America’s Original RV Newsletter. Since 2001
Issue 2908 • New issue every weekday
Today’s thought
“Never throughout history has a man who lived a life of ease left a name worth remembering.” —Theodore Roosevelt
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Rescue Dog Day!
On this day in history: 1570 – Cartographer Abraham Ortelius issues Theatrum Orbis Terrarum, the first modern atlas.
Tip of the day
Easy tip for draining fresh water tank
By Nanci Dixon
Here’s an easy tip for draining the fresh water tank: Add a hose end!
As full-time RVers staying in different RV parks across the country over the years, we have wondered where to dump fresh water when it is not so fresh and the system needs sanitizing.
The RV park does not want us to drain 90 gallons (or even 20 gallons!) of water at the campsite. Although I will admit that I have resorted to stealth-opening the fresh water drain in the middle of a torrential downpour before we figured out this system… Continue reading.
In the RV shop with Dustin
How to identify your RV roof vent lid hinge style
Did you know that there are five different RV vent lid styles? The main difference among them is how they hinge on the vent base. To better help yourself or your local repair shop, make sure you either remove the vent lid and take it in, or take a side and back view picture, so it’s easier to match it up. Continue reading.
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Article and video
How to fix fiberglass trailer body damage
That scraping sound against a gate is the kind of mistake every fiberglass trailer owner fears. After backing a Casita Spirit Deluxe into metal, the owner found a gouge and scratches in the shell, but the damage stayed shallow enough for a DIY fix. Instead of paying about $500 for a body shop repair, the goal was simple: Learn how to fix fiberglass trailer body damage. That entailed sealing the fiberglass, rebuilding the low spots, and making the area look clean again. Here’s how to do it.
Funny mug of the day
Featured article
Brilliant RV screen door hack—Why didn’t I think of that?
By Cheri Sicard
This YouTube shorts video may be very short on time, but it shares a BRILLIANT RV screen door tip that’s especially useful if you have pets or small children. It costs nothing and needs no installation, assuming your RV already has this accessory (and most do). Check this out.
Ask Dave
I’m still a fan of Dawn dish soap, but with a few variations
Read about more uses Dave has found for Dawn dish soap.
Healthy “ice cream” in your RV without the guilt (or price tag)
Craving something sweet but trying to eat healthier? This frozen fruit soft-serve maker turns any frozen fruit into creamy, ice-cream-style treats in minutes—no added sugar, dairy, or mystery ingredients. Gadgets like this are usually pricey, but this one keeps it simple and affordable. Easy to clean and perfect for small RV kitchens, it’s a smarter way to satisfy dessert cravings.
Reader poll
On your cell phone, do you talk more or text more?
Quick tip
Don’t allow antenna “wings” to contact RV roof
Add this to your inspection list: Are your roof-top antenna “wings” coming in contact with the roof when in travel position? If so, they may rub against the roof with road vibration and can actually chew a hole in your rubber roof. If it looks as if they are, GENTLY bend and flex them upward enough that they lose contact with the roof.
Website of the day
The best glamping in the USA
You can’t deny it… you’d totally trade your RV in for a night to stay at one of these ultra-luxe glamping locations, wouldn’t you? (For one night? We would!)
? MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY ?
Spot the difference! Okay, now spot the differience. No, really, spot the diffirence… Did you?
Trivia
In March of 1933, President Franklin Roosevelt called a meeting to create the Civilian Conservation Corps. He intended to put 500,000 unemployed youths to work in forests, parks and range lands across the country. In its nine years, the CCC employed more than 3 million men and left an undeniable imprint on the nation’s landscape. The CCC built more than 40,000 bridges, restored nearly 4,000 historic sites and structures, improved thousands of beaches, roads, and shorelines, and created 800 state parks.
Readers’ pet of the day
“Kala (mixed breed, age 7) is the perfect running or walking companion. She’s not really fond of driving days but is happy once we’re settled. She has a great fear of flying insects, as we were swarmed TERRIBLY by stink bugs while in Oregon in our Class A when she was young. She’s happy now that she can see her mom almost all the time in her new van, as long as there are no insects!” —Sherry Bell
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!
IT’S TRUE: You can tell a lot about an RVer by how calmly they react when someone says, “Honey… what was that sound?”
Leave here with a laugh
What does a tapeworm have in common with the Eiffel Tower?
They’re both Paris sites.
Today’s weather forecast across the nation
THIS MAP UPDATES TWICE A DAY
Visit Current National Radar Weather Map
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I almost hate to say this. The trivia article may have worked during that time period, but in this day and age it would be almost impossible to find any young people willing to do this type of work.
