America’s Original RV Newsletter. Since 2001
Issue 2925 • New issue every weekday
Today’s thought
“Love is friendship that has caught fire. It is quiet understanding, mutual confidence, sharing and forgiving. It is loyalty through good and bad times. It settles for less than perfection and makes allowances for human weaknesses.” —Ann Landers
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Jerky Day! Have you ever had bacon jerky? Yep, it exists, and it’s as good as it sounds.
On this day in history: 1942 – Anne Frank receives a diary for her 13th birthday.
Tip of the day
13 tips to keep your RV’s refrigerator cool all summer
By Gail Marsh
If it’s not already, it’s about to get hot soon, and your RV refrigerator will need your help.
Here are some tips for keeping your RV fridge cooling effectively all summer long:
• Check the seals located all along the edge of the refrigerator and/or freezer doors. If you notice cracking, loose seals, or even places where the seals are missing, make repairs before you head to the campground.
An easy way to check seals that show no visible signs of compromise is take a piece of paper about the size of a dollar bill (or just use a dollar bill!). Place the paper into the open freezer door and then close the door. When you gently tug on the paper, you should feel some resistance. That means the rubber is sealing properly. Test with the paper or dollar bill all around every side of the door(s). Continue reading.
RV review
New changes to the 2027 Oliver Legacy Elite II fiberglass trailer
The 2027 Oliver Legacy Elite II gets one of the biggest updates Oliver Travel Trailers has made in years. This model still starts with the same long-life mindset Oliver owners expect. The new parts are there to make towing, camping, and off-grid use feel easier every day. Oliver kept the quad-shell, double-hull fiberglass construction and the 6061 aircraft-grade aluminum frame. That pairing is still the heart of the Legacy Elite II, because it aims for low maintenance and a trailer that can stay on the road for decades. Continue reading.
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 kitchens, it’s a good way to satisfy dessert cravings.
FRIDAY FORECAST: 100% chance you’ll remember the thing you forgot to pack approximately 50 miles from home.
Be nice!
Run your air conditioner with little power
Running an RV air conditioner on a 20-amp household outlet sounds impossible—unless you have a SoftStartRV™. This small device reduces startup current dramatically, helping many RVers cool their rig when they never could before. Learn more.
Article and video
Do solar panels inside windshields work?
In this video from Project of Science, our host, a custom van builder by trade, wanted to do an experiment with portable solar panels. He wanted to know if setting up solar panels inside windshields would work to power a van’s battery or devices, so he set out to find out.
Featured article
Unleashing the untold wonders of the Midwest’s top state parks
After several important caveats, Gail Marsh lists a few of the best state parks in the Midwestern United States that she and her family have enjoyed. These parks are gorgeous!
Ask Dave
What is New World screwworm (NWS) and what can I do to protect my pet?
Reader poll
If given the choice between vanilla, chocolate or strawberry ice cream, which would you pick?
Quick tip
Safely store aerosol cans
After the cap came off one of my spray cans and emptied its contents into a storage bay, I decided to see if I could find a better way to store them. I found that the popular plastic bicycle water bottle cage works for most of my cans. Just mount the cage(s) to any appropriate surface, then stuff the otherwise-runaway aerosol cans in the cage. Our thanks to Jim A. for the “canny” idea.
On this day last year…
- Ask Dave: Should I put a coating on the roof of my brand-new 5th wheel?
- Article & video: Five easy camping desserts to sweeten any trip
- Featured article: What to see, what to do, and where to stay while RVing Canyonlands, Utah’s largest national park
Website of the day
Ghost Towns
This must surely be the best source of information about American ghost towns.
? MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY ?
Even if you never wear a tie and hope to never wear one again, we bet you would have no problem wearing this one. People will stare, we guarantee. Wear this to a party and you’ll be the highlight of the event. Ummm, literally…
Trivia
The average car on the road in America is almost 13 years old, according to industry data reported by Ford. A vehicle bought new when the first iPhone 5 came out is now squarely average. Thirty years ago, that number was closer to 8 years old.
