Issue 2573
Today’s thought
“Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for.” ―
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Weatherperson’s Day! Thank you, meteorologists!
On this day in history: 1971 – Astronauts land on the moon in the Apollo 14 mission.
ROAD FOOD: The Super Bowl is quickly approaching, and Denny’s has a special deal! From today, February 5, to Tuesday, February 11, Denny’s guests can score $10 off any $30 order for dine-in or take-out meals at participating restaurants by first visiting here.
Tip of the day
Awning tear? Fix it yourself
By Gail Marsh
After almost a week of overcast skies, the sun finally appeared. I was excited to finally unfurl our RV awning! Out, out, out it went. And then… you guessed it! An awning tear. Sunlight glinted through the small rip, confirming my distress. A tear. Now what?
Well, you have to find the right fix for your awning… I knew that the small tear had the potential to become a bigger rip and also a bigger problem. So, I got right to work.
RV review
This Vibe travel trailer is anything but traditional
The 2025 Vibe 2400RB redefines the typical travel trailer. While “RB” often signals a “Rear Bath,” this RV surprises with a “Rear Bar” layout that’s both creative and functional. Forest River’s Vibe series targets RV enthusiasts seeking something different. Here’s what sets this model apart as explained by Josh Winters (Josh the RV Nerd) in this video tour. If you don’t have time to watch the video, the article below it sums things up. Click here to read and watch.
Ask Dave
RV’s hot water lines aren’t working. Could water heater tank be frozen?
By Dave Solberg
Dear Dave,
During a winter storm in Alabama, the hot water stopped flowing in my motorhome. I assume the hot water tank is frozen. I assume the water heater needs to be turned off since I assume no water flows in tank. Forums are vague on this issue. I turned it off, as I didn’t want to start a fire. —Vicky, 2024 Jayco Precept 31UL Read Dave’s response.
In the RV shop with Dustin
Should RVers treat the black tank with anything other than “normal” chemicals?
By Dustin Simpson
An RV owner in one of our Facebook groups wrote, “We had the unfortunate experience of our black tank being full when we were at a site. Figured we’d just hook up, go dump and resume our stay… Unfortunately, the gremlins blocked up our black tank sensors, and we couldn’t dump, so we figured the weekend was over and took our baby home. Once it’s cleaned out, is there anything I should be treating the tank with besides the normal chemicals?” I replied…
Video of the day
Bambi vs. Basecamp—Which tiny Airstream is better?
By Cheri Sicard
In the video below, New Jersey’s Colonial Airstream compares two tiny, iconic Airstream trailers. It’s the Bambi vs. Basecamp showdown! Both trailers are tiny and easy to tow, both are constructed with riveted aluminum, and both are only 16 feet long. OK, the Bambi is 1-inch longer. However, there are differences, advantages, and disadvantages to each.
Angry Mama steam cleans your microwave in minutes!
Just add vinegar and water to the Angry Mama microwave steam cleaner and watch her make your microwave appear brand-new! Simply place her in the microwave for a few minutes and then easily wipe away all the gunk—no elbow grease required, it comes right off! She might be angry, but she gets the job done! Learn more or order for a great price.
Featured article
Scrubba Bag—Laundry washboard in a bag for quick washes
By Cheri Sicard
Here is an RV gadget that will be of enormous interest to some solo travelers, boondockers, and van lifers, and be of zero interest to others. The Scrubba Bag portable “washing machine” can help you clean a few pieces of laundry (say, a T-shirt, socks, and underwear) anywhere. Continue reading.
Reader poll
Have you recently quit associating with someone because of differing political beliefs?
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
Eating healthy despite limited food storage space
One common reason that RVers especially have trouble staying healthy on the road is the lack of storage. Find recipes with fewer ingredients and that use fewer pots. You can search Google for “one-pot recipes” or “5-ingredient meals,” for example. Or, use an Instant Pot! You throw everything in one pot and can have dinner ready in under 30 minutes, which is especially great on long travel days! As for not having enough food storage space, we recommend only buying enough groceries for three to four days at a time. From followyourdetour.com.
By the way, RVers can buy in bulk. Learn how to save money here.
On this day last year…
- Ask Dave: My RV awning is leaking. Is there a waterproofing product I can use?
- RV review: Captivating couple’s camper—Keystone Cougar 25FKD
- RV electricity: Is reverse polarity on a 30-amp outlet dangerous?
- Featured article: Two options to refill propane; one is a rip-off
Website of the day
FBI Kidnappings & Missing Persons
We highly recommend you keep an eye on this page. As constantly traveling RVers with our eyes all over the country, we have a good chance of bringing some of these people home.
? MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY ?
Y’all cowboys and cowgirls are going to love this! We could have used it as our laugh of the day, too. It’s funny!
Recipes of the day
Tasty and easy chicken salad recipes for easy lunches
Chicken salad is yummy, filling and nutritious and it’s a quick, easy lunch for RVers on the go. Make one of these recipes ahead of time and you’ll have lunch ready in minutes. We put together a few unique chicken salad recipes here for you. Enjoy!
