America’s Original RV Newsletter. Since 2001
Issue 2867 • New issue every weekday
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Today’s thought
“The most thoroughly wasted of all days is that on which one has not laughed.” —Nicolas de Chamfort
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Cocktail Day! And if you don’t drink, perhaps you can celebrate National Cheesesteak Day instead!
On this day in history: 1900 – Carnegie Steel Company is formed in New Jersey; its capitalization of $160 million was the largest to date.
Tip of the day
Block window glare with movable sunshades
By Kate Doherty
Up until 2019, we flew our four-passenger airplane some 250+ hours per year for business. Then we traded in those three wheels for six and slowed down. It’s difficult flying east in the early morning or west facing the afternoon glaring sun for hours with little sunshade protection. It’s more prevalent if you’re short, since sun visors don’t always shield your line-of-sight vision—whether you’re in the seat of an airplane, vehicle, or motorhome. Movable sunshades are just the ticket. Check these out.
Article and video
How to repack RV wheel bearings and install grease seals
RV wheel bearings don’t ask for much, but they do need fresh grease. On a fifth wheel or travel trailer, repacking bearings about once a year helps prevent heat, failed seals, and brake problems. Old grease breaks down over time. If a rear grease seal fails, grease can end up inside the brake drum and soak the brake shoes. When that happens, stopping power drops fast, which is the last thing anyone wants on a mountain grade. Continue reading and watch the video.
The one thing every solo RVer needs? A back scratcher!
Yes, all solo RVers need this, but we think everyone needs this—solo or not! Like a break from scratching your partner’s back? This would make the best gift… ever! Ahhh, that feels gooooood.
Featured article
Two options to refill propane; one is a rip-off
It’s cold! And before long, winter’s temps will be even colder. [This is recycled from earlier in the year, obviously.] For RVers who love to travel in the cold and snow, propane is a necessity. … In some cases, you may need it to stay alive! The cost of propane that fuels your RV furnace has increased significantly in the past several months. That’s why it’s important to know about the propane refill rip-off. You need to know the difference between paying a flat rate for propane or paying only for the propane drawn. Learn about it here.
DARN IT! That’s what you’ll say if you miss a super great bargain today only on something you really want! CHECK HERE!
FREE IS GOOD! Heading to Maine this year? Get your free official travel planner and adventure guide by mail or online. Or look here for trip ideas to get you started.
Ask Dave
California RV Show is back in Pomona with a bang!
Reader poll
If the only available campsite was directly next to the playground, would you take it or look elsewhere?
Quick tip
Save money when dining out
When you want to go out to eat, search out little mom and pop restaurants. The big fancy restaurants where all of the tourists go are usually over priced, and I find that most of them are not unique…. Fellow campers sitting around the campfire will tell you where the hole-in-the-wall little restaurants are in the area that serve great local food at non-tourist prices. Tourist restaurants don’t give you a flavor of the local area anyway. And, of course, don’t go out to eat very often. Going out to eat should be a special event. Treat it that way and you will enjoy the experience a lot more. From Secrets of RVing on Social Security: How to Enjoy the Motorhome and RV Lifestyle While Living on Your Social Security Income Available on Amazon.
? MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY ?
We’ve always wanted this but never bought it. Since it’s spring and raining a lot, now is the perfect time to use it! You’ll like it.
On this day last year…
- Ask Dave: Can campgrounds legally charge a flat fee for electricity when pedestals are metered?
- Article & video: The 36 best Costco RV products in 2025
- Featured article: He turned an old Air Force jet engine into an RV!
Website of the day
The most unique hotel in every state
We know we’re all RVers and not typically hotel-stayers, but you may want to book a night at a few of these places after you see and read about them. Some include Airstreams and vintage trailers, while others are in treehouses, in caves, under water, or inside a potato. Yep. You read that right.
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:
• 32 percent say they never “dreamed” of owning an RV. They just decided they wanted to do it one day and went out and bought an RV!
• 21 percent have owned six or more RVs in their lifetime.
• 13 percent have visited a zoo or an aquarium within the last six months.
Recent poll: If gas prices stay high—or rise even more—will it affect your summer RVing plans?
Trivia
During the first quarter of the 20th century, new Americans arriving at Ellis Island were served Jell-O gelatin dessert as a treat to welcome them to America. Gelatin dessert was patented in 1845 and the Jell-O brand was created in 1897. The first flavors were strawberry, raspberry, orange and lemon.
Fix roof leaks and extend your RV roof another 18-20 years with the ONLY liquid butyl rubber in the world
RV Roof Magic’s unique solvent-based drying process allows for a chemical bond not found in other RV sealants. That is why it never needs a primer and only one coat. We offer a 10-year warranty. Apply RV Roof Magic to all roofs except silicone and PVC. Over 30 years of history of success. Visit our site for our monthly special!
Readers’ pet of the day
“Max (Beagle, age 14) loves to hang out with his pack camping.” —Robyn Rasset
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.
BEFORE YOU GO… Did you miss these recent articles?
- RV travel jumps 23 percent with 34 million RVers planning spring road trips
- Gas prices continue to rise. Here’s how you can save
- Smart ways RVers use suction grab bars in their RVs
- The National Park System is more than just parks
- Unwritten rules for RVers at truck stops
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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Max is adorable and has his own camping chair as he observes/patrols the camp grounds. Keep on camping.
Ad for screen door reinforcement is a lie, can’t be installed in “seconds”
I did not see that ad. Maybe subscribe so the ads go away.
Thanks for the suggestion, Ron. However, the ads are removed for subscribers in the weekend issues of our newsletters, not the weekday issues. I didn’t see that ad either, so it is probably an auto-inserted ad, i.e., not one that we put in ourselves. Have a great day. 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
Last spot next to a playground eh? Yeah if I can park my dogs near there and let them bark up a storm. At least there will be enough noise to drone out anything.