Issue 2479
Today’s thought
“I travel not to go anywhere but to go. I travel for travel’s sake. The great affair is to move.” ―
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Dumpling Day!
On this day in history: 1969 – “Abbey Road,” the last recorded album by the Beatles, is released.
Tip of the day
The best way to back up a trailer
By Cheri Sicard
Backing up a trailer has to be one of the most panic-inducing tasks facing new RVers. I have known numerous RVers who will go FAR out of their way and spend loads of extra money on RV park pull-through spots just to avoid this dreaded task. Panic no more. When it comes to the topic of how to back up a trailer, the video below is one of the best we’ve seen on the topic.
The team from the Wandering Wagners have done a terrific job of not only explaining how to back a trailer up, but they also do an equally excellent job at demonstrating it.
Continue reading as Cheri breaks down the techniques as demonstrated in the video.
RV walk-through
A look at the 2024 Jayco Redhawk 29XK Class C motorhome
By Cheri Sicard
In the video below, Mike Drudge from Vogt RV is going to give us a tour of the 2024 Jayco Redhawk 29XK Class C motorhome, a good option for families, especially.
Sporting a modern farmhouse décor, the dinette and the sofa are both inside the slide, which gives this coach lots of interior space. Continue reading.
Ask Dave
Should RV be stored on jack stands to help preserve tires?
By Dave Solberg
Hey Dave,
I love reading your articles in case something that has happened to others happens to me when I’m on the road. Since I have a Class A, I was wondering if it’s worth it to put the unit onto jack stands during the winter? It sits on a concrete pad. I have the capability to move it a few feet forward or backwards, but I’m not sure if that’s enough movement for the tires. Thanks so much! —Charles, 2018 Jayco Alante 29S Read Dave’s answer.
Video of the day
RVing the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta
By Cheri Sicard
In the video below, Brian and Michelle, the team from LivinRVision, take us with them to visit the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta—an RV trip on many RVers’ bucket lists. If you ever wondered if it is worth going, watch the video, find out, and live vicariously through Brian and Michelle. Although the couple says that they’ve watched videos in the past, it just does not compare to the awe and spectacle of actually being there. It’s amazing!
Featured article
Behind the scenes at the filming of Winnebago Man, the world’s angriest man
By Dave Solberg
Winnebago is synonymous with the word “RV.” However, in the late ’80s, it also became known as the home of “The Angriest Man In The World.” His name was Jack Rebney, soon known to millions through YouTube as the “Winnebago Man.” And guess who was on the film crew the day Jack delivered the profanity-laced lines that made him famous? Our own Dave Solberg. Here’s his story.
Reader poll
If you could RV around one of these countries, which would you choose?
Quick tip
What to do if your stovetop burner goes out
“If you have trouble getting your propane burner to light (or stay lit) after long storage, clean the burner with a thin bottle brush to get rid of rust flakes and carbon particles that are blocking the orifice.” From Trailers & Fifth Wheels Made Easy
On this day last year…
- Tip: 5 tips from professional RV washers
- Ask Dave: Some of my RV’s awning stitching is gone. Should I try to seal it or restitch it?
- RV walk-through: Best new RVs by New Horizons and Leisure Travel Vans for 2024
- Featured article: Camp near fossil-finding locations and bring home a piece of history
Website of the day
80 Fall Dinner Ideas You’ll Want To Make All Season Long
Now that we’re officially in fall we can start making our favorite fall recipes again! We want all of these—they sound soooo good!
?? MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY ??
It’s getting dark earlier and earlier these days, but you know what would help with that? Light! Of course! And if you need a light, this has gotta be it!
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:
• 26 percent say they carry every tool they could ever possibly need with them in their RV.
• More people always or mostly always read printed books over e-books.
• 21 percent get five or more spam calls on their phone every day. Yikes!
Recent poll: How experienced are you as an RVer?
Trivia
In 2012, Taco Bell airlifted a truck filled with tacos to Bethel, Alaska. Why would they do that? Well, funny story… Pranksters plastered posters all over the small town (pop. 6,100) announcing that a new Taco Bell was opening. Locals were excited, as their nearest big city with new restaurants was 400 miles away. The town’s residents were disappointed when they learned it was a prank, but Taco Bell caught wind of the story and decided the town deserved a Taco Bell feast. The company airlifted a taco truck loaded with 10,000 tacos to the small town. Taco ’bout an awesome ending to the story!
Readers’ pet of the day
“This is my Maltese rescue boy. His original family was Filipino, so they named him “Buko” (pronounced Boo-Ko) which means ‘Coconut’. He has been on several trips with me, from Texas to Oklahoma, to South Texas, to Maine, to Canada and back, etc. He has some ‘issues’, but he loves traveling, walking around new campgrounds, taking in the sights and smells!!” —Rica Shepardson
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 hear about the guy who developed a terrible disease where he can’t stop telling airport jokes? His doctor says it’s terminal.
