Issue 2560
Today’s thought
“Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless.” ―
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Hot Buttered Rum Day!
On this day in history: 1920 – Alcohol Prohibition begins in the United States as the Volstead Act goes into effect.
Tip of the day
How to start your vehicle when your key fob battery dies
By Gail Marsh
Modern technology is a marvel—until it isn’t. Recently a gal in our campground discovered that the battery in her key fob had died.
As a traveling nurse, she was anxious to get to work. Not only did she need to get into her locked car, but she also needed the key fob to engage the vehicle’s push-button starter. This gal needed some tips for when a key fob battery dies.
If your car’s key fob has a dead battery, starting your vehicle is still possible with a few simple steps. Here’s what you need to know…
Bonus RV review
If you’re reading today’s issue, you’re in luck! You get a bonus RV review!
Excellent trailer for half-ton towing: 2025 Jayco Jay Flight 225MLS
Looking for a travel trailer that suits couples or solo travelers who want space without being oversized? The 2025 Jayco Jay Flight 225MLS might do the job. It’s compact yet feature-packed and very suitable for RVers towing with a half-ton truck. Its design combines a true queen bed, generous storage, and modern conveniences, all within a manageable size and weight. Check out the full walkthrough in this video from Josh the RV Nerd.
Ask Dave
When lubing an RV’s slide out, should the gear rack be lubed?
By Dave Solberg
Dear Dave,
I have read numerous articles concerning how to lube slide out mechanisms. Some say to avoid lubing the gear rack on the bottom and others say to definitely lube the gear rack as it could be a source of squeaks and other noises. So, once and for all, should the gear rack be lubed when lubing the slide out? Thank you. —Richard, 2018 Heartland Bighorn Read Dave’s answer.
NOTE: If you’re in the Boston area this weekend, be sure to attend Dave’s seminars at the New England RV Supershow, where you will learn and laugh a lot (guaranteed). And if you’re near Nashville, TN, this weekend, catch RVtravel.com’s longtime reader and very frequent (and always positive) commenter Neal Davis at his informative seminars at the Nashville RV Show. Don’t forget to stop by to tell Dave and Neal “Hi” while you’re there.
In the RV shop with Dustin
Keep your RV looking fresh and new with 303 Aerospace Protectant
By Dustin Simpson
Want to protect your RV from harsh elements and keep it looking new? In this article and video, we’ll show you how 303 Aerospace Protectant can be a game-changer in maintaining the vinyl, rubber, and plastic surfaces of your RV. Learn how this product can help you prevent fading, cracking, and stains while extending the lifespan of your RV’s exterior and interior. Click here to learn more.
Video of the day
How to maintain a trailer hitch, ball, and trailer coupler
By Cheri Sicard
In the invaluable video below, Ross from RV Tips & Travels clears up confusion about how to maintain your travel trailer hitch, ball, and coupler. Ross correctly points out that you will get different advice on this depending on who you talk to. So, instead of depending on hearsay, he spoke to five popular RV hitch manufacturers to get the real scoop.
Keep your fridge and cupboards in order when you travel
Tired of stuff moving around in your RV’s fridge and cupboards after a day of driving? Here’s the solution. Camco’s spring-loaded RV Double Refrigerator Bar will keep your items in place. (The RVtravel.com staff uses a pair of these in their RV!) Learn more or order.
Featured article
Visit two highways that sing to you as you drive!
By Gail Marsh
Call me a skeptic, but really? Highways that sing? Yes, it’s true! The original concept came back in 1995 when two Danish artists invented the Asphaltophone: a series of raised pavement dots spaced apart in varying intervals to create different sounds as a vehicle drives over them at a specific speed. In other words, orchestrated rumble strips. Continue reading.
You may have missed these recent popular stories…
- A propane near-disaster serves as important reminder
- Letter to the Editor: Anyone else flush their toilet like this?
- U.S. state implements campground demand-pricing. Will others follow?
