Issue 916 • June 12, 2018
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QUICK TIPS
Simple way to fill your coach battery cellsÂ
Are your coach batteries difficult to reach to fill the cells? Head off to the drug store and pick up a water bottle with an “enema” hose and fitting. Fill the water bottle with distilled water, hook up the hose with the shut off clip. Now lead the “business end” of the hose to each cell and use the shut off to open/close the fill up flow.
Unplug those power parasites!
With electricity expert Mike Sokol
Remember to unplug any power parasites when you’re not using them. That is, any phone charger, laptop computer charger, and virtually all wall-warts are always ON and drawing a little bit of power when they’re plugged in, even when nothing’s connected to them. It’s likely just a few watts of power each, but that adds up quickly if you have a bunch of these gadgets plugged into wall outlets while boondocking or otherwise running from your RV’s house batteries. So unplug the power parasites when you’re not using them and save your battery power for important things…
Did you miss the latest RV Travel Newsletter? If so, read it here.
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A DEET-free mosquito and tick repellant that works! 
Well, it’s that time again (unfortunately.) If you’re one of those people that mosquitos love (we all know at least one person like this) this product is for you. 700+ five star reviews? Yup. This awesome DEET-free inspect repellant works for mosquitos, ticks, and other biting insects. Keep this one handy, folks. As RVers, there’s a good chance you’re probably going to need it. Learn more or order here.
MORE QUICK TIPS
Mark Polk tech: Keep the pressure off your water linesÂ
Always use a water pressure regulator when connecting to a water supply at the campground, and always connect the regulator directly to the campground water source, not at the city water connector on the RV. If you make the connection at the city water connection on the RV, high campground water pressure can build up where it connects to the regulator, causing the hose to swell and burst. [Editor’s note: Here’s one with a gauge for less than $20.00]
Invite potential buyers into your rig with enticing cookies!
Selling a rig? If you curbstone where there’s lots of drive-in or walk-in traffic, do an “open house,” staying with the rig, lights on, music on, and whip up a batch of ginger cookies first thing in the morning. They make great handouts, and they make your rig smell soooo good.
Do you have a tip? Send it to Deanna (at) rvtravel.com .
Great coffee! No electricity required
This makes great coffee, and is perfect for boondocking and other times you don’t have shore power. Just heat water on your stove and pour it though the filter. The carafe is made of durable, heat-resistant borosilicate glass with color band detailing that is both functional and elegant. Makes eight cups. Learn more or order.
WEBSITES OF THE DAY
Codecademy
For those of you designing a website (or who have always wanted to!), this is the site for you. Learn to code online for free in an easy and fun way.Â
Pianu
If coding isn’t your thing, perhaps learning piano is. Had to leave the grand piano at home? Don’t worry, Pianu will teach you how to play from your computer keyboard!Â
25 easy campfire recipes
Nope, not S’mores but, just, well, so much more!Â
Check out the long list of great RVing-related websites from RVtravel.com.
Reading glasses galore
If your up-close eyesight isn’t what it used to be, reading glasses can save the day, doing away with eye strain and making reading a pleasure again. Amazon has a huge selection to choose from and at great prices. Two-day free delivery, too, if you’re an Amazon Prime member. Learn more or order.Â
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LEAVE HERE WITH A LAUGH
How do crazy people go through the forest?
They take the psycho path.
Today’s Daily Deals at Amazon.com
Best-selling RV products and Accessories at Amazon.com. UPDATED HOURLY.
RV Daily Tips Staff
Editor and Publisher: Chuck Woodbury. Â Staff writer: Emily Woodbury. Contributing writers: Russ De Maris, Deanna Tolliver, Bob Difley, Gary Bunzer, Roger Marble, Mike Sokol, J.M. Montigel and Andrew Robinson. Advertising coordinator: Gail Meyring.
ADVERTISE on RVtravel.com and/or in this newsletter. Contact Gail Meyring at Gail(at)RVtravel.com .