TODAY’S WEATHER FORECAST ACROSS THE NATION
Visit Current National Radar Weather Map
Headed on an unfamiliar highway? Learn if it has low bridges you might not fit under.
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RVtravel.com All-Star Team
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Winnebago Man article and video is funny as @#$% LOL
Thank you, Emily and Diane! 🙂 Buko looks adorable Rica! May you have thousands of miles of adventures! 🙂 The weather map shows heavy rain over the entirety of Tennessee. If everyone in the state agrees that it is raining (or likely to rain), then that might be the first time in history that East, Middle, and West Tennesseans agreed on anything. 🤔😯 😉 However, as of 1:25 PM, EDT on 26 September 2024, it has not begun to rain, or blow for that matter. Thanks again, have a great day, safe travels, and safe stays! 🙂
Neal, we are in Tampa Bay area, about 20 miles from the Gulf, as the crow flies. We have had only 3.25 ” of rain in the last 17 hours. Wind less than a summer thunderstorm but gusts cleaning out the trees. Tonight is to get worse for us. The Big Bend is surely in trouble, but as this comes your way in the mountains, you may have more problems with this storm than we do. There are still a lot of people in trouble. Drop anchor and tie down.
Good luck, Kelly! I sure do like living here in the “boring” (weather-wise) Pacific Northwest! I hope you have a peaceful night. Stay safe.🤗 –Diane
I was in Ft Lewis Wash. many years go on my way to SE Asia and all I remember is rain and mud the three days I was there. Lots of rain, but no mud down here. lol
Ahh, Fort Lewis, now Joint Base Lewis–McChord, or JBLM. Went by there many times when heading south to visit relatives as a kid. I’m kinda used to the rain here, having lived here for 77+ years. However, it hasn’t been so wet lately, but don’t tell anyone that.🤫 Have a good, safe night. 😀 –Diane
Thank you, Kelly! Will do. Lost power for 90 minutes this afternoon, but not because of the weather. It was due to a subdivision that’s replacing a farm. At least the power company had to take our area down to do something toward building the subdivision. 🙁 Thanks again! Safe stays! 🙂
Second power blip and I lost what I was in the middle of typing you. lol
Now past us and on backside with more gusts and more surge in low lying areas, Will hit land in about 2 hours and then toward Atlanta and curve a bit on up to you – looks like it is seeking you out. Possibly still at 45 mph then and it looks like rain too. (Diane, it doesn’t look like it will make it out to you.) from your Southern Hippi Dippie Weather Man. (George Carlin lives.)
Well, I’m certainly relieved to hear that it’s not going to make it this far. Whew! 🤣 Thanks, George…I mean Kelly. Take care. –Diane
Thanks, Kelly! One tree was down and slowed my return from taking dog #3 (aka, “the monster” because he chews on everything that fits in his mouth) to daycare. Was some water on the roads, especially about 1 1/4 miles short of our driveway where it was flowing and perhaps an inch deep. Drinks were on sale, so stopped at nearby grocery and bought some. Employees outnumbered shoppers. Traffic light, schools closed in anticipation of … ? bad weather(?). 😉 Glad you’re through it, Kelly! 🙂 Safe stays! 🙂
Getting breezy here now.
https://youtu.be/oqscKrQ3bRs?feature=shared
Rain seems finished. Have a safe day, Kelly! 🙂
Hope you are making it thru. Now calm, just lot of tree trash to rake up in yards. People on coastline have a mess and in trouble. So glad we were guided to a house 40 ft above sea level and 20 ft above our river, 50 years ago. Rain gage 4 1/2 “.
Thank you, Kelly! Congratulations on the excellent choice you made 50 years ago. 🙂 NWS thinks we got a bit less than 4″. Good luck with your tree trash! 🙂
There’s still time for you to run out and get an inflatable kayak, just in case of course ! 😃
You may be right, Bill! 🙂 The dog tore my rain gauge off the fence, so I don’t know how much rain has fallen. 🙁 I’ll guess 1 – 1.5 inches today. The dry stream beds probably will have white water flowing through them in the morning. I will make videos if it happens. 🙂 Safe stays, Bill! 🙂
#1 Keep yourself and the family safe !
Thank you, Bill! We are about as safe as we can be. The weather is only steady rain, but not especially hard. Wind is negligible and we have had several similar rains since we moved into the house in January 2018. The flash flood warning expires at 2 tomorrow afternoon. Thanks again! We be good. 🙂
If any one is heading to the Great Smokey Mtn NP might want to cancel your plans. They have closed the park this weekend. I was reading where they are going to get a lot of rain and wind from hurricane Helene. Looks like Charlotte is going to get hit as well as for the rest of us on east side of NC not so much. Although we never know.