America’s Original RV Newsletter. Since 2001
Issue 2876 • New issue every weekday
If you find this newsletter helpful, please consider supporting our work with a donation of your choice. Thank you!
Today’s thought
“I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived.” —Henry David Thoreau
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Fresh Tomato Day!
On this day in history: 1808 – John Jacob Astor incorporates the American Fur Company, which would eventually make him America’s first millionaire.
Tip of the day
How to adjust your RV toilet seat height
By Russ and Tiña De Maris
Hate to let you in on a little secret, but the older we get, the harder it is to use the toilet. We’ll spare you the medical perspective of bodily functions, but just getting up and down from the toilet can be—well, a pain in the—er—neck. And legs. And back. And don’t forget the knees. Adjusting the height of your RV throne can make a world of difference. An RV toilet riser may be just what you need.
Too often, RV toilets are on the short side, but we found a relatively inexpensive upgrade that really helps. Install a riser to give yourself a bit of a lift. We’ll walk you through your own “Game of Thrones.”
More tips from this weekend:
- 22 of our best spring cleaning articles, tips and projects for RVers
- Why Tractor Supply Company is an RVer’s best friend
- Your RV is a rolling earthquake—These gadgets protect what’s inside
YESTERDAY WAS EASTER... Which means you may have been out and missed our Sunday newsletter! If so, catch up and read it here. It’s a great issue!
In the RV shop with Dustin
How to replace an RV microwave
Join me “In The RV Shop” as I show you how to locate your RV microwave model and serial number. In most cases, RV microwaves are not repairable by your local appliance repair shop. In order to fix it, you will need the model and serial numbers to give the RV repair shop or dealership. Dometic, Panasonic, GE and Furrion will all require this information on your microwave to look up a replacement unit or to purchase parts. Continue reading.
The best marshmallow (and more) roaster!
This is hilarious! Take your marshmallow or hot-dog-roasting to a whole new level with this roasting reel. Give it a crank at the perfect speed, and you’ll have the perfectly roasted or toasted… whatever… in no time! Makes a great and funny gift. Find it here.
Article and video
Stinky RV odors and how to get rid of them
Our favorite RV inspector, Duane from the RV Inspection And Care YouTube channel, is back with a discussion of a topic that every RVer is likely to encounter at some point: stinky RV odors! These odors can really put a damper on your travel and camping fun. So, how do you kick those stinky smells to the curb and keep your RV smelling fresh? Duane offers some good advice for just about every type of smell.
The latest news for RVers
- Trump’s budget proposal targets National Parks with massive funding cuts
- Gas prices surge past $4 per gallon nationwide for first time in four years
- You trusted a dealer to sell your RV—then it disappeared
- EPA removes some DEF sensor requirements for diesel equipment
- Costco to build its first massive standalone gas station
To read more recent news, click here.
REMEMBER: You don’t need to receive an email alert from us to read our newsletters. Just visit our homepage, www.RVtravel.com, at any time of day, and the latest issues and articles will be right there for you.
Featured article
How full-time and extended-travel RVers get their mail
By Nanci Dixon
Getting mail on the road is always a concern of full-time RVers and those on extended travels. One of those people is reader Sue L. She and her husband are going on a long trip this winter and won’t be staying in any one place for long. They wonder how they will get their mail. Here is lots of useful information for Sue and other RVers.
Ask Dave
Dealer says I can’t use my RV slide room unless fully extended?
Dave discusses this issue here.
BEST T-SHIRT FOR RVERS: Maybe your husband looks like this when he finally settles down at the campsite (wink), or maybe you just really like this “dude”. Either way, we love this shirt!
Reader poll
Would you attend an RV show in the next month if it were within an hour’s drive of you?
Quick tip
DIY wiring harness
If you’re running wires, for example for a solar installation, all those individual wires can make quite a mess. Using a few wire zip ties—done properly—can make your installation very organized.
Website of the day
Get Your Guide
This website shows you tours all around the U.S. and the world! It’s the best way to see and experience a new place! Take a Chicago architecture river cruise, go on a walking tour of Harvard University, take an Alcatraz night tour and so, soooo much more.
WOOHOO! A new week means a new stretch of open road. Where are you headed this week? Tell us in the comments below.
