America’s Original RV Newsletter. Since 2001
Issue 2813
Today’s thought
“Wherever there is danger, there lurks opportunity; wherever there is opportunity, there lurks danger. The two are inseparable.” ―
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Bobblehead Day! Did you know you can make a custom bobblehead of yourself or a loved one? Check this out. What a gift that would make!
On this day in history: 1894 – Thomas Edison makes a kinetoscopic film of someone sneezing. On the same day, his employee, William Kennedy Dickson, receives a patent for motion picture film.
Tip of the day
Don’t make these 7 RVing mistakes like other RVers have
By Nanci Dixon
We all make mistakes. I have made some biggies, too. Some of the RVing mistakes below have happened to others and some to us, but some, thankfully, have not! Don’t let them happen to you either! Here are 7 RV mistakes to avoid.
RV review
The Retro 126 Ruby: A small, stylish travel trailer with big features
A tiny travel trailer usually means giving up certain things. The Sunset Park RV Retro 126 Ruby tries to keep the fun parts and the practical parts: a full bath, real cooking, and a roomy place to sit. It packs a lot into 16 feet!
PRO TIP: If you find the bayonet mounts for your sewer hose connections are getting a bit hard to twist off and on (hate to say it, it sometimes comes with age), here’s a tool that might help. A set of adjustable oil filter pliers, made to get a grip around automotive oil filters, can also provide a handy grip and plenty of leverage on the bayonet fitting of your sewer hose and the termination cap as well. Here’s a set on Amazon.
In the RV shop with Dustin
How to maintain your RV vent lid seals
Proper maintenance of your RV vent lid seals is essential for maintaining the comfort and efficiency of your coach. In this article and video, we’ll show you how to keep these seals in top condition to ensure they effectively trap hot or cold air inside your RV.
Article and video
Got power stations? You need the Pecron U20 Universal Cable Kit
By Cheri Sicard
Anyone who uses portable power stations long enough runs into the same problem: the cable on hand is almost right, but not quite. I know I have. Pecron’s U20 Universal Cable Kit is a connector and adapter kit built for power stations, solar panels, and 12V gear. ReeWray Outdoors has been using it for several weeks and says it’s come in handy “so many times” that it’s become the go-to fix for those missing-cable moments. Learn more about it in this article and video.
Featured article
Visit Raquel Welch’s underwear at Nevada’s oldest saloon
The Genoa Bar & Saloon in Genoa, Nevada [Reno-Carson City vicinity], was established in 1853, and today is considered the oldest bar in the Silver State. It’s been visited by many famous people, including Raquel Welch in the 1960s, who stopped by once while making a film at nearby Lake Tahoe. Wait until you see what undergarment Raquel left behind…
FACTOID: The fear of flying was first known as aerophobia in the 1960s, before the synonymous aviophobia was coined in 1976.
Ask Dave
Where to find replacement thermistor for old RV refrigerator
See that thing over there? Well, now you really can!
Want a closer look without leaving your campsite chair? This compact HD monocular delivers crisp, bright 16x magnification for spotting wildlife, birds, or distant scenery, even in low light. It’s lightweight, easy to use one-handed, and tough enough for real outdoor life—waterproof, fog-proof, and ready for whatever weather your travels bring. A handy little tool for RVers and outdoor lovers who like to see more without carrying more.
Reader poll
Do you wash your dishes immediately or let them pile up in the sink?
Helpful resources
• NATIONAL TRAFFIC AND ROAD CLOSURE INFORMATION
• WEATHER ALERTS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
• LATEST RV RECALLS
Quick tip
Using your noodle to keep the fridge dried out
When the old RV is in a rest-cycle, it just makes sense to keep the fridge doors propped open to let the fresh air roll in. Not only do things smell better when it’s time to hit the road again, any “misses” in your cleaning efforts are less likely to turn into a mold-rearing farm. We’ve had various suggestions on how to keep the doors open, but here’s yet another take on the issue: swim noodles, cut to the appropriate length, then a slot sliced lengthwise to fit over fridge hardware. Thanks to vanchitecture.
PSSST: Check out these simple but useful pool-noodle hacks
On this day last year…
- Ask Dave: RV’s dashboard is loose. How do I fix it?
