From RVtravel.com: The common sense resource for RVers • Issue 2742
Today’s thought
“The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.” ―
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Love People Day!
On this day in history: 1935 – The Hoover Dam, astride the border between the U.S. states of Arizona and Nevada, is dedicated.
Tip of the day
How to navigate J-turn intersections with an RV
By Gail Marsh
“J-turn” can mean two very different things. In stunt-driving and pop culture, a J-turn (or “reverse 180”) is the flashy move where a car backs up, spins, then drives off. It’s great for movies, but dangerous on public streets.
In traffic engineering, a J-turn is an intersection design. It changes how drivers make left turns and cross high-speed, multi-lane roads. RVers need to understand J-turns so that they can safely navigate our country’s highways. Here’s what you should know.
Article and video
How to make quick and easy buttered kettle corn in your RV
By Cheri Sicard
Looking for a quick and easy snack to make in your RV? How about some hot, buttered, delicious kettle corn? In this short video, you’ll learn just how super quick and easy it is to whip up a batch of this tasty treat, even in your RV. All you need is some sugar, butter, unpopped popcorn, and salt. Here’s how to make it.
RANDOM RV THOUGHT: When you are driving an RV or pulling one and you want to move from the left lane to the right lane, it is a good idea to confirm with your copilot if the lane is clear. But only accept an answer of yes or no. An answer of “I think so” is not good enough and can get your vehicle smacked.
Featured article
Craigslist find transforms iconic Lutes Coach vintage trailer
By Paul Lacitinola
Each discovery tells a unique story, and the Lutes Coach is no exception. With a rich history steeped in nostalgia, this remarkable trailer found its way to a passionate couple through a series of fortunate events. As enthusiasts dedicated to trailers and automobiles, their shared passion often leads them to extraordinary discoveries. Their journey with the Lutes Coach began approximately four years ago when they stumbled upon a captivating Craigslist listing. Check out this amazing restoration.
DO YOU DREAM OF BUILDING RVs? If so, here are currently available jobs at Thor Industries.
Reader poll
Do you ever buy takeout sushi at a grocery store?
No more house flies, fruit flies, mosquitoes, or any other flying insects in your RV again!
RVer Shay Matthews writes, “If you don’t have one of these Zevo insect traps yet, go get one! This photo was after four days of camping in our trailer.” The Zevo flying insect traps plug into any electrical outlet in your home or RV and attract all flying insects like house flies, fruit flies or gnats, and mosquitoes. It works 24/7 by using a powerful adhesive, which discreetly catches bugs. 67,000+ reviews! Learn more or order here.
Quick tip
Don’t kill the good bacteria in your RV’s black tank
Reader Mike B. advises: “When cleaning your RV toilet, be careful what you clean with. Any cleaner that contains bleach, peroxide or germicides of any kind will not only kill surface bacteria, but will also kill all the good bacteria that is contained in your waste water treatment. It’s that good bacteria that is eating up and breaking down that solid waste.” He adds, “If you want to kill surface bacteria, use a disposable germicidal wipe such as Lysol and dispose of it in your regular waste.” Thanks, Mike!
Website of the day
Factory Tours USA
Ever wonder how that thing was made? Or your favorite snack? Or that really cool gadget? This website lists all the factory tours across the U.S. Cool!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY to a wonderful reader, Pat!
And the survey says…
We’ve polled RVtravel.com readers close to 5,000 times in recent years. Here are a few things we’ve learned about them:
• 18 percent think the U.S. should do away with dollar bills and replace them with dollar coins (like in Canada).
• The majority of voters, 55 percent, say the most popular type of pant they wear are jeans. The next most popular pant type are shorts, followed by sweat/athletic pants then cargo pants.
• 12 percent earn money from a part-time hobby.
Recent poll: Will you plan a special drive to view fall colors this year?
? MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY ?
How do people think of these things? We guarantee, and we mean guarantee, that if you give this to someone who loves tools, whether they’re a mechanic or a handyman, they will jump with joy! This makes for a great gift — so unique and funny, too. Who came up with this idea? Brilliant! See for yourself.
Ask Dave
How to install a battery disconnect switch in RV
FREE IS GOOD: Free water hardness test strip from Morton salt.
Trivia
In 1953, Ford celebrated its 50th anniversary by producing the X-100 Concept Car. It was promoted as having 50 new automotive innovations, including heated seats, a built-in Dictaphone and electric shaver, and jet-style headlights. Although initially intended as a potential next-generation Lincoln, its radical design proved too advanced for the era, and it ultimately ended up in The Henry Ford museum in Dearborn, Michigan.
