America’s Original RV Newsletter. Since 2001
Issue 2890 • New issue every weekday
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Today’s thought
“You get what anybody gets – you get a lifetime.” ―
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Bucket List Day! What’s on your bucket list? Leave a comment below.
On this day in history: 1885 – American sharpshooter Annie Oakley is hired by Nate Salsbury to be a part of Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show.
Tip of the day
How to fix drill batteries that won’t charge
This video from Eric at Flannel Guy DIY has millions of views. Needing to know how to fix drill batteries that won’t charge must be a common problem, and since drills are such an essential RV tool, this is also likely a common RV problem.
The tips in the video will work for 20v, 18v or almost any lithium battery for your tools. It works for DeWalt, Makita, Milwaukee, Ryobi, Black & Decker, Rigid, and more. This could save you from buying a new drill or new batteries!
RV review
For minimalists, this little trailer fits the bill
This little RV will keep you warm in the winter and cool in the summer. It will keep you out of the rain and sun, and it will do it without the frills and electronic gizmos that so many RV manufacturers include these days to one-up their competitors. For RVers who want something simple and compact without sacrificing too much comfort, this pint-sized 2026 Salem FSX 135ICE travel trailer might be the ticket.
PRO TIP: If you must roll up your awning when rain threatens (as opposed to putting a big slant on it to let the rain roll off), be sure to roll it out to dry as soon as possible. Rolled up awnings, when wet, are a great place to grow a crop of mold and mildew.
Why we recommend the SoftStartRV™
If you camp in hot weather, this is one upgrade you’ll wish you had sooner. The SoftStartRV lets you run your A/C on limited power—like a small generator or even household current—without tripping breakers or stressing your system. It’s simple to install, built by people we trust, and it just works. If you’ve ever struggled to keep cool at a campground, this is worth a closer look.
In the RV shop with Dustin
RV roof sealants: The best product for every type of roof
In this video, join me in our store as I explain the different types of sealants available for various RV roof materials such as fiberglass, rubber, TPO, and PVC. Discover the essential products needed for cleaning and sealing your RV roof, and get expert tips on application techniques.
Article and video
RV inspector debunks the top 3 RV myths and lies
A lot of RV advice online sounds confident, but that doesn’t make it true. New buyers and seasoned campers alike can get pulled into claims that are built more on drama than real experience. On the RV Inspection And Care channel, our favorite certified RV inspector, Duane, pushes back on that noise and shares it in this video. Duane’s point is simple: People need clear facts about RVs, not hype. That matters most when money, travel plans, and safety are on the line.
Featured article
RVer’s anxiety: Worrying is just a part of the lifestyle
By Jeff Clemishaw
In no area of life does Murphy’s Law apply more succinctly than with RVing. As the saying goes, “Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong.” While RVing is often associated with a carefree, wanderlust life, the actual day-to-day of it all can be starkly different. Continue reading about RVer’s anxiety. Do you agree?
REMINDER: Enter the lottery beginning today, April 24, through April 27 for a chance to see the famous synchronous fireflies at Great Smoky Mountains National Park this May.
Ask Dave
Does it matter what color engine antifreeze I use?
See every detail clearly with this 5X magnifier with LED light
See every detail clearly with this handheld LED magnifying glass. Featuring a large 4.72″ x 3″ rectangular lens with 5X magnification, crystal-clear acrylic optics, and 12 bright LEDs, it makes reading, crafting, or inspecting small items effortless. Lightweight, rechargeable, and designed for comfort, it’s portable and perfect for precision viewing. Learn more here.
You may have missed these recent popular stories…
- Essential IKEA RV gear for 2026
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- The 2026 Grand Design Imagine AIM 19MLA hits a sweet spot
- 12 more quick RV tips and hacks from actual RVers
- Google Maps rolls out biggest upgrade in over a decade with new AI and 3D navigation
- Tony’s tips: Popular RV myths seen on social media—BUSTED!
- Three free RV apps for easy navigation, big rigs, free camping, more
Reader poll
If there were a permanent moon base, would you spend a week there if invited?
IT’S AMAZING AND TRUE! View and participate in more than 2,000 of our previous polls!
