Issue 2700
Today’s thought
“Lack of direction, not lack of time, is the problem. We all have 24-hour days.” ―Zig Ziglar
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Raspberry Cream Pie Day!
On this day in history: 1893 – Henry Perky patents shredded wheat.
HAPPY AUGUST! DID YOU KNOW? In the original 10-month Roman calendar, August was the sixth month with 30 days and was originally named Sextilis.
Tip of the day
Yes, you can do laundry in the RV without a sewer hookup
By Nanci Dixon
We are lucky to have a washer and dryer onboard. We use it frequently when connected to full hookups. This year, due to poor planning and crowded campgrounds, we moved frequently and seldom had full hookups. Most of the time, we had electric hookups, but only sometimes did we have water.
As I watched the laundry basket pile grow taller and taller, I knew we definitely needed to wash at least a few things. We were hooked up to water, and I realized that there was enough room in the gray tank to run a load or two of clothes. Here’s how I did a load.
Ask Dave
What is the proper exterior maintenance for a fiberglass RV?
Dear Dave,
We have ordered an Escape trailer; it will arrive in October. What is the proper care and cleaning of the fiberglass exterior? And how often should the exterior be cleaned and “recoated” (polished)? As with many RV opinions and advice, they are many and varied. Thanks! —Michelle, 2025 Escape E23 Read Dave’s answer.
In the RV shop with Dustin
How to rinse sediment from an RV water heater
Rinsing sediment from an RV water heater is an essential maintenance task to ensure its proper functioning and longevity. Sediment can accumulate in the bottom of the tank over time, which can reduce the heater’s efficiency and potentially cause damage. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to rinse sediment from an RV water heater.
Article and video
Six reasons campgrounds might deny you a reservation
By Cheri Sicard
Getting a campground reservation denied can hit like a poorly timed summer storm. Many RV owners assume it’ll never happen to them… until they’re at the gate with bags packed, their dog ready, and dreams crushed. For those who’ve ever felt rejected, it might help to know you’re not alone. Denials are more common than most people expect, and for some pretty surprising reasons.
RANDOM RV THOUGHT: A hard rain pounding on a roof can make a lot of noise inside an RV. Most RVers like the sound. It reminds them that while it is nasty outside, they are cozy inside their small, portable house.
Featured article
No: Your RV’s outdoor lights are not okay, and they’re hurting your sleep!
By Tony Barthel
We’ve all seen them – more and more RVs being manufactured are coming with ever-brighter exterior lights and, according to some studies, this is a problem. In fact, based on the results of some studies, it’s actually a rather significant issue. Furthermore, it seems there’s a new trend of laying out LED strips under RVs. Oftentimes these colorful lights might look cool, but they definitely brighten up a site and shed pretty significant amounts of light into the adjacent sites. Continue reading.
You may have missed these recent popular stories…
- RV review: Forest River Arctic Wolf 3250SUITE—Priced right?
- Frugal RVing tips from RVtravel.com readers who know how to save on the road
- Take the weight off your RV water hose and power cord with this easy trick
- Uneven cooling in your RV? Simple trick might help
- National Park Service ranger training centers shut down without warning
Reader poll
How much of July did you spend in your RV?
BET YOU DIDN’T KNOW: A butt is a real unit of measurement for a cask of wine. A buttload is about 108 Imperial gallons.
Quick tip
Public Wi-Fi scam that can cost you big
Many RVers routinely use public Wi-Fi hotspots to connect to the internet. Be careful! Hackers can create fake hotspots mimicking hotel or fast food networks to intercept data, steal login credentials, or inject malware. Avoid networks with no password or suspicious names (like “Hotel_Lobby_Free”). If it’s not possible to confirm that the hotspot is legitimate, do not use it. If you know that free Wi-Fi is available at places like your hotel, coffee shop, or hospital, ask the front desk to confirm the right network.
On this day last year…
- Ask Dave: Soft start works great for RV’s roof A/C, but now TV is pixilated. Why?
