Issue 2718
Today’s thought
“Try a little harder to be a little better.” ―
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Peach Day!
On this day in history: 1955 – The first edition of the Guinness Book of Records is published in Great Britain.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS: The giant Hershey RV Show, America’s largest RV show, is coming in two weeks (Sept. 10-14) to Hershey, Pennsylvania. Get your tickets. It’s awesome!
Tip of the day
RV tech shares quick, helpful tips for RVers
RV technician James Douglas Sieling posted this on our RV Maintenance Advice Facebook group, and we thought it was worth sharing. Here’s what James wrote:
Hello everyone, hope all is well. Here are a few tips that popped into my head, and I just thought I’d share with you.
• Check the caulking on all your corners every 2-3 months, if not sooner, and cleanly remove any old caulking before putting more on.
• If you don’t like mice, don’t leave any food out. Even dog food and kids’ noodle, marshmallow, or popcorn art, for instance.
• Black tanks don’t hate toilet paper; they hate a lack of water. Continue reading James’ excellent quick tips.
Ask Dave
No anode rod in RV water heater. OK to install one?
Dear Dave,
I own an Entegra Coach 2025 that the manual says an anode rod is not required. I would like to install a Magnesium anode rod for hard water. Will it cause any issues? —Janet, 2025 Entegra Read Dave’s answer.
RANDOM RV THOUGHT: If you travel by motorhome and don’t pull another vehicle for local trips, consider bringing along a bicycle or two. They can be easily stored, either on a rack or in a storage compartment if they fold up. If you ever need a car, rent one. Enterprise will deliver to your campsite in many cases.
In the RV shop with Dustin
Battery fire serves as a maintenance reminder
Properly maintained deep-cycle batteries should last for six years or more. Unfortunately, some RV owners replace RV batteries every year or two. Extending battery life is not difficult—it just requires some basic care and maintenance.
Article and video
The pros and cons of a Class A motorhome
By Cheri Sicard
If you are considering buying a large Class A motorhome, watch this video first. In it, the team from Small Space Living breaks down the pros and cons of this type of RV so that consumers can make an informed decision on whether or not a Class A motorhome is right for them. So let’s check out the good, the bad, and the ugly about Class A motorhomes!
Featured article
Lesson learned: Double-check the campground address, or be sorry!
By Nanci Dixon
Making a reservation? Double-check the campground address! We had been traveling all day in heavy winds and my husband was tired. We finally found a campground close by, called them and set up a reservation for the night. I asked the address again and, although it didn’t seem quite right, I said “Thank you” and hung up. I immediately put the address in the GPS and quickly realized it was not a suburb of our city, but a whole other city! A city half the state away! Learn from Nanci’s mistake.
Reader poll
Will you attend a county or state fair this summer/fall?
Protect your RV’s slideout with this rubber seal lubricant
If you don’t take care of your slideout you’re asking for problems including costly water damage. This Thetford rubber seal lubricant prevents fading, cracking and deterioration. It cleans, conditions and shines, keeping seals flexible and protected from sunlight damage. Also use on door and window seals. The mineral oil product acts as a lubricant. Learn more or order.
• CURRENT WILDFIRE REPORT
• CURRENT SMOKE REPORT
Quick tip
Dealing with merging freeway traffic
Snayte has a viewpoint on ramp freeway merging. “I do not change my speed when a car is coming down the ramp. You have no way of knowing what they intend to do to merge. I maintain my speed and let them figure out if they want to speed up to get in front of me, or slow down to get behind. More than once I have been slowed to almost a stop while entering the freeway because a car in front of me and the car on the freeway were both slowing to let the other in. Meanwhile the car behind me is about to run into everyone because he is looking back for an opening to merge into.” Your thoughts or suggestions?
On this day last year…
- Tip: Why Moose and Elks lodges are the way to go for RVers
- RV walk-through: Tour the 2023 Holiday Rambler Vacationer 35GL luxury Class A motorhome
- Ask Dave: Found cause of RV fresh water tank leak after 4 years; out of warranty
- Video: Quick tip on how to keep an RV fridge cool, even on hot days
- Featured article: Incredible campground, sightseeing and history in Monument Valley
Website of the day
Preventing ticks on your pets
This page on the CDC’s website hosts a ton of information about keeping ticks off your pets. If you have a dog or cat who spends time outside, memorize this information!
? MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY ?
Ever heard of shoes that clean? Yep, when you wear them, they clean for you! Nope, we are absolutely not lying! Check it out.
Trivia
The Texas State Fair, held in Dallas, is the largest state fair in the U.S. It attracts more than 2 million visitors annually and features the iconic 55-foot-tall cowboy, “Big Tex.” The fair boasts one of the most iconic and historic Ferris wheels in the country: the Texas Star. Standing at 212 feet (64.6 meters) tall, it was the tallest Ferris wheel in North America from its debut in 1985 until 2013. The Texas Star provides fairgoers with breathtaking views of the Dallas skyline and the fairgrounds.
Readers’ pet of the day
“My daughter recently rescued this guy from our local shelter. The shelter named him Rufus the Goofus. He’s fit right into our family, making life interesting for us first-time dog owners.” —Shelley Siemers
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
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Current fire and smoke map from AirNow
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Move over for merging traffic if possible. Consider that the merging driver did not look for you.
Quick tip:
Most people coming down a ramp have no idea how to merge. They are driving much slower than the speed limit and expect traffic to slow for them.
But, the best way to eliminate a problem is to move to the right lane if possible.
Maybe in England? 😂
Whoops.
Just seeing if everyone was awake.
Maybe he meant ‘right’ as in ‘correct’? 😉
Rufus the Goofus is very happy looking, wonder why they named him Rufus the Goofus?
