America’s Original RV Newsletter. Since 2001
Issue 2830 • New issue every weekday
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Today’s thought
“People tend to complicate their own lives, as if living weren’t already complicated enough.”―
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Croissant Day! We love croissants so much that we’d buy this!
On this day in history: 1920 – Japanese carmaker Mazda is founded, initially as a cork-producing company.
Tip of the day
How to have a successful winter camping trip, even in negative temps
By Nanci Dixon
Successful winter camping? Yes! It’s easy to enjoy the solitude and beauty of winter camping—you just have to know how to do it safely.
The end of the season, when it’s time to pack up the RV, winterize it, and put it in storage, has always been a rather sad time. That is, until I was able to convince my husband that we could still RV—we just needed to do a little more prep and do without some of the fancy luxuries that an RV provides. Continue reading.
RV review
2026 KZ RV Domani DM241ML: A yacht-inspired couple’s dream RV
If you’re a couple looking to step up your RV game without going overboard on size, the 2026 KZ RV Domani DM241ML might just be the ticket. (If you’re not familiar with the Domani name, it’s made by KZ RV. That’s a division of Thor Industries.) Designed from the ground up to blend stylish design with practical living space, the 2026 KZ RV Domani DM241ML is ideal for RVers who plan extended trips or weekend getaways and don’t want to compromise on comfort. Continue reading.
Your car or RV seat just became a desk
This fold-down car table turns your driver or passenger seat into a simple workspace or lunch spot—perfect for RVers on long travel days, remote workers, and road-trip stops. It hooks onto the steering wheel or seat back, adjusts for height and angle, and gives you a sturdy place for meals, laptops, maps, or morning coffee (when parked, of course). A surprisingly handy little upgrade for life on the road. Check it out. (We just bought one.)
In the RV shop with Dustin
Cool RV Tools: DeWalt impact driver
Join Dave, Zach, and me as we share what we like to call “Cool RV Tools.” These are tools and gadgets that we actually use in the RV industry. We also believe they will be helpful to you when you need to make repairs while out on the road. In today’s article and video, we’re looking at the DeWalt impact driver. What exactly does it do? Find out here.
PRO TIP: Failure forecasting—Track part lifespans (pumps, anodes, belts) instead of waiting for breakdowns. Keep a maintenance log and replace ’em before they break.
Article and video
Keep the cold out with bubble wrap RV window insulation
This video from PlayRightParent demonstrates bubble wrap window insulation on a sticks-and-bricks home. However, this same inexpensive cold-weather hack can also work in RVs. You will be surprised by how easy it is. No tapes or adhesives are needed, and the bubble wrap takes seconds to remove when you no longer need it. Check it out.
Featured article
Why go small? This time we’re looking at the case for owning a small RV
By Tony Barthel
Recently, Mike Sherman, full-time RVer, made a very good case for the reasons to go big and have a larger RV. I saw that and, as a small trailer enthusiast, I wanted to share my thoughts on why I think small trailers have the advantage. The first thing I have to clear up is that the RV industry is incredible. There is literally “something for everyone.” In fact, there’s almost no “right” or “wrong” answer. I’ve seen people adapt to all sorts of RVs. But… Continue reading.
Ask Dave
My battery terminals are corroded. Should I use grease to protect them?
If you’re in the area, get educated and entertained at Dave’s seminars at the Davenport RV Show today through Sunday in East Moline, IL.
The surprising RV kitchen hack hiding in your… toaster?
Turn your toaster into a tiny kitchen upgrade with reusable toaster bags. These nonstick, heat-safe bags let you grill sandwiches, reheat leftovers, and make quick meals without drips, smoke, or messy cleanup. No scraping burned cheese, no crumbs in the heating element, and no cross-contact worries—just easy breakfasts, simple lunches, and laid-back dinners with zero mess. Toss a few in your drawer and your toaster suddenly becomes one of the hardest-working tools in your RV kitchen. Gail Marsh recommends them here.
