America’s Original RV Newsletter. Since 2001
Issue 2857 • New issue every weekday
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Today’s thought
“People have a way of becoming what you encourage them to be—not what you nag them to be.” —S.N. Parker
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Pack Your Lunch Day!
On this day in history: 1876 – The first successful test of a telephone is made by Alexander Graham Bell.
Tip of the day
Upgrade your RV living space with modular furniture
By Gail Marsh
If you’re an RVer who wants to breathe new life into your living area, you may want to consider modular furniture.
Modular furniture isn’t just stylish—it’s a smart solution for the unique challenges of RV living. Consider the benefits of modular RV furniture and see why a modular sectional can be a game-changer for RVers.
Article and video
Texas RV resort with heated lazy river—Just $599 a month
Paying less than many campgrounds charge for a single week and getting a heated lazy river sounds like one of those too-good-to-be-true deals. That’s exactly why the Why Wait crew parked at Seagrass RV Resort on the Texas coast for a long winter stay. Check this amazing place out!
Featured article
Do idyllic campsites exist? Yes, and they’re not hard to find
By Dave Helgeson (veteran boondocker)
Past RVtravel.com articles question whether the idyllic campsites pictured in RV industry ads really exist. Publisher Chuck Woodbury suggests they are staged where you aren’t allowed to camp. Others I see are photoshopped, often quite poorly, in a scenic location. … What is missing from the above definitions [of idyllic campsites]? The words RV park, campground, or Walmart. Therefore, it only stands to reason if you want to find idyllic campsites, like those pictured in the ads, you may want to look outside the confines of a traditional RV park or campground. Learn how to easily find them here.
🔥 Reader favorite
Fire-resistant bag keeps valuables safe!
This silicone-coated fire-resistant bag will save your money, documents, jewelry, passport and other valuables from a fire. Its two layers of supreme fire-retardant fiberglass material make it resist fire and heat up to 2000℉. It’s waterproof, too, so when the hoses arrive, your valuables won’t be harmed. Learn more or order.
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Ask Dave
What caused crack in RV’s fiberglass sidewall? How to fix it?
Reader poll
What would you fear stumbling upon most in the wild—a bear, rattlesnake, or alligator?
Quick tip
Easy ways to stretch your gas mileage
Gas prices are headed up again, and maybe that’s a challenge to your pocketbook. Well, here are a few easy ways to stretch your RV dollars with practically no work and at no additional expense. First, slow down. Don’t go 65 on the highway—slow down to 60 or, better yet, 55. Make sure your tires are properly inflated: You’ll roll easier so your engine won’t need to work as hard. At intersections, go soft on the gas pedal as you get up to speed. Even doing these simple things will save you money by improving your mileage.
HA HA: On a septic tank truck: Yesterday’s Meals on Wheels
Website of the day
5 one-tank roadtrips from New Orleans, Louisiana
Visiting beautiful New Orleans? Check out this list from Roadtrippers for easy one-tank drives you can do from the city.
? MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY ?
We’re not quite sure what this man is doing with his hands (preparing for a quick draw? Seriously, what a strange photo…), but this gadget could really be useful for some of you…
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:
• 20 percent say they or someone they know has been charged extra for kids at a campground.
• 17 percent carry a portable automatic ice maker with them on their RV travels.
• 80 percent have not spent a night at a rest area in their RV within the last year.
TAKE A GUESS: RVtravel.com readers say this is their preferred amount of time to stay at a campsite: A) One night, B) A few days, C) A week, or D) Two weeks? Find out here.
Don’t miss these recent stories:
- You’re not imagining it: Campground prices really are higher
- Confession of a coffee addict: The trick that saves my day
- 5 important lessons to learn from watching RV crashes
- Gadget show-and-tell: Real people share their favorite RV gear
- Gas prices jump nearly 27 cents nationwide, largest weekly jump since 2022
Trivia
Cleopatra was fluent in nine languages, including Egyptian, making her the only pharaoh in the 300-year Ptolemaic dynasty able to speak it. (Most other Ptolemaic leaders spoke Greek.) Cleopatra was a highly intelligent ruler. In addition to using her persuasive powers for political gain, she wrote books, favored rare manuscripts, and hunted.
Readers’ pets of the day
“Scout and Journey (mini poodle and mini goldendoodle, ages 2 and 8 months). ‘Don’t worry, she will be home soon…'” —Michael Keck
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!
RVtravel.com’s favorite doggie treat: Sam’s Yams® nothin’-but-sweet potato treats. Archie (Chuck and Gail’s dog) approved!
FREE IS GOOD! Free movies and TV (with ads) on YouTube.
Leave here with a laugh
A young Montana cowboy was walking a pretty girl home from the Saturday night barn dance. He was falling in love, and it was a beautiful, romantic evening. “Edna, I bet you’ve been out with a lot of worse-looking fellows than me,” he said, bashfully. Edna didn’t answer. He tried again. “I said, I bet you’ve been out with a lot of uglier fellows than me.”
“Would you keep quiet,” Edna said. “I’m trying to think!”
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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How cool the puppies love you so much to see when you get home!!
Dogs are always happy to see you come home. Not wife’s.
Scout and Journey are adorable, and patiently awaiting their Mom at the best spot. They appear to be great co-pilots. Keep on camping.
We wouldn’t be without our portable automatic ice maker. There is one built into the freezer part of the fridge we don’t use. Why? It reduces the efficiency of the freezer, it takes up room in the freezer, it’s a real hassle to winterize and we know every ounce of water that goes into our portable has absolutely no contamination vs drawing from the fresh water tank which we never drink from. Where do we get our drinking/ice water? I have two 5 gallon water bottles in the RVs basement hooked up to a separate water system from that of the RVs.
Perfect campsites ? Folks who backpack or use tents, see advertisements with mowed lawns or fields, trimmed bushes, or folks who backpack and carry batteries the size of the one in your car to light up the campsite. The perfect campsite is the one you want to come back to again and again.
When you stumble across a snake lets hope it is not on horseback. The horse may throw you. As for a bear? You are up a tree. And lets not forget the crocodile. That is a sink or swim issue.