. These are trailers that are well-suited to being self-contained travel allies—even if where you travel to aren’t established RV parks. Or even over proper roads. Continue reading.
Ask Dave
Why does RV 12-volt refrigerator noisily cycle hourly?
By Dave Solberg
Dear Dave,
On our first trip with this new-to-us travel trailer, the 12-volt refrigerator cycled on and off every hour or so, with a whirring, whiny noise and a soft thud, all night long. We finally had to turn it off so we could sleep. This was on battery power. Is this typical, or is something wrong? We’ve never had a 12v before, so we aren’t sure. Also don’t know how it behaves on shore power. Thanks! —Rebecca, 2022 Sun Lite Sport Read Dave’s reply.
Our customers come first!
Family-run RV dealer Cheyenne Camping Center, one of America’s largest volume dealers, has served customers nationwide from Iowa since 1966. Get the lowest possible price without need to negotiate. No hard sell!! Long-time RVtravel.com supporter. Visit us today, (800) 397-5673.
In the RV shop with Dustin
Drain valve lubricant explained: What it’s used for and why
By Dustin Simpson
Let me introduce you to the product of the week. Has anyone ever talked to you about adding a drain valve lubricant by Thetford into your black or gray tank system? This is something you should be doing! Here’s why.
Video of the day
Easy DIY RV curtain ideas—NO sewing or drilling required!
By Cheri Sicard
If your RV windows need a lift, discover ingenious RV curtain ideas in the video below from Making My Abode on the Road. The video shows a variety of RV window coverings that require no sewing. You also won’t have to make any holes or drill into your RV’s walls to hang them either. Continue reading and watch the video.
Featured article
Butt-to-nose RV sites. How close is close enough?
By Nanci Dixon
How close is close enough?! We are currently butt-to-nose with our RV neighbor next door. While we could easily find campsites all along our trip from Arizona to Minnesota, now in Minnesota, it has become a challenge. We have ended up for seventeen l-o-n-g days at a full-hookup site at an RV park near the metropolitan area. It is a fine RV park with concrete sites, full hookups, picnic tables, and fire pits, but it’s the tight sites that bother me. (And tight they are! Is it “close enough” when you’re touching your neighbor’s window?) Continue reading.
Reader poll
Do you set an alarm to wake up in the morning?
Helpful resources
• NATIONAL TRAFFIC AND ROAD CLOSURE INFORMATION
• ROAD AND TRAFFIC CONDITIONS ACROSS THE NATION
• WEATHER ALERTS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
• LATEST RV RECALLS
• DIRECTORY OF RV PARKS WITH STORM SHELTERS
• THE BEST RV TRIP PLANNER APPS AND TOOLS
• CURRENT WILDFIRE REPORT
• CURRENT SMOKE REPORT
Did you buy a lemon RV? Here’s more about RV lemons and lawyers who will represent you if you need help.
Quick tip
Not-so-tasty water hose? How to clean it
It could be that you’ve developed a layer of slime in your water conduit. Disconnect the hose from both the supply and the RV. Coil it up, as you would for traveling. Pour a cup of bleach down one of the ends, and connect both ends together. Roll the hose about to thoroughly distribute the bleach. Hook the hose back up to the water supply (not the RV end!) and thoroughly blast fresh water through the hose to liberate the bleach—and the blech!
On this day last year…
- Tip: Quick way to verify a campsite length from afar
- Ask Dave: Why does heat of RV’s roof air come from ceiling ducts but not the floor?
- RV review: Forest River Impression 235RW leaves a good… feeling
- Video: How to build a DIY portable power station
- Featured article: Our country must find hope within the Survivor Tree
Website of the day
15 national parks for fall color
This list from The Wilderness Society will help you plan your upcoming leaf-peeping trips. We’re getting excited. Are you?
?? MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY ??
Hey, pass the dog a beer, won’t ya? No, this isn’t a joke! The dog wants a beer!
Recipe of the day
3 decadent recipes that use Alfredo sauce
These three recipes will surely have you drooling. Chicken Alfredo with a cordon bleu twist, a delicious casserole, and a new way to make lasagna. Trust us, you’ll be hungry! Click here.
Trivia
Marcus Lemonis, the chairman and CEO of Camping World and Good Sam Enterprises, is also the Executive Chairman of the board of directors of Beyond, Inc. which owns Overstock, Bed Bath & Beyond, Baby & Beyond and other related brands and intellectual property.
Readers’ pet of the day
“Taking Louise out for a quick stroll. She snuck aboard our RV in Arizona and now has become part of the family. She loves traveling and sitting at the window watching for flies.” —Tim Slack
Quite the, um, pet you’ve got there, Tim… I don’t think we want one of those…
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
TODAY’S WEATHER FORECAST ACROSS THE NATION
Visit Current National Radar Weather Map
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.
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.
Todays trivia, now I understand why Bed, Bath, and Beyond went under and closed their stores.
I am no Marcus Lemonis fan, but to be fair and accurate, BB&B was in trouble before he came on the scene. It’s demise was caused by the 11.8 billion it has spent since 2004 to buy back its own shares. They filed for bankruptcy in Apr 2023. Lemonis came on the board in Oct 2023.
A corporate strategy used to make shareholders and officers money and look better than actual business stats would.
Yep. Others did the same: Sears and KMart. Bottom line: Too much debt and inability to adjust to changing market conditions is a recipe for failure.
It’s called greed 2.0
I see that NV in its entirety is in a critical fire weather area. Yup. We have a nasty, nasty fire going on just outside of Reno. Several days now with no estimate for containment or ending. Houses have burned, businesses and roads closed, and evacuations galore. Horrible situation.
Camped at Davis Creek a couple of months ago. It was a beautiful park, What a shame.
Don’t try Oregon as we here can’t even go camping because of closed campgrounds..even favorite fish holes.
Having been in Arizona and New Mexico and I have doubts about the pet of the day being a Louise, more likely a Louie. The male tarantulas travel around this time of year seeking out a mate at her burrow. That may be how he found his way into the RV. All I can say is better yours than ours. My DW would not even come out until I check the area after she saw one crossing our campsite.
I just added a super-sized can of RAID to my list of needed things if traveling in “big spider” country. BUT… if they “love traveling” maybe it would work out. But how do you know if a spider actually loves traveling? 🤔
Nope, not happening…RAID for me.
Thank you, Emily and Diane! 🙂 Have a great day, safe and companionable travels, and safe stays! 🙂
I don’t have anything to do with Marcus Lemonis or anything he owns. Some people have a short memory. I don’t.
Agreed.
If I have a slimy water hose, I’m not cleaning it, I’m replacing it. They aren’t expensive and probably should be replaced every now and then anyway.
I’m in southern Arizona and we have lots of tarantulas. They are fascinating creatures. Happy to see Louise enjoying a walk🕷️
Cannot put another head on Mt. Rushmore because there is not enough room on the back side for another backside.
use to set my phone alarm but then the phone got run over. then I tried to set the alarm on my computer but it would not make a sound no matter what I tried on settings. then I installed a new alarm made for windows 11 from goggle play and it came with a virus. then I found a chromebook lying around and had to install an alarm app on that. It worked but book had to stay on 24/7. now I just wake up whenever and if late for work just apologize.