America’s Original RV Newsletter. Since 2001
Issue 2891 • New issue every weekday
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Today’s thought
“No road is long with good company.” —Turkish Proverb
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Prime Rib Day!
On this day in history: 2006 – Construction begins on the Freedom Tower (later renamed One World Trade Center) in New York City.
Tip of the day
RV hitch failure raises question: When did you last inspect yours?
By Russ and Tiña De Maris
Many RVers are pretty aware of safety. They check tire pressure. Make sure the running lights are operational. Try to “keep the weight down” so as not to overload their rig or tow vehicle. But sometimes, things happen that you probably hadn’t stopped to think about. An RV hitch failure can ruin your whole day. Take Larry’s experience, for example.
More tips from this weekend:
- Why your RV keeps breaking—and what repair techs say most owners get wrong
- A cheap slideout trick that can keep leaves and debris out of your RV
- Why your RV’s A/C is most likely to fail this summer
RV review
2026 Forest River Surveyor Legend 204MKLE—Not bad… just weird
The 2026 Forest River Surveyor Legend 204MKLE is the kind of trailer that can split opinions fast. It packs a lot of smart features into a popular couple’s floor plan, yet one choice changes the whole feel inside. We get a tour from Josh the RV Nerd at Bish’s RV in the video at the end of this post. This isn’t a bad camper, but it is a weird one. Shoppers looking at this layout usually have a lot of other options. See what you think.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT… 7-year-old girl’s video review of travel trailer is a delight. Click here.
Keep insects and bird nests out of your RV furnace
Wasps, mud daubers, birds and rodents pose a serious threat to the furnace on your RV. They can enter through the furnace vents. Their nests can interfere with air flow and cause serious damage. This pack comes with a few different screens, so check which one will fit your vent. Here’s more info on these screens, and why they’re important. You can order them here.
In the RV shop with Dustin
Having a towing maintenance kit could save your trip
In the past, Dave Solberg and I [Dustin] met for a livestream called Talkin’ RV Tech. We not only answered technical questions, but we also shared what we like to call “cool tools.” These are tools and gadgets that we actually use! We also believe they will be helpful to you. This clip is from one of those videos where we discuss towing maintenance kits.
Article and video
Visit America’s weirdest small towns on your next road trip
By Cheri Sicard
If a journey through the wonderfully weird side of the USA sounds appealing, then buckle up. Here, the team from Weird History has compiled a list of the weirdest small towns in the United States that you can schedule into your future travel. I tell you all about them in the article, too.
The latest news for RVers
- Two RV parts giants may merge—and RVers could pay the price
- Gas prices may have peaked, but RVers shouldn’t expect relief anytime soon
- Grand Design rolls out a ‘worry-free’ RV roof, promises fewer leaks
- Starlink satellites are becoming a problem in space
- California announces major expansion of its State Parks system
- Beyond the headlines with Tony Barthel: What does a Lippert-Patrick merger mean for RVers?
To read more recent news, click here.
Featured article
Amazing 20-year dream 1935 Bowlus restoration is completed
By Paul Lacitinola
In the current issue of the Vintage Camper Trailers Magazine, we featured two of Monte Osborne’s vintage vehicles: his King slide-in camper and his rare 1935 Bowlus Road Chief. Anna Scribner of Flyte Camp shared the following builder’s notes about this trailer’s restoration. Check this out!
FACTOID: One barrel contains 42 gallons of crude oil from which, in the U.S., typically 19 gallons of gasoline are produced.
Groove gap cleaning tool keeps bugs, dirt and grime out of windows and doors
This small groove gap cleaner cleans windows, sliding doors, shower door tracks, oven and sink gaps and more. This two-part gadget has a scraper for scraping up debris and dirt, and a brush for brushing it away! The elevated handle has finger grips for an easy hold. If it gets dirty, wash it with soap and water, and it’s just like new. Learn more or order.
Ask Dave
Can I use a 2-prong plug in a 3-prong outlet?
Reader poll
Would you say that you are addicted to your cell phone?
Quick tip
Got an emergency fund? You should…
My advice to anyone living the RV lifestyle is to keep an emergency fund. Don’t buy the most expensive RV you can afford. Keep a little money back for emergencies. Also, make sure that you are not spending every penny that’s coming in each month. If you find yourself spending all the money that’s coming in, by all means, find a way to do some workamping or other ways to make a little extra money each month, or find a way to cut back on your spending, so you can put away some money for an emergency. Things happen when you’re living on the road—just as they do when you’re living a traditional lifestyle.
Below is a list of expenses that could come up at any time, and you need to be prepared for them. Eye glasses. Dental work. (I broke a tooth yesterday. I’m sure that will be expensive and it’s not covered by insurance.) Tires—You may have a blowout at any time and even if you don’t, you will need to replace all of your tires every five to seven years. If you have three years left on your tires, start putting money aside now for a new set. Saving $50 a month for three years would give you $1,800 towards a set of tires when the time comes. If you have an accident, your insurance will probably cover it, but is there a deductible amount that you would be required to pay? 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.
Website of the day
The 39 Most Beautiful Main Streets Across America
Think you’ve visited America’s prettiest Main Street? Well, see if it made the list!
Monday Motivation
“Enjoy making decisions. You must know that in any moment a decision you make can change the course of your life forever: the very next person you stand behind in line or sit next to on an airplane, the very next phone call you make or receive, the very next movie you see or book you read or page you turn could be the one single thing that causes the floodgates to open, and all of the things that you’ve been waiting for to fall into place. If you really want your life to be passionate, you need to live with this attitude of expectancy.” ―Anthony Robbins
? MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY ?
Do you and your special sweetheart drink coffee together every morning? If so, you need this. This is so sweet!
Trivia
No two people have the same fingerprints—not even identical twins. These tiny patterns actually form long before birth. While a baby is developing in the womb, subtle movements, pressure, and contact with their surroundings shape what are known as “friction ridges”—the delicate lines you see on your fingers and toes. By about six months of pregnancy, those ridges are fully formed and will stay with you for life.
Readers’ pet of the day
“I told people that my little van motorhome was really Mandi’s, and that I was just the chauffeur! She loved to travel in HER little home on wheels! We logged 120,000 miles together on our adventures. She left me in April of 2021, but still travels with me in my heart!” —Sylvia Jordan
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
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RVtravel.com All-Star Staff
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Mandi is a beautiful girl. What a wonderful gift she has given you…forever memories and RVing together. Don
This comment captures what I wanted to say about Mandi, but in a more elegant way.
Cash is King. If you have never lived through a massive area electrical shut-down, you will find ATMs, Cell towers, etc are down. Keep at least $1K for the unpredictable future.
Unless, of course, you want to get into a National Park. 🥴
Mandi was absolutely gorgeous and a great co-pilot I can tell. I’m so sorry for your loss. I’m glad you had the time to make so many memories with her, so many more than the 120,000 miles actually gave you I’m sure. Keep those memories close to your heart.
Regarding the “Website of the Day”, please don’t include websites that require you to purchase a subscription in order to read the article or access the website.
Thank you.
Thank you for the suggestion, Greg. When those websites are picked out, I’m pretty sure they don’t require a subscription. If that happened to you in today’s Website, I just double-checked and it didn’t even suggest that I subscribe, let alone require that I subscribe to see the contents. So, I’m not sure why it did that to you. That’s odd. Sorry. Have a great day. 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
Re Website of the Day, it let me see two towns and then said I had to subscribe to continue! I had read my last free page. Sure would love to see the other towns but am not into web subscriptions!