Issue 2733
Today’s thought
“Time is the coin of your life. You spend it. Do not allow others to spend it for you.” ―
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Monte Cristo Day!
On this day in history: 1787 – The United States Constitution is signed at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, bringing the Constitutional Convention to an end.
Yesterday: Robert Redford, 89, died. We will miss him.
Tip of the day
Are slide awnings a necessity or a waste of money?
By Gail Marsh
We’re not sure what to do. Our first RV had them. We’ve had three RVs since, all without them. I’m talking about slide awnings or slide-out toppers. No matter what you call them, people have very definite opinions concerning these covers.
As with many things RV-related, there are as many opinions as there are RVers. Here are some pros and cons we’ve heard…
RV review
Do you believe it? RV has 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, sleeps 8, and has one big flaw
OK, raise your hands: How soon will it be before we see a 4-bedroom, 3-bathroom RV on the market? Will it happen in 2025? Or 2026? Well, there’s no need to hold your breath waiting for such a gargantuan RV to debut because this 3-bedroom model might do the job fine. Check this out.
In the RV shop with Dustin
Trailer jack blocks break. Why?
In one of his RV Facebook groups, Dustin was asked by an RV owner what could have caused his Andersen trailer jack block to break and collapse. Yikes!
Makes a great gift!
Bacon without the grease? Yup!
This microwave bacon cooker is loved by all. Bacon doesn’t cook in the fat but the taste is still great. The bacon you eat will have 35 percent less fat, which makes cardiologists jump with joy! It’s dishwasher-safe. Learn more or order.
Article and video
A crispy bite of history: The slugburger story
By Cheri Sicard
A single burger helped whole towns survive during hard times. The slugburger takes folks back to a tougher era, when making food stretch was a daily challenge and gathering around the table meant everything. In this video, Cowboy Kent Rollins [3.36M subscribers, 384M views] shines a light on this simple, crispy burger with deep roots and a fascinating past. Learn about it here and get the recipe to make one for yourself. Yum!
Featured article
All aboard for a ride on Santa Fe’s historic Sky Railway
By Cheri Sicard
Railroad buffs visiting the Santa Fe, NM, area are in for a treat. The Sky Railway offers a variety of experiences on its historic SkyTrain, from scenic sunset and star gazing rides to special events such as burlesque nights, flamenco nights, wine tasting, and beer tasting rides, etc. Learn more about this wonderful experience here.
Reader poll (and article)
Do you own a cowboy hat?
Another poll, about letting strangers use your bathroom
Oh, here are the results of a poll from July you may find very interesting. We asked: If a stranger asked to use your RV bathroom, would you let them? How many readers answered “Yes, no questions asked”? Was it 1 percent, 6 percent or 12 percent? Find out.
RANDOM RV THOUGHT: Whenever you can, get off the Interstates and drive the back roads. You’ll battle fewer big rig trucks and get up close and personal with scenery and the local population. Pause often along the main streets of small towns for lunch or a milkshake. Drop by the general store and buy the local paper (it needs your support). It’s 10 times more fun taking a back road than speeding along a boring Interstate.
Quick tip
Don’t get sick from drinking bad water
There may come a time when you need fresh water, but aren’t near a source you know is safe. So, our tip: always pack along a LifeStraw (also known as a “disaster master”) when away from home or the RV. Not only will you always have a safe water supply, but somewhere in the world, so will a child in need for one year. So far, 9.6 million children have benefited. Order a LifeStraw through the RVT Amazon program if you wish.
Ask Dave
Is it safe to drive with propane on in RV?
On this day last year…
- RV walk-through: Tour the 2024 Thor Luminate DD35: Biggest kitchen in a Class A
- Video: How to make a travel scrapbook and preserve your RV memories
- Featured article: How can I know if RVing is right for me?
Website of the day
The ultimate Route 66 road trip
Get your kicks ready and get on down to Route 66! This guide is a good place to start.
? MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY ?
Betcha never thought you could fit one of these in your RV, did you? This is pretty neat, we must admit. Get ready to jam out (but maybe quietly if you’re in a campground…).
Trivia
We haven’t tried this, so take this bit of trivia with a grain of salt. Rumor has it that if you empty a can of Coca-Cola into your washing machine along with your usual detergent, it will lift all stains (including those from grease and even blood!) from your clothes. Anyone brave enough to try it? Let us know.
Readers’ pet of the day
“Sunny (age 7) loves exploring new campsites (on a leash), but he hates travel days. We’ve had him since he was 2 weeks old.” —Kit Vargas
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
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 have a skill/talent/service that could help make RVtravel.com better than it already is, please contact publisher Chuck Woodbury at chuck (at) RVtravel.com and explain. We want to be the best we can be. But we need help! All ideas welcome and appreciated. Volunteer or be paid.
RVtravel.com All-Star Team
Click here for information about our staff and how to contact us.
When I worked in the hospital, we would use Coke to clear out feeding tubes when they were stopped up.
Coke, and many other soft drinks contain citric acid. That along with carbonation provides a very good cleaning combination. Pour it in your toilet, put it on your corroded battery posts, and on and on.
Some people even drink it.
Sunny is a pretty boy.
Our cats walk on leashes while camped, but they hate travel time too.
We have a cat named Holly that’s been to more states than people. She is the best traveler and also walks on a leash. She was a rescue at 6 weeks old, now is 5 years old.
I wholeheartedly agree with getting off the highways and traveling secondary roads. We find it relaxing, much more interesting, and definitely more scenic. It allows us to enjoy the journey, not just the destination. There have been many times when the highways were packed with weekend travelers or weekday commuters, but we were cruising along on back roads with few or no other vehicles around. Breathing fresh air and taking in the local sights sure beats being stuck in a traffic jam. If we see something interesting, or spot an enticing lunch spot, we stop and check it out. We’ve found a lot of cool places that we never could have seen from a highway.
Driving this way is actually fun!
When I was in the Navy in the 50’s we used Coca Cola and a wire brush to remove rust from the metal ladders.
Husband is a point A to point B traveler whereas I would much prefer the back roads. Since he is the driver and we have a large toy hauler, he makes the decisions as to which roads he prefers. When it is safe to do so, sometimes we do travel them.
Thank you, Emily and Diane! Have a great weekend and safe travels!