Issue 2498
Today’s thought
“Do not think that love in order to be genuine has to be extraordinary. What we need is to love without getting tired. Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies.” ―
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Horror Movie Day! Will you be watching?
On this day in history: 1906 – Alberto Santos-Dumont flies an airplane in the first heavier-than-air flight in Europe.
Tip of the day
Why you should carry an extra hose in your RV
By Russ and Tiña De Maris
Sometimes as RVers, we aren’t sure of what gear to carry. After all, there’s only so much space in the rig—being piled from floor to ceiling isn’t conducive to moving about freely. But there’s one thing you may want to carry more than one of: a water hose.
Keeping a long water hose in the rig is always a given, particularly if you frequent RV parks with hookups. But a short, coupled water hose, just a few feet long, can make life a whole lot easier when on the road. Continue reading.
Ask Dave
Trail of Confusion: Navigating the crossroads of trailer safety chain hookup
By Dave Solberg
There have been several discussions on proper connection of trailer safety chains. An article regarding the connection of the safety chains to a hitch that broke off prompted several comments worth addressing.
I think we all agree that safety chains are a good thing whether you are driving a motorhome and pulling a towed vehicle (“toad”) or have a truck towing a trailer. They help with runaway trailers, help maintain control, and are most often required by state road use laws. The confusion is, do the chains need to be crossed, can you twist the chains to shorten them, and how should the clevis hook be connected? Continue reading.
In the RV shop with Dustin
Where does water come in around RV slide outs and cause damage?
By Dustin Simpson
An RV owner in one of my Facebook groups asked, “Where is the water getting in on my slide out?”
No matter what manufacturer brand, make or model RV you have, all the slide outs, no matter the design, can leak at these flange moldings because of friction and movement. This is just one example of damage, so make sure you’re checking the roof, floors, and behind the couch and cabinets to ensure you don’t have damage. More details here.
Video of the day
Use wasted RV space with a DIY storage step
By Cheri Sicard
Build a hidden RV storage step with Ross from RV Tips & Travels, one of the winners of our 2024 RV video awards. Ross shares a useful DIY project in this video that will help you put otherwise wasted space in your RV to practical use. Click here to watch the video and read the article.
Featured article
Comet, Montana – This former off-limits mining town surrendered $20 million in riches
By Dave Helgeson
Comet, Montana, is this month’s featured ghosted place in Ghost Town Trails. Comet had been on my radar for years, ever since the early 1970s when ghost towns were in vogue. Folks flocked to see these towns from years past. Comet, Montana, was no exception. However, unlike many of the other old mining towns that were on public property, Comet was on private property. That’s no longer the case. Read here why a planned one-hour stop turned into an hours-long exploration of this old town with a fascinating history.
Reader poll
How often do you buy clothes for yourself at thrift stores?
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
Boondocking safety tips
Whether in an urban or rural setting, when away from organized campgrounds you need to take responsibility for your safety and security. Although we’ve never had a problem, apart from a love rub from a moose, we’ve developed our danger detector so that we never camp where there could be problems. Here are some ideas to boost your own safety-consciousness and have a pleasant trip without any security incidents: Let the dog bark. The best burglar alarm and deterrent is a barking dog and, unless you can train Fluffy to do impressions, it pays to let Rover or Fifi get vocal now and again. That doesn’t mean you want to deafen the neighborhood, but a few barks lets people know that you’re traveling with something with teeth.
Inspect the spot for garbage associated with drinking or drug use. People who leave this will most likely return after dark. Empty cans, bottles, and syringes (even condoms) will tell you if you’ve chosen a risky site. From RV Living: An Essential Guide to Full-time RVing and Motorhome Living. Available on Amazon.
Website of the day
Current Gasoline and Diesel prices
Every Saturday we tell you the current price of gas and diesel in the U.S. Here’s the website where we gather our information.
?? MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY ??
Wrap yourself up like a burrito! No, really, do that… Or like a pizza, or waffle, or warm, gooey chocolate chip cookie… Click here to see how.
Recipes of the day
5 steak recipes to elevate your next meal
Steak? Yes, please! These steak recipes will elevate your next meal, but not because they’re fancy. Here, we’ve got steak tacos, cubed steak, steak tips in gravy, grilled flank steak and a delicious, easy pot roast recipe. Check these out.
Trivia
Champagne can polish your shoes, and in the early 20th century, in fact, that’s what most people did! Give it a try and let us know how it works.
Readers’ pets of the day
“This is Oakley (on the left) and Willow (on the right). Both mixed breeds were rescued from the shelter. This picture was taken on a trip to Utah. We had so much fun and they love going on travel adventures with me.” —Sandy Lehmann
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
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RVtravel.com All-Star Team
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Thanks for the rescue. A very lucky pair of buddies. All our pets are rescues.
Most folks with military service are well aware of polishing shoes with a dab of spit – or alcohol – like beer, et al. Works great for that final touch.
Never worked on my old worn out jungle boots.
Never an issue after boot camp…
If some…….He needed to be in charge of the burn barrel ..
First hand……
I wanted to let you know that the date on your email link o the newsletter is a day ahead. The email i received today is dated tomorrow, October 24. I did a screenshot on my phone but can’t find a way to share it.
Thanks, Karen. Oops. I didn’t notice that when I proofed it.🙄 Have a good evening/night. 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
Been watching some horror this week. Found 100 years of horror with Christopher Lee. Love the horror and sci fi stuff.
Thank you, Emily and Diane! You have a great looking pack, Sandy! And such wonderful posture! I hope that you have many, many trips together in the coming years. Have a great week and safe travels!