America’s Original RV Newsletter. Since 2001
Issue 2934 • New issue every weekday
TODAY’S PRIME DAY DEALS.
Today’s thought
“Stuff your eyes with wonder. Live as if you’d drop dead in ten seconds. See the world. It’s more fantastic than any dream made or paid for in factories.” ―
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Catfish Day!
On this day in history: 1848 – A photograph of the June Days uprising becomes the first known instance of photojournalism.
Tip of the day
Using ketchup to clean your RV’s BBQ grill, plus other tips to keep it like new
By Gail Marsh
Everyone loves to use it, but very few of us like to clean it. What is it? A BBQ grill. This trusty workhorse helps RVers enjoy yummy burgers, steaks, and hot dogs all season long. And that’s exactly why we all need some tips, tricks, and hacks to easily clean our RV’s BBQ grill.
Even a top grill master can have trouble cooking on a dirty gas grill. Excess carbon deposits, burned-on food, and grease buildup all can cause a grill to heat unevenly. And no one wants to taste last night’s grilled fish when they bite into today’s veggie shish kabobs. Continue reading for these expert grill cleaning tips.
Article and video
Battle of the DIY fire starters—Top three methods put to the test
Campers often treat homemade fire starters as interchangeable, but the head-to-head test shown in the video at the end of this post from Lakeeffected illustrates that they aren’t the same.
THE MORE YOU KNOW: The oldest continuously operating post office in the United States is in the small town of Hinsdale, New Hampshire, where it has served the community since 1816.
AMAZON PRIME DAY—JUST ONE DAY LEFT TO SAVE!
That’s right—Amazon’s biggest sale of the year ends tomorrow! If you need or want something, chances are it’s on sale, but not for much longer! Don’t miss out on these huge price cuts! See everything on sale here.
Featured article
How observing pavement helped create a retailing empire
By Chuck Woodbury
I doubt you have heard of Leon Levine. You might have if you were an executive in the retail industry. At age 22, back in 1959, Mr. Levine founded Family Dollar, a discount chain store in rural low-income areas. RVers who have spent much time on the road have likely shopped at the stores. Often, they are the only place to buy basic necessities for miles around. I loved a vignette about him as reported by the Journal. It inspired me. And it made me laugh.
Ask Dave
Replacing RV roof vent; screws are just in every other hole. Is this normal?
Reader poll
Do you enjoy visiting “haunted” or spooky locations?
LIKE TAKING POLLS? So do we! Did you know we’ve run more than 5,000 polls on our website over the years? Check ’em out! Have fun!
Quick tip
Slow-running kitchen faucet?
RV kitchen sink spout running too slow for your taste? Unscrew the aerator and check the screen for crud. If that doesn’t do the trick you can remove the water-saver fitting.
Tank Blaster to the rescue—It really works!
Nanci Dixon writes, “Our gray water tank sensors had started reading 67% or 100% almost constantly, even after dumping. Not wanting to risk a backflow of gray water into our shower, we had started pulling the handle to dump the gray water way too often. Thetford’s Tank Blaster to the rescue!” Continue reading her review. (Hint: she loves it!)
On this day last year…
- Ask Dave: Do I need to clean the tree pitch from RV roof before recoating?
- In the RV shop with Dustin: Kayak rack options for trucks and RVs
- Article & video: 11 crucial tips for high-altitude camping
- Featured article: RV tech reveals biggest RVer mistakes
Website of the day
20 Best Trail Mix Recipes
Trail mix and summer go hand in hand, and now that it’s summer, it’s snack time! Check out these 20 recipes from The Pioneer Woman’s website for making trail mix at home. They’re easy and delicious!
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:
• If a location didn’t have internet access of any kind, 17 percent would not stay for more than one night.
• For those who have an RV with an outdoor TV, 43 percent say they never use it.
• 17 percent are terrified of heights.
Recent poll: How comfortable are you sharing an interstate with self-driving trucks?
Trivia
Yellowstone National Park hosted 570,272 recreation visits in May 2026, up 1% from May 2025 (566,363 visits). It was the busiest on record for the month of May and showed a 20% increase from May 2021 (473,799 recreation visits), which was Yellowstone’s record-breaking year with over 4.8 million visits.
? MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY ?
We won’t tell you which one of our staff members uses this, but let’s just say this thing will forever change the way you use the bathroom… (in the best way possible).
Readers’ pet of the day
“Whisper, age 13, has been all over North America with me and various dogs in my camper van(s). She has nibbled grass in the Canadian arctic and rolled in Mexican desert sand. She cuddles under covers with me on chilly nights in Alaska, and curls up on cooling mats in mid-day heat in Utah. She waited out a tornado warning in an Assateague Island bathroom with assorted campers and their dogs. She went missing in upstate New York, but returned to the van in the middle of the night, without a word of apology or explanation. Adventure is Whisper’s middle name, and I hope to travel with her for several more years. (Photo taken recently in Denali National Park, Alaska.)” —Mary Hopson
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!
GOOD DEAL! Kohl’s offers a 15% discount on qualifying purchases every Wednesday in their stores to customers aged 60 or better.
LAST SUNDAY’S SONG OF THE WEEK
“I Stand By My Dumpin’ Man”
Original RVing songs every Sunday from the RVtravel.com virtual studios
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Leave here with a laugh
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RVtravel.com All-Star Staff
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Pretty Kitty! Give her some Greenies.
RE: The story of Family Dollar stores.
It’s sad to see another big business taking advantage of those less fortunate.
Dollar stores use the same predatory practices of payday loan companies. They take advantage of low income people who cannot afford to shop anywhere else.
Most of these stores are located in areas where people can walk and shop.
Not just low income areas.
They are not meant to replace other area stores. In fact they are providing a lower cost alternative for people to shop without paying inflated prices.
They are not taking advantage of lower income people. They are providing a service that would otherwise not exist.
So, you are claiming that if someone operates a store in a low income area, that person is a predator?? You believe then that no stores should be allowed, so that low income people will be prevented from spending any money, and thereby not taken advantage of?? Interesting concept.
I disagree. I live near a small rural town and I’m grateful to have a Dollar General and Family Dollar there. I could drive the 35 miles one way to a Walmart but why waste the gas and time when these two stores have enough of the items I need. Selection might not be great but how many brands of aluminum foil do I need? These stores have the basics and the prices are usually decent.
Just guessing but are you a member of the DSA? It would explain a lot if so?
😎✌️
“Adventure is Whisper’s middle name.” This is one of the best descriptions of pet I’ve read. May you and Whisper have many more adventures together.