You can’t even find any that will leave the house and their cell phones let alone do any type of manual labor.
Our township used to hire high school kids to cut grass and clean up public areas. Not any more!
Townships can’t hire students, as unions complain it takes work away from its members. That’s a sad state.
Maybe where you live. Our township workers welcomed and appreciated the summer help.
Our high-school gives credit to students who do work to help our neighbors. Not slave labor, I get the grill out and cook up cheeseburgers for the youngsters.
I think it’s a good thing to get kids into the real world, not looking at screens. And then they can help me figure out “my” screens. 😉 ..
Many places won’t hire students because the have chemicals. I guess that limits jobs. My son couldn’t get a job at 15 and because of it ended up as a life guard. There are many young kids that look for and work. Some kids don’t work because their parents want them to play sports.
Time for a new Civilian Conservation Corps although I can’t see today’s youth either willing or able to any kind of hard labor. I’d like to think I’m wrong about this.
Although unemployment numbers look dreamy compared to the 20%+ numbers of the thirties, a lesser version of the CCC exists today called The Corps Network.
Regarding the perception that the younger crowd might not be willing/able to do any kind of hard labor? Well sir, the majority of the United States military is comprised of 18 to 30 year olds and those kids work in places you and I would dread.
Safe travels!
The large number of State and Federal RV parks are bases on CCC camps. No, The youth of this Nation will never do this again.
Not necessarily so. Go check out the projects done by YCC ( youth conservation corps) and Americorp projects. I’m sad the managers don’t teach the artistic skills like the gorgeous historic picnic tables and pavallions we see in some state parks, but these modern kids work hard and are proud of what they do.
Kala is beautiful
In Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula (top of the Upper Peninsula), there are many CCC projects still in active use. There are a few many tourists miss as roads were moved over time. The Keweenaw Mountain Lodge is a 9-hole golf course on the side of a small mountain. The timber was used to build the lodge and the original cabins. Brockway Mountain Drive is a road that does nothing but provide an impressive scenic view (and is crowded all summer & fall). Two ‘stone boats’ (simulated warships) were built for kids. One is now a veteran’s memorial along US-41, the other is near an abandoned school in an old residential zone near abandoned copper mines.
The 1930’s CCC workers were majority rural young males who were raised in basic skills use. Today’s young people are addicted to various screens from cell phones to tablets, not physical labor. The fact that original CCC buildings, walls, etc. are still standing well in most locations is a testimony to skilled craftsmanship.
Many of today’s runaway forest fires could be curtailed if we had a CCC removing dead wood and undergrowth. New healthy trees could be planted. Radicals have hijacked the environmental movement, so not happening.
I have to disagree. Forests have been this way for millenniums. It’s just part of the entire ecological system. The biggest cause of these fires is careless humans.
Just look around a campground, especially in National Parks, and see how many fires are still burning after the people head inside for the night.
MOST of the fires are caused by people.
In order for the joke to work, it has to be a French tapeworm!
Great looking dog.
Happy travels with Kala!
Thanks for sharing.
Quick Fact: The CCC was not only segregated but had a cap on the number of black workers. Although blacks were disproportionately affected by the lack of jobs, the allowable ratio of black workers was based on the national racial profile at the time. Qualified people of color eager to work were routinely denied work to eliminate the “need” to build a black camp. Supervisors of the all black crews were often white which all but ensured no advancement. If you were Native American, similar discriminations applied. The CCC had some positives for sure but mostly if you were a young white male….
Interesting reading on the topic here – The African American Experience in the CCC.
Kala is such a cutie and I don’t think anyone really likes those travel days, we just all bite the bullet there. And bugs, especially flying hordes of bugs ugh yuck yuck I agree! So sweetie I’m in your camp 100 percent. New van and new memories galore, make more and more! Keep on camping.
The CCC wasn’t perfect, but it solved a lot of problems at the time. I think our bigger mistake was “replacing” it with welfare; giving “handouts” instead of “earnings/jobs”. When one earns or has a job, you feel better about yourself, and strive to progress, not stay and continue to “sit back and be taken care of”, which welfare does.
And welfare spans many generations of families. Why work when you can live off someone else.
The CCC wouldn’t work today because it would take 5 years or more to get the permits, then they would have to do a search for bog turtles or snail darters.
Denver’s Red Rocks Amphitheater was built by the CCC.
Bat-wing antenna? I have a great Winnebago, no plastic or rubber up there.
Also a couple of years ago I was inside and pulled down to change the direction of the wing. It came off in my hands.
Forget a replacement! $85.00…Ha! I have the best DISH service.
Bat! Back to your cave.