America’s Original RV Newsletter. Since 2001
Issue 2897 • New issue every weekday
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Today’s thought
“Nothing is worth more than laughter. It is strength to laugh and to abandon oneself, to be light. Tragedy is the most ridiculous thing.” —Frida Kahlo
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is Cinco de Mayo! Additionally, today kicks off Donkey Week (May 5-12), which celebrates these often under-appreciated creatures. Perhaps a visit to the Donkey History Museum is in your future?
On this day in history: 1866 – Memorial Day was first celebrated in the United States in Waterloo, New York.
Tip of the day
Improve the grip of your RV front door assist handle
By Russ and Tiña De Maris
Right up in the neatest things category, for our family at least, are big assist handles at the entrance door of the RV. At the end of a long road day, or a long trail, being able to grab that handle and stabilize yourself heading up the steps is a big help.
Trouble is, the grips sold as standard on many of these units don’t hold up too long. Maybe it’s UV light, maybe it’s the wind blowing over the handle as you blast down the highway. Sooner or later, the foam grip on the bar just gives up the ghost. This leaves you with an unsightly mess, and a more difficult situation. Continue reading.
Article and video
These items might be illegal when crossing state lines
Hitting the open road in an RV is an awesome way to see the country, but with each state having its own laws, it can sometimes feel like navigating a legal maze. You might be accidentally breaking the law just by crossing into another state! To help keep your RV adventures fun and free of legal trouble, the team from The Camping Loop compiled a list of seven things you should never take across state lines without knowing the law first.
DARN IT! That’s what you’ll say if you miss a super great bargain today only on something you really want! CHECK HERE!
Featured article
Take an RV break and stay at the historic Red Bay Hotel in Red Bay, AL
By Nanci Dixon
Our motorhome is in the shop in Red Bay, Alabama, getting repaired from a disastrous mistake. We could have stayed with it in the shop, but the paint and fiberglass dust was too much for my husband. Red Bay, Alabama, is a small town and home of Tiffin motorhomes. There is one hotel, two small grocery stores, one McDonald’s, a Jack’s, a Subway and a dollar store. Oh, and a dog food plant. … Read about the historic, and very clean, Red Bay Hotel here.
Ask Dave
With Azdel construction, do RV windows and doors need to be caulked?
SAVE MONEY: Many (perhaps most) Cabela’s stores offer free overnight RV stays in their parking lots. Check with management if it’s okay. Have you ever stayed in a Cabela’s lot?
Reader poll
Would you rather have full hookups or a spectacular view?
Celebrate Cinco de Mayo with these recipes:
- Celebrate National Tortilla Chip Day with these Mexican-inspired recipes
- Fiesta Flavor: 5 irresistible taco recipes to elevate your dinner
- Holy Enchilada! 5 irresistible enchilada recipes
- 5 flavor-packed burrito recipes
- How to make yummy campfire Dutch oven nachos
- How to make perfect griddle breakfast burritos
Quick tip
Why exceeding the tow rating for your vehicle is bad
The tow rating of any vehicle is based on many factors. The best advice is do not exceed the tow rating for any vehicle. If you do, you’ll overload the suspension, overextend safe braking distances, and experience further reduced, even unsafe passing ability. You’ll also overextend brake component capacities and, sometimes, encounter premature brake fade. Furthermore, you won’t do any favors to the engine and drivetrain, and the chance of eventual transmission failure is also possible.
Website of the day
The 8 Most Beautiful Lodges in America’s National Parks
If we could drool over a building, we would be drooling over these! Everyone knows National Park lodges are beautiful, but these are absolutely jaw-dropping. How many have you been to?
? MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY ?
If you displayed this at your campsite, we bet every single other camper would come over and tell you that it made them laugh!
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:
• 15 percent listen to podcasts very often or somewhat often.
• 86 percent say they would never rent out their RV through a peer-to-peer rental company like Outdoorsy.
• 23 percent say they only refer to their RV as a nickname.
Recent poll: Would you trust AI to help diagnose or fix an RV problem before calling a professional?
Trivia
Ants do not have “friends” in the human, individual sense, but they are highly social insects that recognize their nest-mates (friends) and distinguish them from outsiders (foes). Some ant species, such as African Matabele ants, have been observed rescuing and caring for injured nest-mates, which suggests a high level of, if not friendship, then cooperative investment.
Readers’ pets of the day
“That RV sofa is clearly too small for Jimmy and Sadie Rose (Goldendoodle and Great Dane, ages 3 and 10) to both lie down! But when we are moving down the road, Jimmy gets it all to himself while Sadie Rose lies between the captain’s and passenger seats. They are great camp companions!” —Vicki Lunceford
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!
• Pet Food and all pet products at Amazon
• RVing with Dogs group on Facebook. You’ll love it.
FREE IS GOOD! Free Steak & Cheese Melt at Firehouse Subs on May 6 for anyone named Mike (or Michael, Miguel, Mikey, Michaela, Michelle and Michele). Yum! and Fun!
Leave here with a laugh
Today’s weather forecast across the nation
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RVtravel.com All-Star Staff
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Quick tip: Also your insurance will probably be void in the case of any accident!🇨🇦
Actually, any undisclosed modification to your motor vehicle plus an accident can spell trouble with insurance denial. Over loaded is a modification.
Jimmy and Sadie Rose look like delightful traveling companions. We have 2 medium size dogs who also believe the sofa belongs to them.
Cute puppies. You need another couch!!
Jimmy and Sadie Rose look like they have claimed that sofa. They are both so adorable. I’d bet they are both great camping companions and great copilots. Keep on camping.