Issue 2552
Today’s thought
“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime.” —Mark Twain
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Bobblehead Day! Did you know you can make a custom bobblehead of yourself or a loved one? Check this out. What a gift that would make!
On this day in history: 1894 – Thomas Edison makes a kinetoscopic film of someone sneezing. On the same day, his employee, William Kennedy Dickson, receives a patent for motion picture film.
Tip of the day
Don’t make these 7 RVing mistakes like other RVers have!
By Nanci Dixon
We all make mistakes. I have made some biggies, too. Some of the RVing mistakes below have happened to others and some to us, but some, thankfully, have not! Don’t let them happen to you either!
We were camp hosts for a park that had two sections—one for large RVs and one for smaller RVs and tents. Every day someone had made reservations for a too-small site and, with everything else booked, we had to turn them away. Not happy campers!
We have learned by looking at Google Earth and any of the available campground photos that there may be a little wiggle room to extend back over a concrete bumper when we hope to park our tow car with the RV. We can’t count on it though. Continue reading.
Ask Dave
RV’s dashboard is loose. How do I fix it?
By Dave Solberg
Dear Dave,
The right side of the RV’s dashboard has come loose. It shakes up and down on rough roads. What do I need to take out to reattach it? Any ideas on where bolts or screws are located? Is this a safety item that should be reported? —David, 2018 Holiday Rambler Vacationer XE Read Dave’s answer.
Video of the day
Fully restored 1954 Kenskill trailer transformed into pontoon boat
By Cheri Sicard
In the video below, the team from BossaNova Life introduces us to Bill McKee, who gives us a tour of a 1954 Kenskill travel trailer. Besides a meticulous restoration and lots of upgrades, Bill’s vintage Kenskill can now go where it never could before—on water! Its axles and wheels have been replaced with a pontoon boat. Bill calls his boat/trailer hybrid the “Lake House.” Check this out!
Featured article
5 charming Midwest Mississippi River towns you should definitely visit
By Gail Marsh
When it comes to picturesque landscapes, historic charm, and a slice of quintessential Americana, the Midwest offers an abundance of hidden gems. You’ll find many wonderful river towns nestled along the central portion of the country’s winding waterways, but here are five Midwest Mississippi River towns you should definitely visit.
Reader poll
Do you wash your dishes immediately or let them pile up in the sink?
Quick tip
RV peacekeeping: Install a headphone jack by your chair
To keep the peace in the small living space that is an RV, I often use headphones when watching TV. It was kind of a pain having a long cord from the TV to me draped around the rig. I looked at wireless headphones but the last thing I need is more wires and things that take batteries to run. I did a bit of poking around in the bowels of the fifth wheel and found a path to run a wire and installed a headphone jack right beside my recliner at the back of the RV. —Thanks to loveyourrv.com!
Website of the day
The most famous home in every state
If you have a little bit of time to kill, read this list of the most famous homes in all 50 states. There are some neat lookin’ houses here with fascinating histories.
?? MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY ??
When was the last time you bought a new one, or set, of these for yourself? We bet it’s been a little while. And even if it hasn’t, you deserve a new one or set! Yes, you do! And this should be the one! (Too bad we’re seeing this after the holidays—it would make a great gift!)
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:
• When given a variety of landscapes to choose from, the majority of voters, 55 percent, say that camping in the forest is their favorite. Their second favorite is beach camping, followed by desert.
• 25 percent always carry a portable generator with them on their RV travels.
• When asked, “What did you have for breakfast today?” the most popular answer, 16 percent, was eggs, then toast, followed by cereal or granola, then bacon, ham or sausage, then oatmeal, fruit and lastly, yogurt.
Recent poll: Have you given your RV a name or nickname?
Trivia
Alaska is the largest U.S. state, with 586,412 square miles. It’s twice the size of Texas, which is the next largest state, at 268,596 square miles.
Readers’ pet of the day
“Ruby, our rescue Border Collie mix, relaxing at beautiful Packer Lake in the Lost Sierra.” —Pammy Forman
Send us a photo of your pet with a short description. We publish one each weekday in RV Daily Tips and in our Sunday RV Travel newsletter. No blurry photos, please! 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.
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RVtravel.com All-Star Team
Click here for information about our staff and how to contact us.
Wireless earphones anyone?
Nope. Writer rejected wireless headphones due to the wires. Uhh?
Maybe talking about the charging cord. Still a minor inconvenience since most RV’s have multiple USB plugs.
Wireless tv head sets require a transmitter that not only has an AC cord but also audio cord that plugs into the back of the dvr or tv. Then the head set has batteries that need recharging from a separate transmitter (with cords) that also has an AC cord. Yes, wireless does have cords to deal with but all hidden with the tv cords. I have used wireless for years and due to my poor hearing, I won’t watch tv without them.
We use wireless rechargeable earbuds
Today’s thought is one of the best. So true!
Thank you, Emily and Diane! You have done a wonderful job training Ruby, Pammy! Getting our Aussie to pose so well would be an ordeal for all concerned. I hope that you and Ruby have many joyous trips together. Happy new year and safe travels! 🙂
Ruby is a beauty! I am sure she is a wonderful companion.
We are Winter Texans (also known as snowbirds). A couple years ago I read a blurb about the longest drive possible in Texas without unnecessary weaving or doubling back. Hmm. As a summer resident of Michigan I plotted the equivalent longest drive in that state utilizing both peninsulas. The Texas route was longer by barely 100 miles.
Website of the day has a pay wall. Business Insider.
Hi, Gary. Hmmm. I didn’t run into any pay wall on that page, so I’m not sure why you did. We haven’t heard that from any other readers, either. Sorry. Have a good day. 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
I also get the pay wall. Strange part is the screen refreshes before the paywall appears.
May have something to do with my adblocker, but I will not turn it off.
Me too, terrible!