Issue 2495
Today’s thought
“Dost thou love life? Then do not squander time, for that is the stuff life is made of.” —Benjamin Franklin
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Chocolate Cupcake Day!
On this day in history: 1648 – On this date, Boston shoemakers were authorized to form a guild to protect their interests; it’s the first American labor organization on record.
Tip of the day
RV Towing: 8 common towing mistakes and how to avoid them
By Cheri Sicard
Over the years, the folks at the Trailer Parts Outlet have heard endless stories of RV towing disasters. In order to help RVers stay safer on the road, they’ve compiled the eight most common towing mistakes and how you can avoid them. Using these tips will help you to haul better, more safely, and more efficiently.
Sure, some of these tips may be common knowledge, although if you are a brand-new RVer, maybe not. After all, you don’t know what you don’t know.
However, some of these tips are not as common but are no less valuable.
Ask Dave
Why won’t RV’s furnace work when camping but works for service tech?
By Dave Solberg
Dear Dave,
The furnace in my trailer used to work OK, then on one trip it would not work. I had a tech come to my house, where my trailer was, and he checked it and it worked OK. Next trip it did not work. I called another tech and it worked fine for him. But, sure enough, my next trip and even at home it did not work. So, what do you think? —Scott, 2004 Hi-Lo 2200T Read Dave’s answer.
Watch Dave present his very educational (not to mention entertaining) RVing seminars at the Myrtle Beach (SC) RV Show at the Convention Center on October 18–20. You’ll learn a lot!
In the RV shop with Dustin
Resealing an RV skylight: Sealing tips from the pros
By Dustin Simpson
Join Terry and me in our RV shop and watch as we tackle a skylight replacement up on the roof. We’ll guide you through the process while discussing what to do and why. Click here.
Video of the day
Best RV gear from this year’s Hershey RV Show
By Cheri Sicard
In the video below from our favorite RV gearhead, Joshua from RV Gear & Far, we get a look at Joshua’s picks of the best RV gear, gadgets, and accessories from this year’s massive Hershey RV Show. Check these out.
Featured article
7 reasons to have an RV buyer’s inspection
By Dustin Simpson
RV buyers conduct inspections for several important reasons [listed]. It’s essential for buyers to hire a qualified and reputable RV inspector to conduct a thorough examination of the vehicle. The inspection should cover all relevant aspects of the RV’s systems and structure, allowing the buyer to make an informed decision based on its overall condition and safety. Read more and watch the video to see a used-RV inspection at Dustin’s shop.
You may have missed these recent popular stories…
- RVers feel ‘sadness’ about the transformation of camping; ‘I miss it’
- Why we had to prove a reader wrong about RVing
- Senior RVers: The one very important exercise every senior needs
- Caught on camera: Helene flooding drags RV over dam
Reader poll
How many cups of coffee do you drink in a day?
Quick tip
Trailer safety chains
Use a side-to-side cross pattern to attach your chains under the hitch. This ensures that if your hitch separates, the tongue will fall onto the chains and not the ground, restricting the potential damage done. It also allows you to turn more tightly without them becoming entangled. –From RV Living: An Essential Guide to Full-time RVing and Motorhome Living
On this day last year…
- Tip: A list of “must-haves” can help you buy your perfect RV
- Ask Dave: Why does my roof A/C unit have a rotten egg smell?
- RV review: Small but mighty: The Grand Design Imagine AIM 15BH
- In the RV shop with Dustin: Dry-rotted floors in RVs and what it would take to fix them
- Video: Amazing bachelor pad army truck RV conversion
Website of the day
75 Easy Halloween Crafts for Adults Who Love All Things Spooky and Spidery
Get out your glue stick and craft supplies because you’re going to want to make some of these spook-tacular crafts to put up around your RV!
?? MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY ??
OK. Let’s get right down to it: You need at least one of these. Oh, you might successfully argue that you do not. But here is what we think: Buy one or two of these and place them in front of your RV at your campsite. We guarantee you will turn a lot of heads. Whose creative mind came up with this? What a genius!
Recipes of the day
5 fried rice recipes perfect for lunch, dinner and leftovers
These five fried recipes are perfect for a main course or a side for either dinner or lunch. And the best part? Leftovers! Make one of these recipes if you’re trying to get ahead on cooking. Get hungry, because these look good!