Snoopy
Sorry I put it in wrong area, can’t seem to find a way to move it!
Hi, Snoopy. I think if you want to move your comment, you can just copy it, then delete it, then paste it as a comment where you want it.🤞 Have a great day! 😀 –Diane
After decades and gazillions of miles riding motorcycles I always try to use the left lane anywhere traffic is merging onto the highway. Most of the ‘mergers’ are okay and cautious getting onto the highway, but there are too many that want to race to an open spot or else are intimidated by merging. Either way, the left lane is safer, as long as it is available.
Left lane bandit. I hope you get over after the on ramp.
“Quick tipDealing with merging freeway trafficSnayte has a viewpoint on ramp freeway merging. “I do not change my speed when a car is coming down the ramp. You have no way of knowing what they intend to do to merge. I maintain my speed and let them figure out if they want to speed up to get in front of me, or slow down to get behind. More than once I have been slowed to almost a stop while entering the freeway because a car in front of me and the car on the freeway were both slowing to let the other in. Meanwhile the car behind me is about to run into everyone because he is looking back for an opening to merge into.” Your thoughts or suggestions?
Absolutely!
That’s the exact reason when going through an area with a lot of on ramps, I drive in the 2nd lane (next to the slow lane) to avoid speeding up or slowing down. I try to maintain a set speed and driving in the 2nd lane pretty much allows that.
X2
I agree with the writer about merging. Keep a steady speed, OR move left if possible to do so without screwing up traffic that way. And keep your eyes open. I’ve had people drive right next to me in the merge lane and suddenly decide they are going to run out of lane and force their way over.
I grew up with the construction of I-75 and my driver’s ed instructor was big on teaching proper interstate driving. My spouse got her driver’s license in a town that had only 2 blocks near the courthouse and no parallel parking. She is in near panic mode every time she is on an interstate. Slow down as a courtesy to the merging vehicle forgetting what it does to the traffic behind you.
I live in 1.5 miles north of Philadelphia and in s/w Florida. Learned driving before I-95 was being built in Pennsylvania and now when I-75 is having major construction in Sarasota County. I don’t think that I will ever see a major interstate completed. But as far as merging, I only know my intentions and firstly maintain my speed, but if possible, I will merge/move into the center or left lanes when safely possible. Safe travels!
Most merging drivers see my HUGE RV and Toad so they either choose to speed up or some will slow down but there have been a few that were oblivious to the situation where I have had to get their attention with a very LONG blast of my air horns. Those brainless drivers will then have to slam on their brakes at the end of the ramp. You can’t fix STUPID!
Most folks have no idea how to use an on-ramp or what a yield sign means. To them they want you to get out of their way. I try to move to the left at least one lane to make room for them but that is not always possible. Then it is just maintain the speed of traffic and hope they are paying attention. 12′-6″ tall and 35 feet long does carry a certain intimidation factor.
I am 13′ tall and 65′ long (with toad). I agree, many of today’s drivers do not have a clue about how to merge safely, as many think they have the right of way. I too will move over if possible (which in today’s traffic is next to impossible) or maintain my speed. However, I have an air horn that will definitely get that person’s attention if I feel they are encroaching on my right of way.
The main reason I know how to merge, yield, use a roundabout, able to read ALL and obey traffic signs, rules and laws PLUS all there is to know about defensive driving, I chose to attend a Driver Education Class at my high school back in the early 60’s. That allowed me to get a NY Senior Driver’s License at the age of 17 instead of waiting until my 18th birthday. 99.99% of all drivers today never attend ANY such driver training class. High school is where it SHOULD be taught! Nowadays all they want to teach is how to hate America and everything it stands for. What a waste of everyone’s real estate tax dollars that goes towards education.
Local transport: when boondocking, I have stood by the side of a dirt road more than once and waited for Lyft or Uber. Good communication with the driver is essential, but it works fine and is another option.
A simple solution for lubricating slide seals is to dust them with tire talc. I pour some into an old sock and dab it on the seal. It generally only needs to be done a couple of times per year.
One doesn’t have to drive for long to see that a majority of drivers have no clue how to properly use an on-ramp! I’m convinced most never turn their heads to look from way up the ramp to plan an entry. They blindly go down the ramp then look in their side mirror just before entering. We’ve had them riding alongside a 43′ MH towing a full sized pickup (when I couldn’t move over) and then near the end of the ramp suddenly look and see they are alongside a massive wall! DW has seen some very surprised expressions!
Then there’s those that pull into the lane way under the speed of flowing traffic, make everyone slow down, then find their accelerator a 1/4 mile down the road. 🤬
Even if you do happen to back off to let someone in, it takes them forever to come up to speed.
Then all the traffic behind you gets into the left lane and you are stuck behind that vehicle for miles.
Interstate merging can be challenging when driving a heavy Rv The idea is to get up to the hiway speed at the merge point. The problem is some bone head is intent on not letting anyone ahead of him/her – setting up a dangerous situation. A little courtesy on the part of both drivers is required. Rv’s require a long stopping distance – but entry speed is also required. Some early planning when on or approaching an on ramp by both drivers is essential – and be prepared whichever driver you are.
As for keeping tics off dogs is to give them what I give mine. Simparico. It is a once month pill I have given mine for a long while now. They bite they die. As for insurance I use progressive. They insure my seasonal site and the RV. Cheap. Wish car insurance was that cheap. I guess I need to do a field trip to Texas. The one I went to in NC was meh.
Thank you, Emily and Diane! Enjoy Rufus the Doofus, Shelley! May you have many wonderful trips and adventures in the coming years! Have a great day and safe travels!
Rufus is great looking and a very lucky dog. Thanks for sharing.