Issue 2679
Today’s thought
“Don’t wait for a light to appear at the end of the tunnel, stride down there and light the bloody thing yourself.” ―
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Eat Your Beans Day!
On this day in history: 1819 – The Bank for Savings in the City of New-York, the first savings bank in New York City, opens.
Tip of the day
Clean your RV window screens without water
By Jim Twamley
Jim Twamley’s writings were a favorite among our readers for many years. Jim’s health finally forced him to “hang up the keys,” but we like to dip into the archives and pull out pertinent “oldies” to share. Here’s one of them:
To thoroughly clean my RV window screens I remove them and wash them with soap and water. But if they are merely dusty, a microfiber towel will do a great job without using water. Simply wipe the dry towel across the surface of the screen and it will pick up the dust. I couldn’t believe how easy it was to clean the screens the first time I tried it. You can see the difference here.
Ask Dave
RV’s furnace blows warm air only. What should I check?
Dear Dave,
My RV’s furnace is blowing warm air, not hot air like it used to. The propane tank is full; stove, fridge, water heater work fine. Battery voltage is 13.2. When turned on, the fan starts and a few seconds later I can hear the burner ignite. What should I check first? Thanks. —Rick, 2010 Thor Four Winds Siesta Read Dave’s answer.
Article and video
The best stops on Route 66 in every state
By Cheri Sicard
Route 66, also called the Mother Road by John Steinbeck, traces a line of American history from Chicago all the way to the Pacific. Spanning eight states and crossing three time zones, this legendary highway shows off everything from Missouri’s towering woodlands to the sun-bleached ranchlands of Texas. Click here to read a breakdown and watch the video.
Take an extra 10% off a GhostBed luxury RV mattress!
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Featured article
Look inside a restored 1960 Spartan Carousel: A “Holy Grail”, mid-century marvel
By Paul Lacitinola
This 1960 Spartan Carousel recently took the Vintage Camper Trailers’ social media pages by storm. It captivated thousands of admirers who liked and commented on the photos. Dan Reiser built the unique trailer with a challenge—balancing the restoration of mid-century charm with the necessary upgrades for modern functionality. Check out this beauty.
Reader poll
Are you doing something special tomorrow for the 4th of July?
Quick tip
Time to defrost the fridge?
RV refrigerator seemingly not as cold as it should be? Open the fridge door and examine the cooling fins at the back of the compartment. If they’re coated with ice, it’s time to defrost. Shut off the fridge, remove the food to an ice chest with ice, insert a pan of warm water and close the door. Prepare to mop up the meltdown. Reload and restart. More info here.
On this day last year…
- Ask Dave: How much to tighten RV’s roof A/C mounting bolts each year?
- RV review: 2025 Jayco Granite Ridge 22T seems familiar
- Video: Mountain biker’s van conversion is magnificent
- Featured article: Thanks for the memories, RVing. Goodbye!
RANDOM RV THOUGHT: When using a public shower, like in a state park, always turn on the hot water before getting undressed. Sometimes, there will be no hot water. If it’s a chilly morning or evening you will feel pretty stupid standing there naked with nowhere to go. Of course, if you are brave and have the temperature tolerance of a polar bear, jump right in. Brrrrrrr. Good luck!
Website of the day
AARP Daily Crossword
As AARP says, “A crossword a day keeps the doctor away!” This is a good daily dose of entertainment, and it keeps your brain sharp. Have fun!
? MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY ?
It’s RV-sized and will absolutely change your life! Never let your RV, car, home (you name it!) feel dirty again!
And the survey says…
We’ve polled RVtravel.com readers close to 5,000 times in recent years. Here are a few things we’ve learned about them:
• 15 percent never ask for permission when they “camp” in Walmart parking lots.
• 31 percent currently have an extended warranty on their RV.
• 22 percent have stayed overnight in a Cabela’s parking lot at least once.
Recent poll: The RV laundry conundrum: Do you/would you remove unattended clothes from washer/dryer?
Trivia
Do microwaves cook food from the inside out? No. Microwaves penetrate the food to a depth of 1 to 1½ inches. In thicker pieces of food, the microwaves don’t reach the center. That area would cook by conduction of heat from the outer areas of the food into the middle. In a microwave oven, the air in the oven is at room temperature so the temperature of the food surface is cooler than food in a conventional oven, where the food is heated by hot air. Therefore, food cooked in a microwave oven doesn’t normally become brown and crispy.
Readers’ pet of the day
“Bentley (Boxer, age 11.5) is such a sweet pet. He never barks, loves to go camping, on boat rides, and walks.” —Joy Bazen
HELP! WE’RE LOW ON PET PHOTOS! 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!
Leave here with a laugh
Today’s weather forecast across the nation
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RVtravel.com All-Star Team
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Bentley – sounds like you are a well seasoned traveler. I like that blue harness you’re sporting. Keep making memories with your people! Don
nice picture Chuck
Technically, microwaves do cook from the inside since there is no heat source on the outside.
The molecules vibrating produce the heat, which transfers to the inside.
The food actually cooks itself.
A conventional oven heats the outside of the food and that heat is transferred to inside by conduction.
Microwaves are good for some things…air fryers are better for most things.
Air fryers are usually too small and any fried foods is bad.
On cleaning screens…Swiffer Duster!
I always leave a couple of my frameless windows cracked open and a roof vent fan on when in storage. Of course, this attracts dust to the screen of the open windows on the outside. It’s hard to get to with the louvered window…but not for a Swiffer Duster. They work great on screens.
Bentley looks like a wonderful companion & a perfect camping buddy. Pretty boy! Enjoy your time with him Joy.
Thank you, Emily and Diane! I like mystery product. We probably should get one for occasional use. Happy Independence Day! Have a great day and safe travels!