Monday Motivation
“The problem, often not discovered until late in life, is that when you look for things like love, meaning, motivation, it implies they are sitting behind a tree or under a rock. The most successful people recognize that in life, they create their own love, they manufacture their own meaning, and they generate their own motivation. For me, I am driven by two main philosophies: know more today about the world than I knew yesterday. And along the way, lessen the suffering of others. You’d be surprised how far that gets you.” —Neil deGrasse Tyson
? MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY ?
If you like history, you’ll love this! Having this information in one place is ideal, and the presentation here is near perfect.
Trivia
The entire state of Wyoming has only two escalators. They’re both in Casper: one at the main branch of Hilltop National Bank, and one at the downtown First Interstate Bank building. A third escalator previously existed in a Cheyenne JCPenney, but it was removed.
Readers’ pets of the day
“Our grandpups, Guinness and Baloo, are enjoying a romp in the stream at Siuslaw National Forest.” —Nancy Mutell
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!
LIVE: Mission to the Moon
As bandwidth allows, this stream will feature live views from Artemis II’s Orion spacecraft, without commentary, as it makes its journey around the Moon. You will see a blue screen if there is a loss of signal, or if the bandwidth is needed for mission activities. You may see what appears to be a black screen when the vehicle is in darkness.
Leave here with a laugh
Today’s weather forecast across the nation
THIS MAP UPDATES TWICE A DAY
Visit Current National Radar Weather Map
Did you miss the latest RV Travel Newsletter? If so, read it here.
Oh, and if you missed the Latest News for RVers, make sure to catch up here.
If you shop at Amazon.com we’d appreciate you using this link. We get an itty bitty commission if you buy something, but they add up and help us pay our bills (most importantly our hard-working writers!).
RVtravel.com All-Star Team
Click here for information about our staff and how to contact us.
Reading today’s issue was a little difficult to do on my IPhone 17. All of the pop up advertisements left little room to see the actual story.
Try duck duck go. I’ve been using it for months now. NO pop ups.
I agree, anytime popups are a problem with any web site, I switch to Duck Duck Go, it’s a much more enjoyable experience. Years back an occasional piece of advertising was tolerable, but in today’s environments, the advertising and websites are self defeating. I never view the advertisements and immediately stop using the web sites and find another way. Using Duck Duck Go is one of those ways…
Use a laptop, no popups! Easier to read and manage.
Tablets work also.
Yup…🦆🦆GO works great for all my browsing
Guinness and Baloo are adorable and water dogs to boot. I guess you are just going to have to camp by the water from now on. Keep on camping.
Speaking of John Jacob Astor – – one of the oldest shipwrecks on Lake Superior is that of the sailing ship John Jacob Astor. You can read more here.
Thanks, Jim😊 That is an interesting read about an unusual shipwreck.
I appreciate your post as a native yooper. From the Keewnaw it is good to see this here. just say’n
And the poor pup with the “Leave here with a Laugh” I can sympathize after hearing many a youngster practice, I’m surprised he’s not howling.
I taught music for years. It is vital to listen for improvement! (The pup just needs to change his perspective—or get earplugs!) At least he doesn’t have to listen to young violinists!
As a teacher (not music) who had to share a room with a music teacher…..oh those violinists!!!! But by spring time SUCH improvements!! 🙂
And the people in Wyoming are healther for it.
The article is about escalators. No mention of elevators though.
I think reasons for the demise of escalators is the amount of floor space they take up. Plus, they are not handicapped accessible.
My pups love the mud and water. Yours look so happy!
We are headed to Newfoundland for a few weeks to chase icebergs! We are on Day 3 of the road trip with 2 days in Billings, then off to Pierre SD (for a bucket list item “visit the Capital Building in each state).
Heading to Ellensburg, WA for four or five days. We’ll attend three geology lectures by Nick Zentner, Professor at Central Washington University, and for a couple of geology field trips in the area. No…we’re not geology nerds, but we have found Nick’s lectures, podcasts, and YouTube videos to be excellent ways to learn about the geology of the Pacific Northwest including the Channeled Scablands from the Ice Age Floods and other geologic information.
Makes our camping, hiking, bird watching, kayaking, and RVing in Washington that much more enjoyable.
Plus, Nick is a very interesting speaker and quite a character. 🙂
Retiring next year. Going to lake tahoe this weekend to have a look at our new RV pad we got done at the house we are retiring to.