From RVtravel.com: The common sense resource for RVers since 2001 • Issue 2751
Today’s thought
“There’s such a thing as too much happiness and sadness. What I’m after is contentment.” —Ray Charles
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is the Navy’s 250th Birthday! Happy Birthday!
On this day in history: 1792 – In Washington, D.C., the cornerstone of the United States Executive Mansion (known as the White House since 1818) is laid.
Tip of the day
Tips and considerations for finding affordable, safe places to camp
By Janet Groene
Has your RV life been turned upside down by inflation and the floods of new RVers on the roads, causing crowded, expensive campgrounds? For many long-time RVers, the current landscape is almost unrecognizable.
• Seasoned RV travelers know it’s smart to make new reservations in person as you check out of your current campground. There’s no substitute for face-to-face service. It may also avoid the reservation fee you’d pay when reserving through a service.
• Closer attention is now paid to eviction laws, which vary by state. Your rights and obligations as a tenant vary according to whether you are a short- or long-term occupant. Eviction laws apply differently to long-term stays. Tourist taxes may also apply differently to long-term stays. Continue reading.
More tips from this weekend:
- How to legally access hard-to-reach public land
- Which is better—and more affordable—for heating your RV: gas or electric?
- The secret to feeling like a tourist when your RV view stays the same
- Right turn on red: Common mistakes and risks
In the RV shop with Dustin
Why your towable RV shackle link thickness matters
Join me in our RV shop, where I’ll explain why checking the thickness of your RV shackle link is so important. Ensuring the right thickness is key to the safety and stability of your RV. Here’s why.
Article and video
Camp host duties and what to expect
By Cheri Sicard
Have you ever thought about becoming a camp host in a national forest or a state or national park? Have you wondered just how much work you would have to do in exchange for a free campsite for the season? Or, depending on the position, a free campsite plus a paycheck? Well, those questions and more are answered here.
Prevent costly mistakes with these RVminders
Check out these RVminders and easily prevent costly mistakes! These bands wrap around your steering wheel and remind you to check things before you drive away. Never leave the steps or ladder down again. Slide locks in place? Doors, vents and windows closed? Compartments locked? Hookups disconnected? These are so easy to use they should be in every RV! Check ’em out.
The latest news for RVers
- NBC News report: More Americans are living in RVs
- Could your motorhome have a hidden VIN problem?
- Buy a 255-site RV park in an auction with no minimum price bid
- RVers will be surprised by McDonald’s new Monopoly game prizes
- Reader vents: ‘I am sad’ about the state of camping these days
To read more recent news, click here.
Featured article
Henry Ford Museum a “must see”
By Chuck Woodbury
For anyone interested in automotive history—and American industrial history—a visit to the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Mich., is a must. I can’t begin to tell you all that is there. But I will tell you about a few of the vehicles that I found especially interesting. Continue reading.
Ask Dave
Why did RV’s side window shatter for no apparent reason?
FREE IS GOOD! Free Nevada Magazine & Visitor Guide and Free Nevada Insider Travel Tips
RV Review
This European trailer is built more like a yacht
The 2026 Derubis Series 7 trailer’s fiberglass, monocoque-structured frame and body are built as a single, integrated structure so the skin absorbs much of the stresses to the body, like a yacht. That hull-style build yields smooth curved interiors and exterior surfaces. Derubis promotes the result as a lifetime, low-maintenance RV. Finding this trailer may be difficult as it’s made in Bosnia, but wider distribution is planned. Read more and take a video tour.
Reader poll
Do you believe in two years more or fewer people will live in RVs on city streets?
Quick tip
An important RV winterizing tip you don’t want to overlook
Longtime RVer and our good friend George B. sent us this: “If you have a separate black water flushing system built into your RV, from where you connect your hose to flush the black tank, the hose likely runs up high between the RV walls and then back down to the tank. Somewhere along this route, probably near the top of the loop, will be a backflow preventer. If there’s any water sitting in this device over the winter it may well burst from the water freezing. When you do your regular winterizing, simply force some air through this line. You can use the blowing feature on a vacuum cleaner or shop vac or an air compressor. If using the latter, reduce the pressure to about 40 psi.” Thanks, George! [Hmm. We wonder how he knows that? 😉]
Website of the day
These Photos Tell the Lesser-Known Story of Route 66
If you enjoy Route 66 (or learning about it), you’ll love this different perspective. Enjoy!
? MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY ?
Which came first: the chicken, the egg, or the lightbulb? This will make you laugh! (We did!)
Trivia
Every year, Cracker Barrel restaurants serve approximately 230 million guests. Those guests consume: 210 million biscuits, 162 million eggs, 140 million slices of bacon, 75 million pancakes, 55 million 1.5 oz. bottles of Pure Natural Syrup, 41 million servings of grits, 13 million pounds of chicken tenders, 13 million orders of Chicken n’ Dumplins. Oh, did you know that 40% of Cracker Barrel’s business comes from travelers (including many RVers)? Yes, indeed. True!
Readers’ pet of the day
“Teah (age 6) is definitely not a camper; her longest travels are to and from the vet when required! She watches over her world from above the cat house, about 7 feet above the floor of the kitchen. While we are away with the dogs, she keeps our son company.” —Herman Vogt
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.
Leave here with a laugh
Joe and Jenny drove for miles in silence in their new motorhome after a heated argument. After many miles had passed, a frustrated Joe pointed to a mule in a nearby pasture. “A relative of yours?” he asked Jenny. “Yes,” she replied. “By marriage.”
Today’s weather forecast across the nation
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🇮🇱🇮🇱🇮🇱🇮🇱🇮🇱 A great and beautiful day.
Amen.
Cracker Barrel Facts. They DO NOT serve omelets! IMHO, the food is not very healthy (comfort food). I prefer to cook, since they cannot or will not flex their menu.
Our local Cracker Barrell is, to put it politely, a real disappointment. Waiting in the gift shop and seeing several empty tables doesn’t get it off to good start. My only other complaints are the dirty tables and, at best, mediocre food, and for crying out loud, could you put the tables any closer? We only go there when some friends visit from far away.
Winterizing tip – keep going. There are yet more potential spots that must be dried or filled with RV anti-freeze. I’ll add one more and encourage other readers to add to the list:
Water pump screen filters – If the plastic bowl is below the water line (common) there will be residual water that can only be removed by unscrewing the bowl. Hint: the filter works just as well with the bowl above where it will self-drain when the pump is run to empty the feed line. But you may need a towel under it if you need to remove it for cleaning (should be rare).
Teah is cute. Our two cats don’t like the car, and yet twice a year they are packed for our semi-annual migration. We have a house in the north, keep a larger trailer in the south, and use a tiny self-contained trailer for the trip between. We also have a golden retriever. Interestingly the animals have amongst themselves developed amicable behavior rules suitable for each dwelling. What they view as fine personal space in the tiny trailer may or may not be tolerable in the spacious house or the in between larger trailer.
Not every cat is amenable to travel. Good that Teah can watch the house and your son while you travel. Thanks for sharing.
We don’t have much to complain about when it comes to Cracker Barrel. Have been to lots of them and you know what you are getting. Most of the time it’s good.
Over 10 years never thought of blowing out the black tank flush line. Used it maybe 3 times. Will do this season. Hope I dodged the bullet. The only way I’d know if I had a burst line is to run water through it. Maybe ignorance is bliss and I’ll just let it be.
I lived 30 minutes from the Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village. Their Halloween and Xmas is great and so are their summer events. But after 30 plus years nice place to visit but you can spend a lot of money and a lot of days just exploring. Don’t forget the tea house. Otherwise one day won’t get you to see everything.