America’s Original RV Newsletter. Since 2001
Issue 2892 • New issue every weekday
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Today’s thought
“Don’t count the days, make the days count.” —Muhammad Ali
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Blueberry Pie Day!
On this day in history: 1930 – The Independence Producers host the first night game in the history of Organized Baseball in Independence, Kansas.
Tip of the day
Water gadgets you need for your RV
If you’ll be camping in a park with “city water”—that is, water from a faucet—there are some good accessories to keep in your RV storage compartment. These can make your visit easier—even safer—for your rig. They’re inexpensive, and you’ll be glad you have them when you need them.
Even before you hang the hose on the tap, there are a couple of helpful devices you might need. First, there are situations where the “threads” on the water faucet are stripped, or deliberately not there to prevent folks from hooking a hose to an otherwise good spigot. Continue reading.
Article and video
Clearing up confusion over diesel fuel types
By Cheri Sicard
Switching to a diesel truck or RV can bring up a lot of questions about fuel. What’s the difference between all those diesel types at the pump? What about additives? In this video from RV Miles, Jason Epperson breaks down the basics of diesel fuel, so owners can keep their engines running smoothly for years to come.
Psst: Don’t feel like or don’t like watching videos? Did you know that Cheri writes articles to go along with the video? Here, she summarizes everything Jason says (and it’s 1,100 words! See? No video needed).
RVtravel.com editors’ and readers’ all-time favorite products at Amazon
Welcome to the wonderful world of RVtravel.com’s favorite Amazon finds! This is the first time EVER that we’re sharing this list with you. This is our personal list that we use every day to recommend products to YOU. These are the products we actually use, talk about, recommend, and keep in our own rigs. And no, none of them are sponsored or paid for or anything like that. We’ve been compiling this list for years! Not to toot our own horn, but this is impressive!
Featured article
A poem about RVing for National Poetry Month
April is National Poetry Month, a month-long celebration that was launched by the Academy of American Poets in 1996. Since then, it has grown into the largest literary celebration in the world. 2026 marks the 30th anniversary of this special month. Read Gail Marsh’s poem about RVing, then submit your own.
Ask Dave
Follow-up on RV rodent problem with unique fix
Did you miss the news?
- RV shipments are improving—but buyers may still have the upper hand in 2026
- Beyond the headlines with Tony Barthel: What does a Lippert-Patrick merger mean for RVers?
- California announces major expansion of its State Parks system
- Grand Design rolls out a ‘worry-free’ RV roof, promises fewer leaks
- RVers aren’t immune to ‘rookie’ national park mistakes
Reader poll
In what season(s) of the year do you most often RV?
Quick tip
Relieve that dripping water heater valve
If your RV’s water heater pressure relief valve is dripping, it may not necessarily need a replacement. Since water expands dramatically when heated, if your tank is full of water, then the “temperature and pressure relief valve” (T&P) may sense the need to let a little pressure off when your water temp rises. Restoring a head of air at the top of the tank may be all that’s required to stop that weeping. Here’s how to do it:
1. Turn off the heat. Shut off the LP burner or electric heater to the tank. ALLOW THE WATER HEATER TO COOL DOWN BEFORE PROCEEDING.
2. Turn off the water. Shut down the city water line to your rig, or turn off the water pump that supplies water—whichever applies in your situation.
3. Relieve the pressure. Open a faucet in your rig—both the hot and cold side—and leave it open. The idea is to relieve the pressure from the lines.
4. Open the T&P valve by flipping the lever up. Water will likely be released, hence the importance of allowing the heater to cool down before getting to this step. When the water stops coming out of the T&P, close the lever.
5. Restore power and water. Check to ensure the dripping has stopped at your T&P.
It’s not unusual to have to repeat this occasionally, as the air pocket may need to be restored now and again. However, if the valve should start to drip again soon, it may be you need a new T&P valve.
? MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY ?
You’ve seen a prairie dog, right? So you know how cute they are? Good. Well, what if we told you that you could become a prairie dog for a day? Or even a week! Check this out—you can!
Website of the day
The 57 Most Beautiful Places in the World
This list from Condé Nast Traveler will inspire you to leave that RV behind and go explore other parts of our beautiful world. Some of these places are in the U.S., but you’ll surely want to book a plane ticket after reading this one!
And the survey says…
We’ve polled RVtravel.com readers more than 5,000 times in recent years. Here are a few things we’ve learned about them:
• 11 percent have stayed in more than one National Park campground within the past year. An additional 9 percent have stayed in one.
• 74 percent say they would continue traveling in their RV if their partner died.
• 54 percent say they put in a lot of effort to make sure they recycle.
Recent poll: Would you avoid a park if cell service is poor or nonexistent?
Trivia
Johnny Morris, legendary angler and noted conservationist, started Bass Pro Shops in 1972 in an 8-square-foot space in his father’s liquor store in Springfield, Mo. That was the company’s sole location for its first 13 years.
Bored? Not for long! Here’s a list of every article and newsletter recently published on RVtravel.com. We don’t know what bored is around here—we never stop working! You’ll have fun looking through all these articles, and we bet you’ll learn something, too.
Readers’ pet of the day
“Gracie (Weimaraner, age 5) loves our new adventures in our new Arctic Fox travel trailer. We’re all newbies since February 2026. So far, we think we’ve made the best decision since retiring, and Gracie seems to like the trips, too. Here we are at the Painted Desert in February.” —Chris and Molly Waidner
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.
Fresh, flavorful diabetic diet meals for RVers over 60
Eating well on the road doesn’t have to be complicated or bland. This diabetic cookbook for people over 60 is packed with quick, practical recipes designed to support steady blood sugar and boost daily energy, all with simple ingredients. With clear nutrition info and a built-in 4-week meal plan, it takes the guesswork out of healthy cooking so you can focus on feeling good and enjoying the journey. Learn more or order.
FREE IS GOOD! See a map of 12,000+ gas stations that provide free air for tires at FreeAirPump.com.
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 Staff
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Gracie looks so regal. May you have many wonderful trips together. RVing as a retiree is awesome. No alarm clocks. No deadlines. Have lots of fun on your adventures.
This is year 3 with our 5th wheel. I used bags of spices to keep mice out and a few dryer sheets. There were hot peppermints, hot dry red peppers, cloves, peppercorns etc changed out every year in fine mesh bags. Worked for the first 2 years, however this year they literally chewed through the bags and ate or carried off the peppermint and red peppers and spread the rest willy nilly. It was a mess and they peed on the dryer sheets. I have identified the entrance and will repair that later today. Steel wool and spray foam should do it I hope. I won’t use the spices again. It was really hard to clean up. The high frequency device upset our wee dog so that was tossed also.
Only one or two of the commonly-recommended fixes work to repel mice; most do absolutely nothing. You can see this by watching the Mousetrap Monday videos where these “remedies” are actually tested on wild mice.
The steel wool will rust and eventually go away, even when covered with the foam.
A better alternative is the stainless or copper pot scrubbers.
Gracie looks happy and you’re in the right trailer also with the Arctic fox. May you have safe travels always!
Thank you for the tip on Cheri’s article being readable!
Another “Website of the Day” that requires a paid subscription. Really?
Greg, it was not behind a paywall for me.
Try this link: https://www.cntraveler.com/galleries/2015-11-27/the-50-most-beautiful-places-in-the-world
Wonderful walking companion! Great life for Gracie.
A better suggestion for the water hose is to use a 45 degree unit with a built in shut off valve. This makes it easy to shut the water off to your trailer when leaving so there are no surprises when you return!