Issue 2720
Today’s thought
“The purpose of life, after all, is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience.” —Eleanor Roosevelt
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Chop Suey Day!
On this day in history: 1898 – The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company is founded.
Tip of the day
Improve your RV’s shower with these tips and gadgets
By Gail Marsh
I actually gasped out loud when I saw a friend’s RV shower recently. It was huge in comparison to ours. After recovering from a serious bout of “shower envy,” I decided to look for ways to improve our small, but sufficient, RV shower. I hope you can also make use of these tips to improve your RV shower.
The enviable 2024 RV shower featured a fold-down bench. Made of teak wood, it looked sleek, comfy, and quite serviceable. The best part? It folds up when not in use. Our RV shower has a seat, but it’s actually molded into the shower unit. There’s no folding it up or down, so it takes up space even when we’re not using it. Continue reading.
Ask Dave
Some fun facts I learned about electricity this week
Here are some fun facts I learned this week about electricity, including: What direction should 120-volt outlets be installed? Why won’t a smart charger charge a dead battery? Why is there reverse polarity with a house battery? Continue reading for Dave’s answers.
In the RV shop with Dustin
A step-by-step guide to checking and cleaning your RV appliances
Regularly checking and cleaning the appliances in your RV is essential for their proper functioning, efficiency, and your overall comfort during your travels. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to check and clean some of your RV appliances.
Article and video
New inverter compressor RV A/C mini uses split technology
By Cheri Sicard
With RV life comes the challenge of keeping cool without draining power or making a racket. The new Turbo RV A/C with inverter compressor steps up by pairing mini split technology with rooftop A/C usability, creating a promising new option for campers. Only two brands currently make this style, but Turbo’s low-profile unit is the first to offer a heat pump. Here, Jared Gillis of All About RVs puts it to the test and shares his findings.
RANDOM RV THOUGHT: Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems (TPMS) detect loss of inflation pressure and warn drivers when tires are 25% under-inflated. For many vehicles, this warning may be too late to prevent damage. TPMS are not a replacement for monthly tire pressure checks with a gauge.
Secrets of RVing on Social Security
Author Jerry Minchey takes you on a journey that lets you discover how you can travel around the country and live the fascinating RV lifestyle for far less than it costs to live in your sticks-and-bricks home. Among other things, he shows you step-by-step how to enjoy the RVing lifestyle while traveling and living on just your Social Security income. Updated January 2025. Learn more or order.
Featured article
Must-have audio tour app for RVers changes the way you travel
By Steve Blume
I can’t imagine visiting a national park without my audio tour app. The night we arrived at West Yellowstone, my RV neighbor was so convincing when talking about his GuideAlong app that I downloaded the Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Park bundle based on his excitement. It was $19.99, but he said it was just like having a local tour guide in my back seat. That conversation forever changed how I visit parks and other well-known destinations. Learn all about it here.
You may have missed these recent popular stories…
- This ultra-spacious 2026 trailer has two bedrooms, two baths, two lofts
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- ‘I gave up on camping because there are too many inconsiderate people’
- Forest River to debut new destination trailers
Reader poll
If you had to choose, would you explore the past or future in a time machine?
Quick tip
Be gentle when cleaning RV plumbing fixtures
Got a sink, shower, or toilet to clean? Whatever you use will end up in the holding tank. Some stuff will create problems if it gets down there, so be choosy with your cleansers. Non-abrasive, non-bleach cleansers are best. Many RVers swear by Bar Keepers Friend. Others simply use a microfiber cloth with plain water or, at the strongest, vinegar water. Wet-wipes can do a quick job of shining up chrome fixtures (then throw the wet-wipes in the trash). What do you use? Please tell us in the comments.
On this day last year…
- RV walk-through: Tour the Wildwood Grand Lodge 42VIEW Destination Trailer: A 2-story RV!
- Ask Dave: How often should I lubricate my RV’s slide mechanism?
- Video: Camping and a movie? Check out this drive-in theater campground in Oregon
- Featured article: Most used accessory: Camco’s flat-folding step stool for RVs
Website of the day
23 Tips to Save Water in an RV
This list from the blog Trying to Unwind has some helpful tips you can follow to save water while RVing.
? MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY ?
“Not all who wander are lost.” Sure… right… errrr… Not quite???
Trivia
The U.S. Postal Service’s Stamp Fulfillment Services facility is housed in a limestone cave 150 feet beneath the ground in Kansas City, MO. It’s the Postal Service’s only facility located underground. The consistent, year-round temperatures and humidity levels in the cave allow the stamps to be maintained in mint-quality condition.
Readers’ pets of the day
“Cheeta and Jane have been traveling with us since we adopted them from Friends Of Montgomery County Animals. They love to go for walks and enjoy watching the local fauna.” —Joe George
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.
FINISHED READING TODAY’S NEWSLETTER? Don’t go just yet! Make sure you read the brand-new Great RV Accessories newsletter. You’ll love it!
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Your Random RV Thought may be correct for some TPMS systems, but it’s somewhat misleading.
The TPMS we use allows us to set a specific pressure at which the alarm sounds, rather than the fixed 25% you stated. This is a common feature among currently available TPMS systems. I set ours 5 PSI lower than my cold inflation pressure, which allows for a minor pressure drop when temperatures cool, but alerts me quickly if there’s a leak. This prevents tire damage.
Although I carry a digital pressure gauge for setting the tire pressure, the TPMS display provides accurate, real-time pressure for all 6 tires, so there’s no need to check them with the gauge.
I was just about to say the same thing except, from Roger Marble, I inflate my tires to 10% over calculated tire pressure and then set the alarm to go off when it reaches the calculated tire pressure. I found my TPMS, TST, readings are fairly close to readings with an accurate tire gauge.
Not many OEM TPMS in tow vehicles can be adjusted without an OBDC programming tool and most aftermarket TPMS default to a predetermined percentage of loss so the article isn’t at all misleading.
The percentage might be inaccurate for those who reset from the defaults or run with dead sensors but the point of the story is TPMS is not a replacement for monthly tire pressure checks with a gauge.
Safe travels!
The OEM pressure receiver in my car died. It only shows that one of the four tires is low (which one?). It was $300 for the part plus labor.
I replaced it with a solar charged aftermarket system for under $40 that allows for complete programming of alarms and shows pressure and temp for each tire. The only downside is the stem mounted transmitter batteries have to be changed roughly every year versus roughly 10 years for the the in-tire transmitters.
And that the reported temp is at the stem, which is likely not the true internal tire temp.
If one doesn’t trust their TPMS readings as displayed then why would they wait a full month between pressure checks with an accurate gauge? If I thought my TPMS was providing false or untrustworthy readings, I’d be checking with a gauge daily AND replacing my TPMS.
I agree. I’m not sure it’s a trust thing as much as it’s a “look at your tires” thing. Roger Marble could probably write a full article on tire sensor/gauge calibration and there’d still be exceptions.
Brian: I agree with some of what you say here. I have an EEZ tire TPMS and it is adjustable to whatever pressures I want to put in. I set it to my cold pressure setting and the min/max for each of 6 tires. I also have a digital pressure gauge which I checked against the TPMS – it was within .01 psi for each tire! I use the gauge if a tire doesn’t look right on every departure check and also in the spring and fall coming out of storage or going in etc.. You never know when a battery might fail or a sensor get stuck or whatever – not worth the risk or worry of a low tire failure. I also have temp readings, but that is at the valve stem or sensor and not the warmest internal part of the tire.
Although we occasionally use Barkeeper’s Friend in our RV, most of the time we clean the stainless sinks with either plain water, or soap and water if there’s any greasiness to be removed.
The only thing I’ve used bleach for is sanitizing the fresh water tank, but I’ve recently switched to using Purogene.
The picture of Cheeta and Jane is precious. What beautiful cats.
Cheeta and Jane look like a fun pair.
thanks for sharing
Mystery Product: When we are RVing, the loster I get the happier I am.
Thank you, Emily and Diane! Have a great weekend and safe travels!
Daily laugh- Jack stands are not rated for that weight. Don’t want to get squashed by the cow.