Trivia
Campers who earn more than $100,000 a year are twice as likely to not show up for a reserved campsite than campers with incomes less than $50,000. —The Dyrt
Readers’ pets of the day
“Willie and Callie (Lab mix and Bearded Collie) keeping watch at Fountain of Youth, Niland, CA. Great friends!” —William Brogan
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
“I think men who have a pierced ear are better prepared for marriage. They’ve experienced pain and bought jewelry.” —Rita Rudner
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
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Everyone has their own right to vote for whoever they want to. We all have to live with it. You will find out if you made a bad decision or not. It’s not worth losing a friend or family member over political beliefs. The same with Religion.
Lost a real close friend before the 2020 election. He posted a meme on facebook of a dog taking a dump with a man with his mouth open waiting to catch it. The man was labeled “Democrat”. He knew I was a lifelong Democrat. I replied to his post “Thanks for letting me know where I stand”, thinking he might say sorry he got carried away, but no. We vacationed as couples in Hawaii, took a cruise together, and played cards many times at each other houses. Nothing but silence since then…..
The trivia is so true. Those are the ones that reserve sites in multiple campgrounds for the same dates and then pick the nicest or most convenient without cancelling the others.
This is one reason some campgrounds are upfront charging the full stay and not refunding anything without a 48 hour notice. Even then, only a partial refund.
Regarding todays poll question:
My father told me when I was in my early teens, around 1955, that if you wanted to remain friends and stay married, not to discuss or argue the following 3 things.
Religion, Politics or Money
I have found that this is probably the best advice he ever gave me and I have passed this advice onto my children and grand children.
I am in cardiac rehab three times a week. There are about 10 people at a time in the room. They have multiple signs posted to refrain from any political conversations.
Blood pressures are high enough without adding any fuel to the fire.
My condition is minor compared to some of the others.
Religion, Politics, or Money – Maybe add Sports Teams to that, or for some it may fall under Religion. I get along with everybody because I have no opinions, however, don’t ask me what I think.
I can say, be very skeptical of any poll that does not have any way to test or verify its accuracy.
Hi, Kevin. Yep, we have to be skeptical of everything these days, and getting more so every day, unfortunately. I think our polls are pretty accurate indicators of where our readers stand, especially since they can only vote once per poll. Have a great day. 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
The Poll – There’s an adage stating you should remove negative people from your life. Discussing these things identifies those who are causing stress/anxiety in your life. If you can’t educate them, eliminate them. Life’s too short.
Wow! Hope your family members always agree with you. I’m sure they would be terribly upset to be eliminated.
Kind of how Cults work huh? Seperate from family, disconnect friends, only converse with other cultists.
?
Richard sounds kind of drastic with his solution…
I’d like to think we need differing opinions as long as people can stay civil & just converse in a mature manner. Sadly alot of people (on both sides of the political spectrum) have sunk to name calling & just plain meanness. I have only backed away from one friend for her differing views & that was only because that was all she could talk about & she berated me for my views. I have several much loved family members that disagree with me, we just agree to disagree & talk about other things. Life is too short, yes, but it is also too short to shut out everyone just because they don’t have the same view as you. I think we can all learn from one another.
Are you saying? : “Stay away from negative people, They have a problem for every solution.” – Albert Einstein I too agree with this in principle, except for Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners.
Loved today’s thought of the day, again today. It really sums it up. Within the context of career choices, I have always told the young people in my life to chase happiness first and money second. The money will find you if your happy and it will elude you if your not, no matter the chosen vocation. Possibly not true but it’s a good starting point.
Excellent advice, Cancelproof! Both DW and I opted for what we “thought” we liked, if not loved. But, by the time we realized our errors, the money had gotten so good and the work doable, so we stuck it out until we could both retire. Ultimately made for a great retirement. Safe travels! 🙂
I’m wondering what today’s poll has to do with RVing.
As we always say, RVers are humans too. We often include polls that aren’t about RVing. Imagine if you could only talk to other people about RVs? It would get a little boring after a while, don’t you think? We try and keep everything as RV-related as possible, but sometimes we go off track to keep things interesting. 🙂 Happy and safe travels, HappyCamper. –Emily
Hmmm, I think you are right. There is probably at least one human in each RV, isn’t there? lol
I wish our dog were as well-behaved as your pack, William! May you have many wonderful miles and trips together! Thank you Emily and Diane! As to losing friends to politics, they tend to remove themselves if it happens. Love the mystery product and, if I can figure out where to put it (House? RV? Where?), then I will lobby for it. I don’t know how informed Rita Rudner is. When I had my ear pierced, it felt much like being pinched, so little pain and only briefly. 😉 Have a great day and safe stays!
Today’s poll: No. But it appears other family members have.
Sorry to hear that Wayne. I choose family & friends over politics. Wishing the best for you.
Actually, she had such a severe case of TDS that she declined to maintain the years-long friendship. I stopped trying after awhile.
I left a church because of political beliefs. The church was great and all but several members just ruined it for me. If they ever ask why I will tell them. I do not need the stress. I want the message not their political beliefs.