- RV walk-through: The limited edition 2024 Cirrus 820 truck camper
- Video: Turn a minivan into a camper in just 15 minutes
- Featured article: Does tire pressure change with elevation?
Website of the day
7 of the Best National Parks for Seniors
Okay, 65-and-betters. These are the best national parks for you (well, according to some…). We think all NPs are for you, but these are some of the ones with wheelchair access, audio tours, accessible trails, and more.
? MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY ?
Well, if you ever wanted to have a wild dance party in your bathroom… this is where to start! Wowie! Actually, in all seriousness, this could really help you at a certain time…
Trivia
The most popular camping gear purchase is a flashlight.
Readers’ pet of the day
At the time of writing this, we are completely out of pet photos! Here’s a photo of my (Emily) dog, Astor (big ol’ Puerto Rican street dog mutt, age 10), on a recent camping trip in Washington, who will splash around as chaotically as a dying salmon in any river she can find. If you don’t send us photos of your pet, prepare to see many more photos of Astor! Hehe. —Editor Emily Woodbury, who is begging you for photos of your pet(s)!
Send us a photo of your pet here with a short description. No blurry photos and please do not submit your photo more than once. Thanks!
Leave here with a laugh
FINISHED READING THIS NEWSLETTER? Great! Now you can move on to yesterday’s brand-new Great RV Accessories newsletter. You’ll love it! Read it here.
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.
If you shop at Amazon.com we’d appreciate you using this link. We get an itty bitty commission if you buy something, but they add up and help us pay our bills (most importantly our hard-working writers!).
RVtravel.com All-Star Team
Click here for information about our staff and how to contact us.
Regarding the 10 year rule from your article…it would be helpful when you are commenting on new campgrounds/rv resorts in your newsletter to list if they have the 10 year rule. That way I know if the nifty new facility is worth me checking out.
Easiest way to find out is to call and ask..
Astor is adorable and I would love to see her again! I did, however, send a photo of our pets yesterday. I hope more readers send pet photos because they are a highlight of my morning every day.
I submitted a photo of my pet months ago and it was never used, and now you are telling us you’re out of photos. What happened to them?
Maybe you just missed the day that your photo was published? I submitted a couple, and they were both published within a week or two.
Hi, John, I have used every photo submitted except any photos that may have been blurry or duplicates. What was the name of your pet? I’ll take a look and see what happened. You can also submit it again or send it to me at editor@rvtravel.com. Thanks!
I submitted a photo of my cattle dogs and a brief description. It said access was denied. I hope you get it regardless.
I know you have said that you have little to no control over the advertising in RVT, but the pop-ups are now blocking the text as I try to read the articles. Reason #7 why I stopped reading RVT every day.
Dan, get Duck Duck Go browser, or one of the others like it.
Surfing the web is SO much better since I quit using Google or Microsoft browsers! You’ll still see a few ads, but none of the annoying popup stuff that blocks what you are reading or starts talking or playing music, etc. This newsletter is nearly ad free for me.
Use the Brave or Safari browser. Stay away from Chrome or anything google.
I submitted a photo last week. Is your link working. Maybe you just needed an excuse to post Astor. But, he’s a beautiful boy. No excuses necessary.
I hope Astor isn’t offended by being called a boy….
Astor looks like a seriously intelligent and playful doggie. Thanks for sharing and hearing more about this fur baby would be a real pleasure.
Anytime you use public WiFi you should use a VPN connection.
Thank you, Emily and Diane! Great picture of Astor, Emily. Won’t cry if you give us a diet of Astor pictures. 😉 Love the mystery product, but will leave it to others. The laugh of the day is great; very creative on the part of someone. Have a great day and safe travels!
I knew a butt was a measurement of volume, but thot it to be about a 55 gal drum but now know that a 55 gal drum is closer to a hogshead which is half of a butt (126 gal) or 63 gallons. Having worked on a hog farm I should have realized that a hogshead is about half the size of a hog’s butt. As to RVing, I now know how much my black tank holds.
How much, Kelly? I didn’t realize it took farming and all of that math to figure it out.🤔😉 Have a good night. 😀 –Diane