- RVers’ pet peeves? Dogs! ‘RV industry needs a chain of no-dogs-allowed RV parks’
OH, AND DON’T MISS YESTERDAY’S BRAND-NEW GREAT RV ACCESSORIES NEWSLETTER! Click here to read.
Reader poll
Where do you stand politically?
PREVIOUS POLL
HOW OFTEN DO OUR READERS KISS THEIR PARTNER?
What percent of them kiss their partner “a few times a day”? About 22, 41 or 58 percent? Find out here.
Quick tip
Maintain your equalizer hitch: Change the chains
Probably one of the least-thought-of maintenance items for the travel trailer crowd is keeping an eye on your weight distribution hitch. But think about it: Every turn you make, the chain links at both the spring bars and at the lift assembly “wear” a little bit. After a few years, those points can fail, leaving you in a dicey position. So, recommends longtime RVer and RVtravel.com reader/tip contributor George B., it’s wise to replace the EQ chains and the U-bolts that go through the spring bars. Says George: “I know when I had my travel trailer I found the links, especially at the spring bar ‘U’ bolts, were half worn through. Kind of scary.” Thanks, George, for helping us keep safe from the weak link!
On this day last year…
- Tip: Tips for optimizing and organizing your RV refrigerator
- Ask Dave: Sewer smell in RV and vacuum question update, comments, and a possible solution
- RV review: 2024 Forest River Cherokee Black Label 256RRBL fifth wheel—no slideouts!
- In the RV shop with Dustin: Holding tank treatments to help make your RV lifestyle more enjoyable
- Video: 5 ways around the RV 10-year rule
- Featured article: Best demonstration of travel trailer sway danger
Website of the day
Find Free Food and Groceries
If you need help getting food or groceries, Feeding America can help. Put in your current area’s ZIP code and find a food bank near you.
? MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY ?
Just when we thought we’d seen them all, we find one we’ve never seen before! And, actually, all these are quite cute…
Recipes of the day
Delicious pepperoni recipes that aren’t pizza
Pepperoni, anyone? Yes, please! In the mood for something ooey, gooey, cheesy and pepperoni-ey that isn’t pizza? We’ve got you covered. All these recipes include all of those things, but they’re not pizza! Check them out.
Trivia
Have you ever said a word so many times over and over again that it starts to sound REALLY weird and lose its meaning? If you’ve had this happen, you experience semantic satiation. Parts of your brain can, in fact, become overstimulated causing temporary exhaustion. When you say a word over and over and over again, you tire out that part of your brain and your verbal centers become inhibited. Interesting, huh?
Readers’ pet of the day
“Audrey Cricket (Shih Tzu/Yorkie/Maltese/Papillon?) came to us as a tiny, shy, injured stray in 2010. She lost a rear leg from the injury, but her spunk never wavered. She has been traveling full-time with us since 2020 and has been to 42 states and both coasts. The Pacific Ocean is behind her here as we explored the Oregon coast last spring.” —Kristine Steiner
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
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RVtravel.com All-Star Team
Click here for information about our staff and how to contact us.
Audrey Cricket is adorable! I’m sure she’s made lots of friends on your travels.
Thanks! She loves meeting new people!
Found this story.
RVer’s campsite model railroad keeps campers smiling
Said link below to view train. Nothing below story associated with that story.
I like model trains.
Hi, Kevin. I’m not sure why you don’t see the video under the text, but here’s a link to the post with the video in it. Hopefully you can see the video there. I hope that works for you. Have a great day. 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
It wasn’t there for me to see it either..
Looked like a fun project, thanks for the link
Weird. Well, I hope you can see the video via the link I added in my reply to Kevin. Plus, I’ve gone into the post this was included in and added the link to the original post for others who may not be able to see it. I hope that works. Have a great day, Bill. 😀 –Diane
That’s how I found it, Diane! Thank you for the tweak! Have a great weekend and glorious walks! 🙂
You’re welcome, Neal. Have a good night. 😀 –Diane
Good night, Diane! 🙂
“Maintain your equalizer hitch: Change the chains” better yet dump the old style chain junk and get a Fast-way equalizer hitch…no chains…no gimmicks.
