From RVtravel.com: The common sense resource for RVers since 2001 • Issue 2792
Today’s thought
“Those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything.” ―
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Pastry Day!
On this day in history: 1868 – The first traffic lights are installed, outside the Palace of Westminster in London. Resembling railway signals, they use semaphore arms and are illuminated at night by red and green gas lamps.
Tip of the day
Tackling the never-ending RV maintenance checklist
Let’s face it: RV maintenance checklists can feel like a black hole of tasks. Every time you cross off one item, three more seem to pop up. Whether you’re a weekend warrior or a full-timer, you’ve probably asked yourself, Will I ever finish everything on this list?
Spoiler alert: probably not. But that’s okay! By prioritizing the essentials and keeping some practical strategies in mind, you can avoid stress and ensure your adventures roll on smoothly. Here’s where to start.
Article and video
10 secret Buc-ee’s rules nobody tells you about
By Cheri Sicard
Do you enjoy visiting Buc-ee’s, the super travel stops with lots of great things to see, do, and eat, plus seemingly endless fuel pumps? If you answered yes, you will want to check out this video from The Grateful Glamper, as she reveals ten secret Buc-ee’s rules nobody seems to talk about. I break all her rules down in the article, too.
The cutest snow globe we’ve ever seen!
Santa’s got an RV! This adorable snow globe would look so cute in your home or RV. It plays Christmas music while it lights up and “snows”. It comes with different timer settings so you can have it light up and/or play music for as long as you like. We love this!
Featured article
Safe towing speed—How fast is too fast for towing?
By Cheri Sicard
What is a safe towing speed? How fast is too fast to tow? The team at Keep Your Daydream wanted to cover this topic for a long time. That’s because they say they frequently get passed by all sorts of RVs, from massive Class A’s to SUVs towing single-axle trailers. That led them to the question, “Is there a right speed to tow?” Read and watch what they learned from three RVing experts.
Ask Dave
Twelve Days of Christmas RV Tools—Third day: water heater flush wand
By Dave Solberg
With winter here, hopefully everyone in the cold weather region has already winterized their rig—either using RV antifreeze, or blowing out the plumbing system. In either case, it is best to drain the water heater and use the bypass valve so you don’t need to waste 6 gallons of RV antifreeze or more to protect it. Continue reading.
Reader poll
Do you get more exercise at home or when RVing?
Quick tip
Can’t find the awning pull loop?
Time to open your awning? Sometimes, finding the awning pull loop at the end of the strap can be difficult. Get a large, colorful carabiner like those used by climbers and sailors. The “snap lock” hardware makes it easier to find the end of the strap, and you can grab it with your awning hook. Find them at most big box stores. (Or, hey. How about at Amazon.com?)
Keep your hands warm all winter long
These are Amazon’s best-selling and highest-rated rechargeable hand warmers. These hand warmers come in many colors and heat up in just three seconds. Three temperature settings up to 126°F meet different comfort needs: ideal for outdoor walks, sports events, or cold morning chores. They’re small, lightweight, and easily fit in any pocket. Know someone who is always cold? They (or you!) need these!
On this day last year…
- RV review: 2025 Coachmen Freedom Express 252RBS—tall people welcome here
- Ask Dave: I winterized the RV and it still froze. Why?
- Featured article: Why you should consider a visit to a cemetery on your RV travels
Website of the day
Goldbelly
Goldbelly ships popular meals and treats from around the country straight to your door. Maine lobster roll, anyone? New York pizza? Philly cheesesteak? They’ve got it! Plus, the foods here make great holiday gifts!
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:
• 42 percent have never had a dream about falling.
• 60 percent say they had a business as a kid.
• 8 percent say they are never satisfied with what they have, they always want more.
Recent poll: What’s going on your perfect hot dog?
Trivia
Nesting chinstrap penguins, native to Antarctica, take more than 10,000 microsleeps (naps) every day, for about 4 seconds at a time. They accumulate about 11 hours of sleep, according to a study published in Science.
? MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY ?
We recently watched someone use one of these and it was neat! It’s like bringing the campfire inside. You’d be the fanciest person in the campground, that’s for sure! Cheers!
Readers’ pet of the day
“We just adopted Barlie (Cairn Terrier mix, age 2ish) a few days ago. He rides well in the car. We hope that he loves RVing as much as we do!” —Kelly Foster
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.
FREE IS GOOD! Tour the Jackson Center, Ohio, factory where Airstream trailers are made. Watch as a new trailer goes from raw materials to a finished product. The tours are free. Sign up.
Leave here with a laugh
Today’s weather forecast across the nation
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RVtravel.com All-Star Team
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More news from the National Park service. They are dropping MLK day and June 19 from their free days into the parks. Flag day is the only day mentioned as free. Like I said before it is only going to get worse. As for the Cairin Terrier? Great dogs but they are also great escape artists. Guess Houdini has a contender.
Don’t forget that they are adding your President’s birthday to the list instead of MLK and June teenth. lol.
I thoroughly enjoy all of your amazing National Parks, but boy I am sure glad I live in Canada!
Flag Day and our President’s birthday happen to be on the same day.
True. Which one do you think is more important to him?
I was born on national coconut day, which do you think is more important to me? Coconuts or my birthday?
Not sure, coconuts are great!
I just checked and I was born on “Kiss and Make up day.”
I guess they knew I was married when they invented this day! lol.
Have an awesome week my friend!
Hahaha. Thanks for making my point, you don’t choose your birthday. Coconuts? Hahaha.
Stay well. 😎✌️
Gas in Oklahoma is .49/litre, .62/litre cdn, please tell us all what did you paid in Ontario this week? I show $1.29/ltr., avg in Canada this week but hearing it from a consumer would be better.
Asking for a friend, friend. ✌️😎
not MY president….
Yah, we really miss Biden
Really? That statement doesn’t even deserve a comment!
Who??🤔😉
I even miss the Bushes seeing what we are stuck with now.
Really…you live in a different country?
Cool. What country do you live in? And who is your president then?
They are erasing history so they can repeat it. Sad.
You must be referring to the last administration. They were masters at erasing and rewriting history.
Barlie…adorable! Now thats a face to love! Thank you for saving him!
Wonder what percentage of RVs still on the road have manual awnings? My last one was a 2008. Pushing a button is pretty handy, but my manual awning could be used in more ways.
My ’08 has a manual awning. I’ve never had anything else.
I agree, Jim. Have had the electric type with arms and my last two have the armless Girard. Neither type is as robust or versatile as the old manual awnings.
And what do you do if the retract motors die?
Old school-rig-me stick with looking for the loop. I just put a non-scratch extension on the original.
Those carabiners would sure make a mess on the side of your rig.
Thank you for adopting Barlie who is very adorable! I think you will have a great time camping.
Barlie looks like he’s ready for anything! What a cutie.
Installing a metal carabiner on an awning strap that will be flopping around and beating against the side of an RV as it’s traveling down the highway, doesn’t sound like a great idea to me. There has to be a better way.
I use to put a plastic zip tie on the awning strap before I got an electric awning.
What does MLK and Juneteenth have in common? Yeah, that’s why they were removed.
Sitting here in the 5th wheel with a cup of coffee, our first time trying the Snowbird experience while reading a weeks’ worth of Rv Daily Tips, the pet corner pictures are always a fun minute or two. Walking around this Texas coastal Rv park, I will make the assumption every person living here owns a dog and or cat.