Quick tip
RV “dog runner” system
Need a tie-out system to allow your dog to run a bit, yet not get into trouble? Here’s a tip from Jeff-Z.com and their take on how to clip a cable to each end of your RV for a tie-off for Not-So-Rover. “I drilled a 1/2″ hole at the edge of the bumper for a dog tie-out. I added another 1/2″ hole at the front frame rail.”
On this day last year…
- Ask Dave: Why does RV’s 12-volt fuse light show blown fuse but everything works?
- Article & video: Amazing free Texas camping
- Featured article: Has this RVer got himself into a big-time pickle?
Website of the day
Travel + Leisure: Road Trips
Here’s the link to the Travel + Leisure Road Trip section. Looking for road trip inspiration? Start here. You’ll get inspired, all right!
? MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY ?
Oh, kids and adults alike will have so much fun with this! If you don’t click here now, it might disappear into thin air!
Trivia
As a result of the Coriolis effect, which is the deflection of moving objects based on the Earth’s rotation, hurricanes and tropical storms rotate in a clockwise direction in the Southern Hemisphere and counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere.
Readers’ pet of the day
“We got Daphne (Mini Bernedoodle, age 4) in Berlin, Ohio. She loves to swim and has swum in Lake Erie, the Atlantic Ocean, the Pacific Ocean, and the Gulf. She loves traveling in the RV; it’s the only life she has ever known.” —Tom Wilson
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!
FINISHED READING TODAY’S NEWSLETTER? Great job! Now you can move on to yesterday’s brand-new Great RV Accessories Newsletter. Fun!
Leave here with a laugh
Take an extra 10% off a GhostBed luxury RV mattress!
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Today’s weather forecast across the nation
THIS MAP UPDATES TWICE A DAY
Visit Current National Radar Weather Map
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Well it was yesterday not today but I got to check off two bucket list items while in Washington D.C.. We toured Arlington National Cemetery and the National Law Enforcement Memorial and Museum. Fantastic experience.
Daphne is very cute. Looks like one of those quality plush toys. She has to be the center of attention where every you go. Happy travels.
I agree. Daphne is adorable.
With only digital time devices, the present generation most probably doesn’t understand the terms “clockwise” and “counterclockwise” nor where those terms come from.
Plus, most cannot tell you what time it when looking at an analog clock.
Remember when someone asked you the time and you would say about “quarter till’ or “half past” the hour.
PS: I still wear an analog watch.
When I was teaching high school math, my classroom clock was analog. Students requesting a pass to use the restroom were required to sign out at my desk. The pass required the time on it – many anxious moments were taken up by trying to figure the time. I wouldn’t allow them a glance at their watches (which very few wore), nor their phones which the were required to turn in upon entering the classroom.
Some schools are beginning to require cursive handwriting. Maybe they will also teach students how to read an analog clock.
BTW, I worked in maintenance at our local hospital and every clock was/is analog.
They were linked to a master GPS system.
Daphne is gorgeous and looks so soft and fluffy I just want to pet her. And by the sound is a very well traveled pooch, who has swam in all the best places. Keep on camping
Top of the bucket list. Idaho only state on the continent I haven’t visited. Got close this year, so it’s top of the list.
Daphne is adorable
Camping on newfoundland
Friends from that place tell me to pronounce it like “Noofinland”.
That’s what I’ve heard, also, and I live almost 3,000 miles away and don’t know anyone there.😉 Have a great day, Impavid. 😀 –Diane
Cute puppy, it’s so wonderful when they are great travelers
Daphne is a beautiful little dog. I hope she’s traveling with you for many more years.
The battery for tools advise also applies to house batteries. I remembered that on a 2 am wake up when the battery quit when the manufacturer told me to run it all the way down to reset. I did and couldn’t get it to charge until I remembered you needed to jump to get it to recharge.
It worked.
Some battery chargers and converters will not charge a battery if there’s insufficient voltage present. Before you buy a charger or jump starter, check whether it requires voltage in order to work. There are many that will work regardless of a lack of voltage.
I.e. Quick Tip ‐ our dog would pull that bumper right off when the first squirrel went by!
Daphne is adorable, Tom. Thank you for sharing this picture of her. Thank you, Emily and Diane for today’s issue. We use the picnic table to anchor the lead on which we put dog #3. If there isn’t one, then chances are we are only overnighting and would not bother with the lead and only walk dog #3 on a leash. Have a great day and safe travels!