We use egg cartons to stabilize the refrigerator and cupboards. Rip off a few cups so they exactly fit the space between the ever changing contents. Every week or so we get a new one to refresh our collection, free!
I’m glad that there was no way to leave comments in “Where do you stand politically” It would have brought out some nasty uncalled for responses! Snoopy
Interesting poll but I think we already knew the results.
That would only have been because the “truth hurts”!
Leave with a chuckle. We complain about the build quality of our rvs but what would we do everyday without something to fix or replace?😂
I’ve used the Camco 34″ Double RV Refrigerator Bars not only in the refrigerator, but the work really well to secure the toaster and coffee maker on a counter but mounting the bars vertically using the counter and shelves above. After 30K+ miles of travel, we’ve never had appliances fall off the counter. Also, using the same vertical mounting for floor level drawers that have in the past came open as we traveled and blocked slide outs. They’re a great invention but can be used for more than just refrigerators.
Ref: Camco Fridge bars. I bought adjustable kitchen curtain rods at Walmart. They do the same thing and you can use as many as you need, and they are easier to store most anywhere.
Audrey Cricket is sooo precious and cute! She is why so many RVers enjoy their Trailers and Motorhomes, taking their wonderful pets on exciting adventures together!
Today’s trivia:
I think hearing a word or phrase over and over tends to make people tiresome or at least it’s non-impactful to them. Especially words or phrases that are intended to illicit a response or persuasion.
To me, words like “unprecedented” or “historic” have little to no meaning to me due to the fact that they are overly used and often used incorrectly. There are other words or terms that get used so much and incorrectly that they grate on me.
I seldom read or watch or listen to a news program without hearing the words “historic” and “unprecedented” often used more than once.
Your mileage may vary but once I hear them, I move on to something else.
another is “one of”. I want to ask one of 10, or one of 200, one of 1000. Just “one of” many meaningless terms
Thank you, Emily and Diane! Guess Friday is a slow day for Nashville’s RV shows. Low attendance (<10) in all seminars but Alaska and it had 15-20. Sadly, no current RV Travel subscribers announced their presence. Love Audrey's fierce demeanor in the picture, Kristine! I hope that you share many more RV adventures in the future. Have a great weekend and safe travels! 🙂
I hope things pick up tomorrow, Neal. And I hope folks stop by to say “hi” to you after your seminars. We posted about your and Dave’s seminars in today’s and tomorrow’s newsletters, in addition to mentioning them on our list of RV shows. I’m sure the attendance at your seminars will increase, especially as more people attend the RV shows and also as more get to know you. Before you know it you’ll have groupies like Dave!👍 Good luck with the rest of your seminars this weekend. Have a good night.🤗 –Diane
Thank you for the encouragement, Diane! I am confident that you are right. Many likely don’t return to work until Monday. I did make a “shameless endorsement” for RV Travel as a great source of RV information at the end of each of my four seminars. Hopefully you get at least 2 or 3 new subscribers, maybe more. Thanks again and good night! 🙂
Thanks for the endorsements, Neal! We truly appreciate them. BTW, I went for my walk at the track a little while ago. 32 degrees and icy. So we walked just inside the track on the grass. A little crunchy but not so scary. (My bones break very easily.🙁) Take care. 🤗 –Diane
You are very welcome, Diane. It was the least I could do, given all I have learned from reading the newsletters over the years. 32° F is chilly and ice nothing to be trivialized. The good thing about our driveway being gravel is if we get ice, it likely will be textured and thereby some less slick because of the irregularity of tbe underlying surface. Glad you could get on the grass and no fencing impeded you. SAFE walks! 🙂
Audrey Cricket is just about the cutest pup I’ve seen. I love her ears 🙂 Sounds like she is a tough little cookie too. Enjoy her & your travels.