Readers’ pet of the day
“John (German Shepherd, age 13) has been with us for 10 years, and was my foster dog that never left! He loves everything and everyone, but especially camping. We have been full-time for the past 18 months, and he’s the happiest of campers!” —Valerie Anderson
Send us a photo of your pet with a short description. We publish one each weekday in RV Daily Tips and in our Sunday RV Travel newsletter. No blurry photos, please! 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
Years ago a man who spent his life alone left to visit a long-lost friend. He had never seen train tracks before, so finding some, he followed them. Sure enough, a train came. The engineer blew the train’s whistle but the man didn’t move. The train struck him, sending him to the hospital. After he recovered, he made it to his friend’s house. In the kitchen, he heard a tea kettle whistling. He grabbed a baseball bat from the closet and bashed the kettle into a lump of metal. His friend rushed into the room. “Why did you ruin my tea kettle?” he asked. The man replied, “Man, you gotta kill these things when they’re small.” [We can hear you groaning.]
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.
Search Google for the latest RV news from RVtravel.com.
If you have a skill/talent that could help make RVtravel.com better than it already is, please contact publisher Chuck Woodbury at chuck (at) RVtravel.com to explain. All ideas welcome and appreciated. Volunteer or be paid.
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.
German shepherds are great dogs.
Johns a lucky dog. Thank for sharing.
The quick tip is a little misleading. The waste in the black tank is not in there long enough for the bacteria to do any good. It takes months for the bacteria to break down the waste.
If you are dumping into a septic system, it may eventually affect the process.
Came to say the same. There is nothing in the holding tank that needs protection or treatment.
The tank is not “digesting” anything, it doesn’t need lubrication and it doesn’t need disinfectants because nobody’s drinking its contents,
If it stinks, use more water. If it drains slow, use more water. Water is the only additive you need. It not only works fantastically and is 100% septic safe, it has multiple uses and it costs a lot less.
Chemicals, pressurized “deep cleanings” and pantry mixture concoctions are all just coping mechanisms to the reality that you’re carrying your excrement with you in a bucket. Save your money folks.
And yet, millions of $$ are spent on all kinds of black tank chemicals and pantry mixtures…. just absolutely amazing how gullible people can be.
Did you know the word “gullible” is not in the dictionary. Go ahead, look it up.
🤣🤣 Have a great day, Impavid. 😀 –Diane
Yes, it is in the Webster Dictionary. “Easily duped or cheated”
You got me!😊
Hi, Brian. I’d remove your comments to avoid embarrassment for you, but this is too funny!🤣 (But I’ll remove them if you want.) Have a great day. 😀 –Diane
Brian, Impavid got me too and gave me a good laugh after my “easily duped” brain kicked in. Impavid got the first laugh, but I ended up with the last laugh. Thanks Brian and Impavid.
There are bacteria in the black tank. There are bacteria – lots of them- on your skin and in your digestive tract, and they are necessary for good health. They never stop working, and if you kill them you are more likely to have odors later. Given enough air in the water, they shouldn’t create any bad odors, but without enough oxygen different bacteria multiply that do cause bad odors. Everybody uses their RVs a little differently, and so the waste will sit in the black tank for different times, and under ideal conditions some bacteria can reproduce, doubling their population, in as little as 20 minutes.
I would never use any chemicals or bleach not recommended for our toilet. But not for the reason stated above. The black tank is a holding tank, not a septic tank. Not trying to breed bacteria in our RV.
Safer Home makes flying insect traps that are less expensive than Zevo, more compact, and work very well.
John is gorgeous, German shepherds are an awesome breed! Keep on camping!
John is beautiful, noble, and looks content to be with his humans. Fostering not only saves, it leads to adoption and a grateful and loyal companion.
The map on the Morton Salt web page isn’t accurate – maybe it’s just for show? Because the area where I grew up in eastern Colorado has EXTREMELY soft water, not hard water. Newcomers to the area had to learn to use just a tiny bit of soap or detergent or shampoo or they’d never get it rinsed away!
Last Christmas we gave all the family members the tool pens as a stocking gift. They were very surprised that they were actually pens. Every Christmas we try to find an unusual stocking gift. Been doing it for 52yrs
Pet of the Day: John, lying by the wheel of your RV, just says to me: “Don’t even think catalytic converter.”