Issue 2673
Today’s thought
“Stuff your eyes with wonder. Live as if you’d drop dead in ten seconds. See the world. It’s more fantastic than any dream made or paid for in factories.” ―
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Catfish Day!
On this day in history: 1848 – A photograph of the June Days uprising becomes the first known instance of photojournalism.
Tip of the day
Using ketchup to clean your RV’s BBQ grill, plus other tips to keep it like new
By Gail Marsh
Everyone loves to use it, but very few of us like to clean it. What is it? A BBQ grill. This trusty workhorse helps RVers enjoy yummy burgers, steaks, and hot dogs all season long. And that’s exactly why we all need some tips, tricks, and hacks to easily clean our RV’s BBQ grill.
Even a top grill master can have trouble cooking on a dirty gas grill. Excess carbon deposits, burned-on food, and grease buildup all can cause a grill to heat unevenly. And no one wants to taste last night’s grilled fish when they bite into today’s veggie shish kabobs. Continue reading for these expert grill tips.
Ask Dave
Do I need to clean the tree pitch from RV roof before recoating?
Dear Dave,
I was planning on recoating the roof of my 5th wheel this year but I park it under fir trees and the top is loaded with pitch from the trees. (Shame on me for not covering it.) Would the recoat still be effective if I covered over the pitch? Or does it all have to be removed first? Any suggestions on how to remove all the pitch marks, if that’s what I need to do? (There are hundreds.) —Jim, 2013 Heartland Bighorn 3010RE Read Dave’s answer.
In the RV shop with Dustin
Kayak rack options for trucks and RVs
Hey, kayakers! I always get asked questions about transporting kayaks with an RV, which can be done using various rack systems designed to securely hold kayaks during travel. Here are a few of my favorites among the most popular RV and truck options.
RANDOM RV THOUGHT: When hitting the road for the day, before pulling out, don’t forget to double-check that the doors of your cupboards and refrigerator are closed. Otherwise, you could have a big mess on your hands.
Article and video
11 crucial tips for high-altitude camping
By Cheri Sicard
Life on the road brings all sorts of surprises, especially when exploring the mountains in an RV. Bob and Karri from Life Redesigned know this firsthand after three years of crossing the country from north to south and everywhere in between. Their latest adventures at Black Canyon National Park in Colorado inspired a list of the most important things every RVer should know about high-altitude camping. Altitude doesn’t just change the view; it affects everything you bring with you. RV engines, generators, appliances, and even your own camera notice when the air gets thin.
Featured article
RV tech reveals biggest RVer mistakes
By Nanci Dixon
What are some of the biggest RV mistakes that RVers make? I had the opportunity to ask our mobile tech that question when he had finished working on our RV. Dayton Hill, the owner of Coach Connection LLC in Red Bay, Alabama, has had years of experience both as an employee in every aspect at Tiffin Motorhomes and now with his own business as a mobile tech. These are the things he sees causing the most and biggest problems:…
Reader poll
Do you enjoy visiting “haunted” or spooky locations?
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
Quick tip
Don’t forget to check RV’s fluids before you leave
Bill L. weighs in on pre-pull-out checklists: “Before every run, whether an RV or towable, do we always check our fluids? We all know to check tires, lights, and brakes, but do we look under the hood? It’s easy to lose that habit and replace it with watching lights and messages from the amazing array of monitoring equipment. For the little time it takes to look at the tanks and pull the dipstick, we might avoid unscheduled camping on the shoulder or in a dealer’s repair yard.” Thanks, Bill!
On this day last year…
- Ask Dave: What SoftStartUSA product will work on my travel trailer?
- RV walk-through: 2025 Vanspeed Summit custom Class B camper van is impressive
- Video: 12-second RV mod is a brilliant swimsuit season hack
- Featured article: Reader inspires fun travel game while driving and exploring. Try it!
Website of the day
20 Best Trail Mix Recipes
Trail mix and summer go hand in hand, and now that it’s summer, it’s snack time! Check out these 20 recipes from The Pioneer Woman’s website for making trail mix at home. They’re easy and delicious!
? MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY ?
We’re not going to tell you which one of our staff members uses this, but let’s just say this thing will forever change the way you use the bathroom… (in the best way possible).
Trivia
The United States has the 5th highest cost of living in the world. It ranks behind Switzerland (#1), Singapore, Australia, and Hong Kong.
Readers’ pet of the day
“Rudy (Whippet, age 4) travels comfortably.” —Gary Smith
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
THIS MAP UPDATES TWICE A DAY
Visit Current National Radar Weather Map
Current fire and smoke map from AirNow
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RVtravel.com All-Star Team
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RV tech reveals biggest RVer mistakes. When I saw this, the first thing that came to mind was weight from overloading but it wasn’t on the list. Shows how much I know!
Rudy found the perfect spot, keep on camping!
cupboard door hint: check out the hair accessory section of the store for the big ‘bungie cord” hair tie loops. They are about 4-6″ when not stretched, but can stretch to almost triple that length – enough to loop opposing door pulls. For closed door pulls, loop through one pull back on itself and put a S hook on the other end for the opposing pull.
We use Velcro strapping. It comes in rolls that can be cut to fit.
Also use it on our water hose, shore power cord and TV cable.
Bungee balls in various lengths work amazing for securing cabinet doors.
Rudy knows how to relax!
thanks for sharing Gary.
Looking at the weather map every day, my heart always goes out to those in the red and yellow areas.
I knew instantly when I saw the Pic of ‘Rudy’ what she was…except I thought she was a Greyhound…………………Whippets are just miniature Greyhounds. Our ‘Layla’ (Greyhound) sleeps in odd positions all the time. Layla must lay on her back OR she not comfy yet. Rudy is Gorgeous
“Trivia: The United States has the 5th highest cost of living in the world. It ranks behind Switzerland (#1), Singapore, Australia, and Hong Kong.”
There are numerous ways to measure. Most sources I have looked at have the U.S. from 10th to 14th. You have to compensate for wages as well to have an accurate, meaningful rating.
Here is one source that does that:
https://www.worlddata.info/cost-of-living.php
That is quite a picture of Rudy, Gary! Amazing that he chooses such a positioning of his body. Perhaps he was transitioning to a more conventional one? DW is no fan of orange juice, but the laugh of the day may hold the key to increasing her consumption of OJ. 😉 Thank you, Emily and Diane! Always a pleasure, usually educational, and never a waste of time is every RV Travel issue. Have a great day and safe travels!