Issue 2736
Today’s thought
“I’ve got the guts to die. What I want to know is, have you got the guts to live?” ―
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Ice Cream Cone Day! It’s also the first day of fall!
On this day in history: 1789 – The office of United States Postmaster General is established.
Tip of the day
What size RV generator do I need?
By Cheri Sicard
What size RV generator do I need?
After buying a used RV that is no longer produced and that came with no owner’s manuals, I knew this was a question I needed help with. And perhaps some of you do, too, as I can’t be the only one in these circumstances. One of our favorite RV YouTube channel hosts, Josh the RV Nerd, is here to help.
Even though this might seem like a straightforward question, it can sometimes get a little complicated. Continue reading.
RV review
Cougar fifth wheel trailer gets nice improvements for 2026
Josh Winters, the RV Nerd at Bish’s RV and an RVtravel.com reader favorite, is excited about the 28-foot 2026 Cougar fifth wheel trailer model 23MLE by Keystone RV, which is the basic model in the Cougar line. He is especially excited about the bedroom. As he points out, Cougar fifth wheels are the second most popular fifth wheels in the history of RVing, second only to Keystone’s Montana. Check it out.
Here’s an idea for you: Record your history
Record your family history on your iPhone or video camera. If you want some inspiration, we recommend you get the book “To Our Children’s Children”. It will prompt many ideas of what to talk about. Your children and grandchildren will appreciate this when you are gone. Think about it – wouldn’t you love it if your parents had done this for you?
In the RV shop with Dustin
Brake failures and the importance of a wheel bearing pack service
Here, I’ll explain the importance of a wheel bearing pack service and will show you what we found on a unit recently on our lot. When was the last time you inspected your brakes and bearings? Continue reading.
Article and video
Odd, quirky, ‘head scratcher’ RV laws you never heard of
By Cheri Sicard
Owning an RV means signing up for a crash course in rules and quirks. From sleeping in your own driveway to being forced to yield to horses, these odd laws can ruin a trip before it starts. In the video at the end of this post, the team from The Camping Loop highlights nine of the strangest RV laws you probably never saw coming. (I’ll break them down for you in the article, too.)
WHERE DO PEOPLE READ RVTRAVEL.COM? 92% in the USA, 5% in Canada and 3% elsewhere around the world.
The latest news for RVers
- Insights from Camping World: Are RV prices going down?
- Campers Inn RV purchase of Lazydays’ dealerships will reshape industry
- How a government shutdown could affect your RV trip to national parks
- Yellowstone geologists fetch 300 hats, pizza, and koala doll from hot springs
- Camping World at center of RV storage zoning battle in Florida county
To read more recent news, click here.
RANDOM RV THOUGHT: In the early days of the auto industry, before only Ford, GM and Chrysler captured most of the market, countless hundreds of companies came and went. Anyone with a toolbox and a garage could open a shop. A similar thing occurred in the first half-century of the RV industry. Today, just as it happened to automakers, the weaker RV makers have shut down, and now only three companies dominate the market.
Featured article
1951 Lighthouse DuPlex trailer is a mobile masterpiece
By Paul Lacitinola
In the heart of East Texas, surrounded by pine woods, Longview sets the stage for Ethan and Amanda Langley’s passion for restoring vintage RVs. At their workshop, American RV Restoration, the couple transforms classic RVs into mobile masterpieces, capturing the essence of mid-century America. Check out this gorgeous restoration.
Reader poll
Do you grease your trailer hitch ball?
Quick tip
Preventing slide-out marks on floors
“We have found that cheap plastic place mats from a dollar store work well to prevent marks or wear from slides. They are easily stashed on top of the washing machine, if you have one, or any other flat surface.” Thanks, Goldie!
Ask Dave
How to get rid of mold in and around an RV toilet
Website of the day
The Best Campground in Every State
Well, to each their own… but this list from Outside Magazine does list some pretty spectacular places to camp. (This list is from 2021, but we think most of the campgrounds are still open; it’s wise to check first.)
? MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY ?
18 across: Something you’ll like. 30 down: This.
Trivia
Half of America’s dogs come running just from the sound of a treat bag. According to CLIF PET™, 47% of the 2,000 dog owners surveyed reported their dog reacts instinctively to the noise made when a treat container is opened. 52 percent are also likely to run over when they hear words like “treat” or “cookie,” while only 37 percent consistently respond to the sound of their own name.
Readers’ pet of the day
“Max was our first Havanese. He loved to RV. He didn’t shed and was very sociable. Still miss him today, and he’s been gone 8 years.” —Wallace Twigg
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
Somebody should make a beer called “occasionally.” That way when someone asks me if I drink I can say, “I only drink occasionally.”
Do you leave restaurants without paying? Do you sneak out of campgrounds without paying?
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And the 3 companies dominating the market are milking their customers for all they are worth.
And with less competition, quality has gone out the window.
Naming a beer “Occasionally” sounds a lot like naming a bar “The Library”. When your wife asks you where you’ve been, you can honestly say “the library”!
We have a bar near my home called the rehab saloon
Houghton, Michigan has an eating/drinking establishment named “The Library” on a side street. It is an easy walk from Michigan Technological University. No cell phones when I attended. If I was outside our dorm room and my roommate answered the phone for me, he always told them I was at “the library”, but never defined which.
On a visit from my parents my mother happened to look down that side street rolling through town. I got some firm questions about which library I was at during those phone calls. My roommate was my best man at our wedding.
I love the plea to subscribe! It implies we’re stealing! BTW, I did pay one year but my isp thinks RV Travel is spam and won’t deliver it. I have to click on the app every morning to read it.
Yeah, asking for, or requiring paid subscription is one thing, but when there’s a banner at the top that says “Subscribe to Free Newsletter”, comparing acceptance of that offer to stealing services is ridiculous and insulting.
I plan to address this next Sunday.
And many people who sign up for the free newsletter are complaining about adds.
Drew, if only you could sit in my chair and see the forces we are up against. And if the newsletter is in spam, just click NOT SPAM and it should appear where it is supposed to. — Chuck
Max looks like he loved the water. Great dogs will always be missed, they take a piece of your heart with them when they go.
Chuck, I don’t now how long I’ve been a subscriber to RV Travel but I think it’s been more than 10 years. I also believe I have been giving you of my free will $100 a year for all the sage advise , news, and technical expertise that made my road adventures part of living my dream. I do, however feel like I’m in church listening to my pastor asking for money on a hot summer Sunday.
I subscribe to the internet version of my local newspaper for 99 cts. per month and it’s not worth the money except for the sports section. Maybe it’s time you seriously think about charging your readership 99 cts. per month because your news is by far better than most of the crap the press reports daily.
I wasn’t done but i ran out of space. I also will be leaving you at the end of the year as we have sold our rig and we’re done living the RV dream. Time to start new adventures that are a little less stress on our old bodies. It’s been a great ride ! Thanks for the news !!!!
Max was a cutie for sure. There are some dogs that leave deep pawprints on our hearts. We’ve had one, too!
Very sorry for your loss, Wallace. Thank you, Emily and Diane! Have a great day and safe travels!