Issue 2696
Today’s thought
“If you don’t know where you are going, you’ll end up someplace else.” —Yogi Berra
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Milk Chocolate Day! Do you prefer milk chocolate or dark chocolate?
On this day in history: 1896 – The city of Miami is incorporated.
Tip of the day
Glowing gadget with many uses you’ll want for your RV
By Gail Marsh
One of my favorite things about camping is the ability to enjoy the outdoors—especially at night. I love looking up to see the stars, I love listening for owls and other nighttime sounds, and I like walking around the RV camp at night, too. It’s fun to see the hubbub of daytime activities settle down and gradually quiet for the night. I like sitting at a picnic table to feel the nighttime breeze as it cools the daytime temps.
What don’t I like? Having my outdoor porch light shining in my eyes. I also don’t care much for the mass of bugs that the porch light attracts. The problem is that if I don’t have my porch light on, I run the risk of bumping my shin on our RV steps or, worse, smacking my head on our RV slide-out! Yes, I can carry a flashlight (if I remember), but I’ve found something much easier…
More tips from this weekend…
- Frugal RVing tips from RVtravel.com readers who know how to save on the road
- Uneven cooling in your RV? Simple trick might help
- The do’s and don’ts of RVing with firearms
- Take the weight off your RV water hose and power cord with this easy trick
- How to safely charge your RV batteries with solar power
- How to prevent birds from pooping at your campsite
Ask Dave
Potential hazard: RV’s roof vent cutout found on fridge’s coils when replacing roof
Dear Dave,
You may recall that I wrote earlier this year asking about coating the new roof on my travel trailer. Thank you for that information. I wanted to share this photo of what the repair tech discovered in the refrigerator vent stack when he removed the old roof. This is the plywood cutout from the original factory roof that was simply dropped and left in the exhaust stack on top of the coils during construction. I feel fortunate that there wasn’t a fire as a result… Read the rest of Bruce’s question, Dave’s answer, and Bruce’s follow-up email.
In the RV shop with Dustin
RV slide out service tips and tricks
Join Dustin as he shares his go-to tricks for keeping RV slide outs clean, lubricated, and leak-free—including an easy air-blower hack you can do yourself. From the best tools and products to use, to what hidden parts often get overlooked, this guide will help you extend the life of your slide outs and avoid costly repairs.
Article and video
Every way to haul bikes with an RV: for trailers, 5th wheels and motorhomes
By Cheri Sicard
Today, we join Jason Epperson of RV Miles for a discussion of how to haul bikes with an RV. Jason says that too often, RVers neglect to consider how they will haul bikes and eBikes on their RV trips. Here, Jason shares options for hauling bikes if you have a motorhome or a trailer, so all bike lovers can benefit from giving it a watch.
RANDOM RV THOUGHT: An RV seems bigger when you are inside it than when you are outside it.
The latest news for RVers
- Starlink speeds drop as user count rises
- National Park Service ranger training centers shut down without warning
- Nearly a fifth of Michigan state parks see closures this season
- Rocky Mountain National Park releases more summer campsite reservations
- Starlink slaps Pacific Northwest users with $1,000 fee and 6-week hardware wait
To read more recent news, click here.
Featured article
Questionable RVing features: What were they thinking?
By Dave Helgeson
Have you ever wondered, “What were they thinking?” when you encountered a feature “designed” to enhance your RVing experience? My college years were spent earning a degree in architecture. My professors taught me and other students how form follows function. … This concept must be rather ingrained in me for when I encounter a poorly “designed” feature intended to support RVers in their travels I wonder, “What were they thinking?” or, more concisely, “What was the designer thinking?” … You won’t believe some of these RVing features Dave has encountered in his lifetime of RVing.
Reader poll
Pet owners: If given the chance, would you clone your pet?
Brand-new 2025 edition! The definitive guide to services along the Interstate
Since 1991, “the Next Exit” has been THE “go-to” directory to locate what businesses and services are at every Interstate exit in America. In this brand-new 2025 edition, learn what’s ahead, not behind you — fuel, food, campgrounds, rest areas, shopping, motels, hospitals, etc. Sometimes a GPS or smartphone isn’t best for this. Often, this is! Learn more or order.
Quick tip
A scam that can easily trick you
From restaurants to car parks and museums, QR codes are everywhere, and scammers know it. These criminals are now pasting over legitimate QR codes with fraudulent lookalikes that redirect users to phishing sites designed to steal payment information, login credentials or install malware. Avoid scanning QR codes found on paper stickers, random signs or lampposts. Before scanning, double-check the URL, looking for https (the “s” is important), and consider using mobile antivirus software.
Website of the day
Travel Nevada – Road Trips
There’s a lot more to Nevada than Las Vegas. It’s a beautiful state! This page on the Travel Nevada website tells you about amazing road trips you should add to your to-travel list (We recommend at least one trip across U.S. 50, “The Loneliest Highway in America”).
Trivia
Back in the 1930s, a “cool” thing was get your social security number tattooed on you! When the Social Security Administration was formed, identify theft was not a concern — the number was a way to help you apply for jobs, get your money, and that was about it. Most people just memorized the numbers, but some opted for a tattoo.
Readers’ pet of the day
“Bella (Bernadoodle, age 7) is a puppy mill survivor who was scared of everything, especially men. It has been a year and she is a totally different girl. Rescue dogs rock.” —Marianne Parker
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
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.
Answer to yesterday’s quiz about A.I photos Actually, all the photos were created with artificial intelligence. Notice that the man with the microphone has six fingers on his left hand. Too many fingers is often a give-away of an artificial image.
RVtravel.com All-Star Team
Click here for information about our staff and how to contact us.
Bella is a beautiful dog. I agree that rescue dogs rock. We think we are saving them, but it turns out they save us.
The laugh of the day was great. Who knew shoes had such emotion?
Exactly. All but one of our many dogs were adopted from a shelter. Amazing how quickly we adapted to each other.
Plus, they knew they now had a good home.
The last one we had ran around our yard when we brought him home, then went to the back door and waited for us to let him in.
Dark chocolate for me, Bill U. But I won’t pass up milk chocolate if there isn’t dark chocolate.
Bella – you definitely Rock! What a fortunate blessing for you and your people. Make a lot of RVing memories. Don
I think you have the Random RV Thought 180 degrees off. Ask someone that has been stuck inside one due to weather.
…or when standing outside with a rag and a can of wax….!
We had a dog that didn’t like men, except me. It was because the dog breeder had young girls taking care of the mother dog and puppies.
Last year, after owning our 2013 Sabre fifth wheel for 9 years, I removed the upper refrigerator vent to discover a vent opening approximately 3 inches from the top of the opening to the top of the plywood wallboard. Rather than cut out that section of plywood the manufacturer simply nailed the full sheet across the upper vent opening. I ripped that out to give full access to the vent. I’m surprised our fridge has not presented problems yet.
Good book: If You Don’t Know Where You’re Going, You’ll Probably End Up Somewhere Else: Finding a Career and Getting a Life, by David P. Campbell, 2007
Thank you for saving Bella, Marianne! I hope that you have many wonderful adventures together. Thank you, Emily and Diane! Have a great week and safe travels!
Nevada is a beautiful state! Skip Las Vegas and see the rest of our state.
We have a rehoused Bella, she was one when we got her. So happy your Bella found her way to you!
Bella is so beautiful! Thank you for rescuing her. She is one lucky pup. And you are totally right, rescue dogs do rock!! they are so awesome!
As for puppy mills there is a special place reserved for them which we won’t go into.