Issue 2555
Today’s thought
“Whatever you are physically…male or female, strong or weak, ill or healthy–all those things matter less than what your heart contains. If you have the soul of a warrior, you are a warrior. All those other things, they are the glass that contains the lamp, but you are the light inside.” ―
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Houseplant Appreciation Day!
On this day in history: 1901 – New York: Automobile Club of America installs signs on major highways.
Tip of the day
My 11 favorite RV cleaning products
By Nanci Dixon
There are a number of cleaning products that can be effective for use in an RV. I have some favorites that I just can’t do without.
It is always best to check the owner’s manual for specific recommendations for your type of RV and the materials inside it. Remember: Aerosols can set off LP and smoke detectors if sprayed too close to the detector.
Here are my favorite RV cleaning products.
Ask Dave
Which has better training to become Certified RV Technician: NRVTA or RVTI?
By Dave Solberg
Dear Dave,
What is the difference between NRVTA and RVTI? I have taken the NRVTA online training course. In the end, I would like to get to the point where I’m a certified tech. I would have to go to Texas to get certified with NRVTA, but it looked like I could possibly get certified online with RVTI. Let me know if this is correct. Thank you for your help. —Eric Read Dave’s answer.
In the RV shop with Dustin
How often do dump valve cables break? Should I be worried?
By Dustin Simpson
If you have questions, we have answers! Here is a sample from one of our past Talkin’ RV Tech shows where one of our viewers shares their concern about their dump valve cables breaking. Continue reading and watch the video.
Video of the day
Endless RVing’s top five favorite campgrounds
By Cheri Sicard
Izzy and MJ of Endless RVing (one of the winners of our 2024 RV video awards) visit A LOT of campgrounds. They try to visit a new campground every time they RV. In this video, they share their top five best campgrounds out of all they visited.
Featured article
Proper care of tires is NOT rocket science
By Roger Marble
Looking at some posts and questions on various RV forums, it seems that some folks think that proper care of tires is as complex as rocket science. While I will admit I can get very wrapped up when talking about tires, I do try to be reasonable, as I believe that if the instructions are too complex, detailed, or long-winded, some folks will throw up their hands and give up. I definitely do not want you to give up. Here are four basic things I think every RV owner should do. These are probably the biggest “bang for the buck” actions you can take to avoid having a tire “blowout.”
You may have missed these recent popular stories…
- Two fast and easy winter RV mods to help you stay warmer
- RVing has become the experience campers once sought to avoid
- There’s a switch hiding in your furnace that could cost you $200 to push!
- New, updated driving laws going into effect in 2025
Reader poll
Which of these would you prefer for a quick snack?
Quick tip
Easier RV bed making—Tile it!
Putting a fitted sheet on a mattress is made infinitely easier when you can slide the mattress out away from the wall. Unfortunately, many RV beds are on unfinished plywood platforms. These platforms snag the mattress if you attempt to slide it, making it difficult to move. By installing some peel and stick tiles on the platform, you can eliminate the snagging issue and make sliding your mattress a breeze. Don’t worry, though—the mattress does stay in place while you’re sleeping. From doityourselfrv.com
On this day last year…
- Ask Dave: Our rig fills with sewer smells and there’s a vacuum when dumping. Why?
- Video: RVing the Outer Banks in NC: Wild horses and beachfront camping
- Featured article: Do idyllic campsites exist? Yes, and they’re not hard to find
Website of the day
Soak Your Winter Blues Away in America’s Most Beautiful Natural Hot Springs
If eyes could drool they would at all these photos. We want to go to all these hot springs, especially now in winter!
?? MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY ??
Oooooh, this looks nice! This looks very nice! And we bet it would feel nice, too! And you’d never have to pay to get one of these done again! Check it out.
Recipes of the day
Bold and flavorful curry recipes to warm your soul
This is the perfect time of year for a delicious curry dish, and these are no exception. Warm yourself up and get cozy with one of these recipes. And maybe think about doubling the recipe so you can have the rest as leftovers. Yum!
Trivia
The Prohibition Era’s most successful enforcement officers made their arrests posing as… what? Police officers! Yup! Izzy Einstein and Moe Smith were the most successful Prohibition Era enforcement officers. They were responsible for nearly 5,000 arrests between 1920 and 1925. Their secret? Honesty! They’d walk right up to speakeasies and announce they were police officers looking for a drink. Bouncers and bartenders thought it was a gag. After all, what kind of officer would walk right up and announce themselves like that? The two officers would walk in, order a round of drinks, take a sip, and sneak the rest of the drink into bottles in their overcoats to serve later as evidence. Done deal!
Readers’ pet of the day
“JoGo (Japanese Bob Tail) is a world traveler—spent 12 1/2 years of his 13 on a sailboat. Starting in Alameda, CA, to Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama, Cartagena Colombia, Honduras, Guatemala, Belize, and ending in New Orleans.” —Chuck Taylor
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
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.
Oh, and if you missed the Latest News for RVers, make sure to catch up here.
If you shop at Amazon.com we’d appreciate you using this link. We get an itty bitty commission if you buy something, but they add up and help us pay our bills (most importantly our hard-working writers!).
RVtravel.com All-Star Team
Click here for information about our staff and how to contact us.
Re: Quick Tip; it works!
I like it. We’re going to do it, even though we have sufficient access to both sides of the bed when making it.
But how much weight would it add?
Almost nothing. Thin vinyl squares about 1 ft square.
I applied a couple coats of clear polyurethane to the plywood deck, it’s smoother now and easier to slide the mattress, and still looks factory original.
An even better tip Old Wrench, thanks.
The link in 5 campgrounds tells you that you must sign in to prove you are not a bot, at least in both my attempts to view the video. It leaves me wondering if this publication is just thrown together or if the staff checks for “quality control” issues before putting each edition on the web.
Sorry you are are personally having problems. I did not have an issue on any of the links. Subsequently, I don’t think the staff is at fault.
I had no issue, either. You may need to try a different browser if your device supports it.
Re: Quick Tip; as an alternative purchase one of the ‘cloth’ paint drop cloths. The linen like fabric breaths (less chance for mold) but is water resistant and protects the mattress from wood fibers. I blind stapled mine at the head and wrapped around the other 3 sides and stapled from the bottom. When stapled, you can slide the mattress about the same way you can on tile.
Thank you, Emily and Diane! I had no trouble opening the link to the video that Cheri cited today. 🙂 The mystery product was intriguing, but a bit more expensive than was my interest. Have a great day and weekend, and safe travels! 🙂
It is a shame that the author of the five best campgrounds has evidently never been west of the Mississippi.
Favorite snack~a cookie! Oh if I could eat just one! LOL and don’t get me started about what happens if I eat some ice cream.
OMG … I printed every one of those recipes. Pretty soon I’ll be making an RV Travel recipe book — but THANK YOU. They look DELICIOUS!
Chuck, my sister was also a blue-water sailor and took her cat with her all the way from Vancouver, B.C. to the Fiji Islands.
Per the hot springs in Truth or Consequences, no way am I getting in 115 degree water.