You may have missed these recent popular stories…
- 2026 Forest River Campsite Ultra 25JT: Compact living that thinks big
- RV review: Jayco Eagle HT 275RBCS—the high ceiling is niiiiice
- Buc-ee’s to open its biggest location ever, and it’s not in Texas
- How to pay the lowest price for a product on Amazon
- An easy, quick way to fill your RV’s toilet bowl
- What it was like using ChatGPT to plan my RV trip. Did it work?
- Three offbeat Arizona museums to visit, and where to camp nearby
Reader poll
Do you always walk around your rig before taking off?
Quick tip
Backup RV awning pull-strap
“I have an older manual Dometic patio awning with a black pull-down strap. On one occasion as I grabbed the strap and went to pull it down, the loop broke. I now needed to get out a ladder to get to the strap and pull it down. Lesson learned. I now keep two identical pull-down straps on the awning. I only use one and let the other just roll up with the awning. But if I have problems with the one strap, a backup is already in place and ready to go.” Thanks to William B. for the idea. Need a backup strap? Here’s one on Amazon.
HEALTH NEWS: Researchers at Case Western Reserve University say they have developed an experimental treatment for advanced prostate cancer that may reduce severe side effects. Early studies show the therapy targets cancer cells while limiting damage to salivary glands, a common cause of painful dry mouth that affects eating and speaking. The findings suggest the treatment remains effective while being easier to tolerate. Small clinical trials are planned.
Website of the day
Hilarious National Park Tweets
Turns out the National Park Service has hired the perfect social media person. They have quite a sense of humor, and their Tweets are hilarious! (This is a couple of years old now, but they’re still timely!)
? MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY ?
Oh, we just loooove when things that are practical are also cute! This one is very fun and would look great in your RV (and yes, it’s practical!).
Trivia
A University of Miami engineering student is studying cow dung as a low-cost radiation shield for space travel. Long used as insulation in rural India, the material shows promise in early tests for protecting astronauts from harmful radiation during deep-space missions, including future trips to Mars.
Readers’ pet of the day
“Ella, 8 months old, is adventurous, loves to walk on a leash, and insists on being my co-pilot in the RV. Here, she’s sleeping on the job.” —MB Wood
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
When I was a kid, my parents would always say “Excuse my French” after a swear word. I’ll never forget that first day at school when the teacher asked if we knew any French.
FINISHED READING THIS NEWSLETTER? Great, now you can move on to yesterday’s brand-new Great RV Accessories newsletter. If you love gadgets, you’ll love this issue.
Today’s weather forecast across the nation
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RVtravel.com All-Star Team
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I bet Ella loves the heat from the dash. She is a beautiful cat.
She is a beautiful cat, but no animal should be riding on the dash. It’s a safety hazard.
In more ways than one.
I purchased one of the “TINY” portable air purifiers, and it is not tiny!. It is larger than the title states. It’s 7 1/2″ x 7 1/2″ x 3″tall. Although it will work fine for my needs, just a heads up. Remember to remove the filter plastic seal prior to use.
Your measurements are actually smaller than what they show.
It is smaller than a box fan.
Bubble Wrap Insulation – Been doing this for 20+ yrs. Makes a HUGE difference! Always left a seam at the appropriate level for peeking out. Have double glazed side windows, still helped, but biggest “Leak” is the windshield. It might as well be open to the air. I use bigger bubble on this.
The windows frames allow heat transfer from inside RV to outside RV. Try touching one this week, where it is super cold in Dixie.
On LHWaL, I once innocently asked the parent of a student how to correctly pronounce a French word I had to use in a lesson, having had aforementioned student helpfully tell me that his mother would know since she spoke French. (I had never heard the “pardon me” phrase before.) She turned bright red.
Ella is precious and sweet. Motorhomes have the smallest percentage of accidents, and most cats never wear seat belts, so you enjoy Ella!
I am always shocked (maybe surprised) that people let their pets roam free in vehicles that are on the move. Am I the only one who sees the safety issue with this?