Readers’ pet of the day
“Misty (German Shepherd, age 3.5) is a rescue who was only 40 lbs., had non-infectious mange, and had given up on life. She is now 80 lbs. and the sweetest, kindest companion. Here she is at Christmas, healthy and happy. You would never know it was the same girl. My wife is jealous because she caught me singing to Misty (Me and My Arrow). She said, ‘After 40 years, you never sang to ME!’ Misty loves to travel and ride with us.” —A. Dudley
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
Today’s weather forecast across the nation
THIS MAP UPDATES TWICE A DAY
Visit Current National Radar Weather Map
Fix roof leaks and extend your RV roof another 18-20 years with the ONLY liquid butyl rubber in the world
RV Roof Magic’s unique solvent-based drying process allows for a chemical bond not found in other RV sealants. That is why it never needs a primer and only one coat. We offer a 10-year warranty. Apply RV Roof Magic to all roofs except silicone and PVC. Over 30 years of history of success. Visit our site for our monthly special!
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RVtravel.com All-Star Staff
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Misty is a testament to what love and good care can do. Thank you for seeing what she could be and helping her get there. She is beautiful, and very lucky to have landed in your care!
Bless you for adopting Misty.
What a heartwarming story about Misty. She’s beautiful!
I am looking up the screwworm and finding that everyone needs to calm down and get their dogs test for heartworm flea and tick. And afterwards put on its preventative to avoid this. Screwworm is similar to the other parasites that can make them sick. If you need low cost testing and other vaccines Tractor Supply offers visiting veterinary clinics and they are worth every penny. A rescue recommended me on this a few years back and the techs and veterinary are phenomenal. Look up and see when they are coming to your area. Plus all the paperwork is on line. For now my babies are negative and healthy. Just a heads up for the health of our babies.
What a beautiful story of Misty! I’m glad she got rescued by you 💕
Misty is just gorgeous, it is amazing what some love and care can really do for a dog. Thank you for rescuing! As always everyone adopt don’t shop, right here is a prime example. Misty congratulations for hitting the jackpot, I’m sure you give you parents the love back they have given you. And a singing career to boot. Keep on camping.
Now about the rat snake… any snake gives me the heebie-jeebies. And in my opinion, the only good snake is a dead snake!
Snakes are beneficial to the environment. They control rodents and a lot of other invasive small animals. They don’t deface things in the State and National Parks, don’t start wildfires, don’t litter, like humans, and basically want to be left alone.
Most are harmless and even the others only attack when they are threatened.
If you don’t like snakes, stay away.
Remember, you are trespassing in their home.
I bet the rats of the world would love you for that statement. A small town in New Mexico I once visited held organized rattlesnake hunts. They eventually eliminated all the snakes. It wasn’t long before the area was overrun with rats.
We live in a suburban community. I used to have a 4 foot Black Snake living in the wood pile next to my garage. We called him “Slither”.
Never had a problem with mice or chipmunks in my garage or my shed.
Neighbor decided he didn’t like the snake and killed it.
Guess what started showing up the next year. Now I have to use traps and repellents.
The best part is they made a nest under the hood of the classic car stored His garage and chewed up the wiring.
We are in a new era. The picture of the trailer in your RV Review is truly insane. No one should ever park 15 ft. from a cliff. I know it’s a commercial for the trailer, but someone out there will think that’s a good idea! Dangerous and ridiculous. Maybe over reaction from a 79 year old long time camper, but still . . . .
Yeah, Little John, it’s just an illustration with the idea of attracting attention. I certainly wouldn’t want to camp there if someone in my group had an issue with sleep walking!
A. Dudley, thank you & your wife for saving Misty’s life. Pictures like her before pic always bring me to tears. It’s wonderful that Misty has a loving family & a dad that sings to her is just a bonus! She is beautiful!