Issue 2526
Today’s thought
“Every interesting thing I have ever done, every important thing I have ever done, every beneficial thing I have ever done, has been through a cascade of experiments and mistakes and failures.” —Jeff Bezos
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Mutt Day!
On this day in history: 1927 – Following 19 years of Ford Model T production, the Ford Motor Company unveils the Ford Model A as its new automobile.
Tip of the day
26 practical uses for Mason jars in your RV
By Cheri Sicard
Packing a few Mason jars (also known as canning jars) in your RV makes good, practical sense. This simple utility item can replace a multitude of other kitchen tools, and fulfill a myriad of purposes while taking up little space. This article details 26 uses for Mason jars in an RV, but I am sure there are more. If you have any, be sure to drop them in the comments below. Click here to read.
*Editor’s note: Wow! We’re serious—this is an impressive list. Now we want to buy more Mason jars…
RV review
2025 Cherokee Wolf Pup 17SC—It makes so much sense
By Tony Barthel
Today’s RV review is of the new-for-2025 Forest River Cherokee Wolf Pup 17SC. I’m going to go out on a limb and say that for anyone who is looking for a smaller, more affordable travel trailer, Cherokee’s done something rather remarkable here. There are a few downsides, though, which we’ll get into in a moment.
Ask Dave
OK to use pressure washer to clean RV exterior?
By Dave Solberg
Dear Dave,
My husband has done a terrific job of keeping our old RV looking new. The inside has been updated, and he is a mechanic so everything is kept in tiptop shape. For 15 years we lived in it full time and we have 150,000 miles on it. It is washed monthly using Johnson’s Baby Shampoo and waxed two times a year using Nu Finish. It is kept outside under a tree on our property but used at least every month now.
About a year ago we noted what looked to us like mold which seemed to be under the finish. It could not be cleaned off and was evenly distributed everywhere…. Read the rest of the question and Dave’s advice.
In the RV shop with Dustin
The best fan to help with RV refrigerator air circulation
By Dustin Simpson
My RV repair shop receives a common complaint from customers, and that is their RV refrigerator has poor air circulation. Poor air circulation causes a lengthy cool-down period and can spoil food. Valterra’s Fridge Cool Fan reduces food spoilage and cuts down cool-down time by 50 percent. Learn more.
Video of the day
Starlink for RVing—Every Starlink user needs to do this!
By Cheri Sicard
In the video below, we join Izzy from Endless RVing, one of the winners of our 2024 RV video awards, for an RV tech video about Starlink for RVing. Izzy and MJ recently upgraded to Starlink, and in the video, he discusses ways to mount your Gen 3 Starlink “dishy” when RVing. Check this out.
The latest news for RVers
- Chevron warns against new refinery regulations
- Lawsuit claims conspiracy to take diesel trucks off the market
- RV wholesale report: Towables lead recovery while motorhomes falter
- Blue Compass buys more Airstream dealerships
- Pacific Northwest storm destroys at least 50 RVs under collapsing trees
To read more recent news, click here.
Featured article
Oh, this RV crash is horrible. There’s a lesson here
By Chuck Woodbury
I’ve seen RVs like this being built. The quality of the motorhome shown above, I’d guess, is somewhere between the houses of the first two little piggies—not quite as flimsy as a straw house, but not as strong as a stick house. And not even close to a brick house. Continue reading.
Reader poll (and article)
Do you snack before bedtime?
Respond here and read Gail Marsh‘s interesting article.
Quick tip
Help prevent critters from getting into your RV
Longtime RVtravel.com reader and frequent (always helpful) commenter Jim Johnson offered this tip in the comments: “If our outdoor RV rugs are going to be laid out for more than a few days, I always pretreat the under area with food grade diatomaceous earth. And I’ll sprinkle a little more on the ground just under the perimeter of our travel trailer. The food grade version costs a bit more, but is absolutely non-toxic to pets and vertebrate wildlife. However, it is toxic to most insects, and rodents don’t seem to like it. Our rugs without the DE area pretreatment invariably have ant farms underneath. Those with DE are usually free of ants – including fire ants. Squirrels climb the nearby shrubs but typically go around rather than under our trailer. Have yet to see a mouse or rat. Food grade diatomaceous earth can be purchased at most farm animal feed retailers.” [Also available on Amazon.] –Thanks for the great tip, Jim!
Website of the day
evite
Send a friend, family or other loved one a thoughtful e-card. Choose your “card”, customize and personalize it, and have it delivered straight to their email inbox… for free (just make sure you select the “free” option)! It never hurts to make someone’s day!
?? MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY ??
It’s pretty rare you see anything like this that really works, but judging by the reviews, this one does. And, boy, does it seem WORTH IT! Holiday gift to ourselves? Yep!
Recipes of the day
4 healthy recipes that you’d never know are healthy
These recipes are so tasty and decadent that you’d never know they’re all low-carb and healthy. It’s a win! Make these and thank us later.
Trivia
The next time you’re in Paris (France! But did you know there are 19 cities/towns named Paris across the U.S.?), take all your photos of the Eiffel Tower during the day. Why? It’s illegal to sell photos taken at night of the Eiffel Tower. That’s because the rights to the famous light show that the tower produces each night belongs to the artist who created it.
Readers’ pet of the day
“Momo is a great traveler. He’s 10 and has been RVing his entire life. He’s such a joy.” —Rob Fike
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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the Funny- You would be right.
Dyslexics of the world, untie!
👍🤣 Have a great day, Gordon. 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
Has anyone else had good or bad experience with Diatomaceous Earth?
Using DE is a waste of time and money. I just spray the area with Home Defense and be done with it!
I use the Ortho Home Defense. Works great in the sticks and bricks for ants and other creepy crawlers. I have a smaller spray bottle for use in my TT.
Using it inside the TT is less messy than DE and gets into hidden areas.
I spray along all interior edges, the door sill and under cabinets where they seem to crawl.
No, DE isn’t very effective at stopping bugs. An old advertising slogan says it best: Better living through CHEMISTRY.
Works good on ants for us. If we see any ants in our outdoor kitchen, sprinkle some DE on the ground and they disappear.
DW puts some on the dirt in potted veggies like lettuce or cilantro, seems to help with bugs eating them.
Why would you want to help the bugs eat them?
LOL! Wise guy!
I use diatomaceous earth year round with good results. Ants do not cross it, aphids die from it, apple maggots will not get into fruit sprayed with it, and never had any problems using it. I have used it for years with good results. Better living through NATURE.
It has always worked on every kind of ant, inside or outside, that I have come across in Central Florida – from large carpenter ants to those “invisible” ants that come in around the plumbing. Keeps them away from the outside cat’s dish. However, doesn’t repel opossum or raccoon.
Leave here- I did read it wrong…my brain fixed it for me !
Momo is beautiful!
Momo…that cat ain’t right.
Momo is the cutest! 🙂
Thank you, Emily and Diane! The mystery product is attractive with the exception of the price. Momo looks like a great traveling companion. Happy new year!