Trivia
We have bicyclists to thank for our paved roads! The “Good Roads Movement” was a political movement brought on by the availability and sales of bicycles at the end of the 19th century. In 1880, the movement became formal when advocates came together in Newport, Rhode Island, to form the League of American Wheelmen (LAW). They published a magazine, pushed for road improvements, and gave legal protection to cyclists.
Readers’ pet of the day
“Kona (mixed breed) is the kindest, sweetest dog in the world. Loves kids and never gets flustered. He certainly draws a crowd wherever we go.” —Molly Hayward-Koert
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
This video is in French, but it doesn’t matter that you can’t understand what’s being said. This French TV show brought together a group of people with unusual (and hilarious) laughs. You’ll have tears of laughter streaming down your face in no time.
Today’s weather forecast across the nation
Visit Current National Radar Weather Map
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RVtravel.com All-Star Team
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The crossing of the chains tip is one that many RV owners do not follow. I watch fellow RV’ers hook up their tow vehicles or even their travel trailers and see them connect their chains without crossing them. Sometimes I mention it but I’m quickly told they are doing it the way the dealer showed them how. Maybe this tip is no longer valid (I have not seen where it is not) but I still cross my chains always. It’s a good safety habit.
Well in a some states it’s the LAW!
Snoopy
Again. If the chains have a common connecting point, they can’t be crossed, just twisted together. So probably 90% of the newer trailers do not comply with the law.
I have had 4 trailers over the last 20 years and every one of them the safety chains were connected to a single point on the trailer tongue. One simply had a continuous chain with a bolt through one of the links
Crossing them in this case does absolutely nothing.
Crossing chains may be a good idea, but on my Rockwood the chains attach to the frame side by side. There’s not enough separation of the mounting point to cross them. They form a V with the bottom at the trailer instead of an X.
I have had 4 trailers over the last 20 years and every one of them the safety chains were connected to a single point on the trailer tongue. Crossing them does absolutely nothing.
Dave’s trouble-shooting guidance to recreate camping conditions leading to the furnace problem is spot on-EXCEPT . . . my furnace problem turned out to be altitude related which was impossible to recreate at my service center. The altitude problem was found ONLY after many, many service appointments to eliminate every other problem imaginable. Turned out my rig was set up for low elevation but was being used at high elevation. Could be something to consider.
This exact same elevation problem happened to us with our refrigerator. We were camped at 8k’ and the fridge kept going out. I called Norcold tech support and told them what was happening. Their solution was that we should move to a campground at a lower elevation. We called our hometown mobile tech and he told me what to do with the igniter to make it work. That was decades ago so I don’t remember what he said, but it fixed the problem.
Just like the tip said: if the chains are crossed and the hitch comes off the ball the hitch will be held above the street by the crossed chains. Uncrossed chains will let the hitch fall to the street while underway potentially causing severe damage.
In PA it is required that the chains be crossed.
But you can’t cross the chains if there is only one connection point. They just twist together.
Kona is one beautiful dog, I can see why he draws a crowd.
Yep. On an older trailer I could and did cross the chains to form a “catch basket” under the hitch. This requires the chains to have some separation at the tongue end. Newer trailers have no separation. The ‘cross’ will happen right at single junction point and the result will be additional stress on the junction point and does nothing to catch a coupler.
I could never understand why they changed to single connection point. There is no way the chains would catch the coupler in a straight line. Of course, it’s one less weld that has to be made. $$$$
Your picture of towing chains at the start of the article shows a problem too many still do. Safety chains hooks should have safety clips to keep them from coming off the chain. Many states require this. Another way to do it is to tape the hook to the chain so it can’t unhook. I have done this with hooks on trailer loads for 50 years, and it really gives you peace of mind.
Mystery Product. My daughter raises chicken in her back yard. We bought her one to be used as night light in the pen.
Cute! Emily has chickens in her backyard. Maybe she needs one of these, also.🤔 Have a good night, Bob. 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
Thank you, Emily and Diane! I hope that you and Kona have many, many RVing adventures, Molly! I’ll give the mystery product a miss, but thanks for alerting me to its existence. Have a great weekend and safe travels!