- Article & video: Fully restored 1954 Kenskill trailer transformed into pontoon boat
- Featured article: 5 charming Midwest Mississippi River towns you should definitely visit
? MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY ?
When was the last time you bought a new one, or set, of these for yourself? We bet it’s been a little while. And even if it hasn’t, you deserve a new one or set! Yes, you do! And this should be the one! (Too bad we’re seeing this after the holidays—it would make a great gift!)
Website of the day
The most famous home in every state
If you have a little bit of time to kill, read this list of the most famous homes in all 50 states. There are some neat lookin’ houses here with fascinating histories.
Trivia
Alaska is the largest U.S. state, with 586,412 square miles. It’s twice the size of Texas, which is the next largest state, at 268,596 square miles.
Readers’ pet of the day
“Midnight was a drop-off that made his way to my home, and into my heart. He’s turned out to be the best companion I could have ever asked for. While he’s not a fan of riding in the truck, he has settled into the travel trailer lifestyle easily.” —Becky Neilsen
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!
FREE IS GOOD! Enjoy a free piece of delicious pie on Free Pie Wednesdays at participating Village Inn locations around the country.
Leave here with a laugh
Today’s weather forecast across the nation
THIS MAP UPDATES TWICE A DAY
Visit Current National Radar Weather Map
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RVtravel.com All-Star Team
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Pro Tip? The link does not go to a set (2) of the oil wrenches, rather only 1. I’d shop around, maybe Harbor freight. IMHO, read the reviews. They do work well, if you have the room to get to the fittings in a compartment.
Midnight is adorable, thank you for rescuing. So glad that he likes the travel trailer lifestyle. keep on camping.
Pro Tip? The best tip is hose maintenance. The biggest reason connections stick is the rubber gasket on one side of the connection. I keep a tiny tub or tube of O-ring grease with my waste hoses. I regularly pull on a glove and spread a tiny bit of this lube on the rubber gasket. Almost never have to look for my wrenches. FYI- O-ring grease is known by several names – faucet lube, etc. Pretty much every hardware store will have it in the plumbing area.
I had one of those tools for taking the hose off, and broke it pretty quickly. I just happened to have a huge pair of channel locks which I now use. Works really well, but I imagine they are not cheap.
On the pro tip a company has introduced an adapter that converts the connection into a quick connection. We use quick connects on fire trucks and in the water supply system where I live. I’ve ordered a unit. We’ll see if it works as advertised.
I haven’t gotten my afternoon RVNewsalerts in January. Are they on vacation?
Hi, Traveler. News was slow over the holidays so not much was posted. However, there were several stories that should have gone out in an RSS news feed yesterday but for some reason it didn’t get sent out automatically, as it should have. We’re checking into it. Have a great day. 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
Nice array of homes in the Website of the Day. DW and I love visiting historic homes, including those of the Presidents.
On a trip through Missouri in early Nov we visited Rockcliffe Mansion in Hannibal. The interior is breathtaking! What makes Rockcliffe so special is that virtually everything in it is original to the home. When the family moved out in the early 1900’s they left almost everything…even clothes in the closets. It then sat empty for decades and when purchased and reopened was like a time capsule.
https://www.rockcliffemansion.com/
Pro tip:
I’ve lost a lot of hand strength with age so we use the Camco RhinoFLEX RV Sewer Hose Wrenches to separate the dump hose from the clear elbow end attachment and the oil wrench for the cover and hose connection to the trailer dump outlet. I lubricate the connections every month or so with Super Lube.
When I lived in Alaska, we were thinking about cutting it in half, and making Texas the third largest state.
👍🤣 I love Alaska. When I was a kid, all my friends wanted to go to Hawaii, but I wanted to go to Alaska. (They couldn’t understand why.) My favorite books were by Jack London. My boys and I drove up to Skagway when they were 9 and 12 (they’re now 46 and 49!) and, unfortunately, haven’t been back. Have a good night, Michael. 😀 –Diane aka Mountain Mama at RVtravel.com
Thank you for another great issue, Emily and Diane! Have a great weekend and safe travels!