From RVtravel.com: The common sense resource for RVers • Issue 2745
Today’s thought
“The finest of pleasures are always the unexpected ones.” ―
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Boyfriend Day!
On this day in history: 1863 – The last Thursday in November is declared as Thanksgiving Day by U.S. President Abraham Lincoln.
Tip of the day
Follow these steps to prepare your RV for winter
By Nanci Dixon
Winter is just around the corner. Summer has quickly become a memory and fall is in full swing. It’s time to start thinking about how to prepare your RV for storage or for less use. An RV is like a second home, filled with all the things needed to make it home, at least for the season. If you’re not a snowbird and escaping to warmer weather for the winter, what do you do with all the stuff that has accumulated when you are putting your RV to bed for the winter?
What people take out or leave varies immensely. Some leave their RVs packed and ready (without perishables). Others remove everything that is not attached to the walls! What you take out will also vary on expected winter temperatures, or if you put it at a storage lot or easily accessible next to your house. Follow these tips to prepare your RV for storage (or for less use).
In the RV shop with Dustin
RV suspension question and maintenance tips for fifth wheel owners
Join me “In The RV Shop” as I reply to this question: “Hey, Dustin. We own a Grand Design RV and recently we had our shackle link break while traveling with our fifth wheel. We are in the process of getting it repaired, but for future reference, what maintenance is required on a RV fifth wheel suspension system?” Continue reading.
Article and video
Amazing $500 RV makeover; it’s only missing one big thing…
By Cheri Sicard
When it comes to doing an RV makeover on your trailer or motorhome, sometimes a little bit of money can go a very long way. Case in point: the stunning RV makeover on the 1991 Class C motorhome in the video below from Bob Wells of Cheap RV Living. Now, I will put in a caveat that while this old motorhome looks stunning, it does lack, well, you’ll see…
Jar, bottle, and can opener good for weak hands
This 6-in-1 jar and bottle opener has eight sizes of circular openings, making the jar opener extremely convenient for opening small and medium-sized lids. The hooks on the top can be used to open the large-size lids by breaking the air tightness, and can also be used to open the ring pull cans. Learn more or order.
Featured article
Why RV parks are no longer as safe as they were
By Chuck Woodbury
I have been RVing as a writer, editor and publisher for more than 4 decades. For 10 years, in the 1980s and ’90s, I was the subject of several hundred media interviews because of my unusual occupation — traveling the American West in a motorhome while publishing a quarterly “on the road newspaper” about what I found along the way. One question that came up frequently back in those Out West years was from both the media and my readers who asked, “Are campgrounds safe?” Continue reading.
RANDOM RV THOUGHT: If you absolutely cannot get your RV leveled for the night, be sure to position your RV so your head is higher than your feet. It will feel a lot better when you sleep than if your head is downhill from the rest of your body. However, in that case, you might have some interesting (or weird) dreams.
You may have missed these recent popular stories…
- Texas approves one of the largest RV parks in the U.S. Will snowbirds come?
- Do you buy plastic water bottles by the case? (poll with many comments)
- RV review: Flagstaff Micro Lite 25MBR—Hot off the press
- A simple RV parking trick to avoid getting boxed in
Ask Dave
‘Busting’ 12-volt battery myths
FREE IS GOOD! Download the myPurina app and get a free bag of Purina treats (worth $4) for your pup!
Reader poll
Which of these places in nature would you pick to spend time?
Quick tip
Hanging out your dirty laundry
Sometimes finding a place to put those worn clothes waiting for wash day is the pits. Many hide a basket in the shower stall, but here’s another approach: Hang that dirty laundry out—not for everyone to see, but on the back of a closet door. Zippers on this one make it easy to open when it’s time to disgorge the dirties. The company includes a couple of different hooks to help you hang it. If what they offer doesn’t work, think about Command Strip hooks. About $12 on Amazon.
On this day last year…
- RV walk-through: Tour the 2024 Grand Design Momentum 22MAV toy hauler trailer
- Ask Dave: How long should it take to get hot water at RV faucet?
- Featured article: The Buslife Kitchen: Beautifully designed camping cookbook for small-space cooking
Website of the day
The most charming general store in every U.S. state
Who doesn’t love a good ol’ general store? The really fun ones are hard to pass up when you travel. Check these out. We want to visit all of them!
? MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY ?
Have a little guy or gal in your life? Look at these! With the holidays coming up, we think all the little tots need this! (You will agree, trust us!)
Trivia
In the early days of television, the industry struggled to define its purpose. Then a small manufacturer of lipstick came along. In the year before Hazel Bishop began running TV commercials, her profit was $49,257. Three years later, her lipsticks earned her a one-year profit of $10,100,682. Ad agencies were stupefied that what they’d thought was a promising novelty had become the most effective advertising medium in history. And money began to flow.
Readers’ pets of the day
“Gypsy (15 different breeds) came from animal control after being dumped on the beach and then waiting three months for a home. She met Sarge (10 breeds, mostly Chiweenie) at a dog park, who needed to be rehomed. It was love at first sight for both! Gypsy’s massive jaws always finish chewing first. She waits patiently in hopes Sarge will get bored. They love livin’ the life full-time RVing!!” —Lee Ann Bauer
Wondering how Lee Ann knows how many breeds Gypsy and Sarge are? We’re betting she did a doggie DNA test!
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
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RVtravel.com All-Star Team
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To Lea Ann, I love your description of Gypsy and Sarge. What wonderful companions.
“If you absolutely cannot get your RV leveled for the night” then you may do permanent damage to your propane fridge.
My ARP Fridge Defend shows that the ammonia can block and stop circulating when it is just one half degree off level. This causes the ammonia to burn in the boiler and causes cumulative damage.
I don’t recall anything like that on their website. I installed a system three years ago and I’ve never had it shut off the fridge, even when we can’t get perfectly level.
Dometic and Norcold both recommend RV absorption-type fridges be no more than +/- 3 degrees side-to-side and no more than +/- 6 degrees front-to-back.
As long as you are close to being between the lines, you are OK to go.
I use my Iphone. The level is a circle that shows how far off it is.
Gypsy and Sarge are both adorable, keep on camping!
What wonderful doggies, Gypsy and Sarge!!!! That makes RVing the best 🐶🥰
“Leave Here With A Laugh”. I know that guy! The dog, anyway.