Everything in this newsletter is true to the best of our knowledge. But we occasionally get something wrong. We’re just human! So don’t go spending $10,000 on something we said was good simply because we said so, or fixing something according to what we suggested (check with your own technician first). Maybe we made a mistake. Tips and/or comments in this newsletter are those of the authors and may not reflect the views of RVtravel.com or this newsletter.
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Replaced our hot water tank a year ago. Lately as we use the hot water we hear a buzzing sound when we turn the hot faucet on. We just spent 5 months in hard water country down in Texas. We did clean it before we moved to Arizona. Any ideas?
The pressure regulator advertised at Amazon, sales for $16 dollars, but after you add shipment costs it is $25. I can purchase one at any RV supply store for that! Amazon is not always the best choice.
Another cheap and easy way fill batteries is to use a turkey baster. The only problem is that it doesn’t get the last of the water our of a gallon bottle. So just buy a new one.
On parasitic electrical users like little plug in charger picture above.
If the charger has a Roman Numeral IV marking on it, they are much more than the old 115vAC to 12vDC rectifier-transformers that are on forever.
The IV standard started in Europe and Asia many years ago and USA has finally embraced this new type of charger. It should turn itself off if there is no demand from the unit that is charging, thus preventing parasitic losses [RV batteries, power grids, etc].
I am not saying that you should not unplug things not in use, just trying to inform you all.
Read following web site for details: https://www.electronicdesign.com/energy/understanding-efficiency-standards-external-power-supplies
Good hint. Yes, I have some of the old power supply bricks that run hot even when nothing is plugged into them. And power supplies that meet the latest European standards are indeed much smarter and don’t draw nearly as much power when sleeping. Thanks for the clarification.
Reading glasses? Really?
Make coffee on the stove? Who’d of thought? !
Don’t you feel enlightened with these great RV tips?…yep, me either.
Hi, Robbie — If you have some great quick tips you’d like to share with our readers, we’d appreciate it if you would send them to Deanna (at) rvtravel.com. Thanks! Have a great day! 😀 —Diane at RVtravel.com
Sum Tin Wong. (Ha ha.) Not everybody is you. There are other readers, too. Maybe one or two of them might appreciate some things you do not. Cut us a little slack, okay?
I am totally disgusted with the ‘leave here with a laugh’ section.
Crazy?!?!? Psychopath?!?!? I’m ashamed of you for the subject matter of this “joke”. Why on Earth didn’t someone speak up about how completely inappropriate & truly offensive that is?!?!
I’m lucky enough to not suffer from any mental health issues, but through my work as an RN and just life, I’ve learned a great deal about living with mental illness.
It’s no less offensive than using pejorative slang for different races or cultures.
This “joke” is possibly one that would be passed around by insensitive folks thirty years ago. But even back then, most decent, intelligent people would’ve turned away, realizing the language and subject was inappropriate.
WHY would you publish this?!?!
Sorry you were offended, Kathey. It’s a joke. We didn’t find it offensive. We ran a blonde joke the other day and, really, did not think we were offending all blondes. We sometimes run lawyer jokes. . . but they’re just jokes. There is no joke that we publish that does not offend someone, no matter how hard we try to be politically correct. Was this joke over the top, in poor taste? I don’t think so. Maybe not the best or the funniest. But, you know, we just drop these in and hope we can bring a smile to most of our readers’ faces.
She sounds like the person who thought the “Stop” sign was yelling at them…….
Or she is the woman that complained that the deer crossings were put at inconvenient spots for drivers.
Oh come on! It is a joke. Grow up and enjoy life.
LIGHTEN UP FRANCIS!
FYI — From the movie “Stripes,” with Bill Murray. 😀 —Diane at RVtravel.com
For glasses may I suggest that if you just need a simple single strength go to your local dollar store. And while you are buying yourself 5 or 6 pairs at a $1 each think of buying a few extra that you can donate? (And if you have different requirements for each eye then buy 1 of each, remove the set screw, remove the eyeglass and put in the other set – there, you now have 2 pairs for $2!!)
You may have two pair by doing what you suggested but you now have to reverse your eyes to accommodate the changed prescription of your glasses.
I’ve been using an empty mustard container (French’s) to add distilled water to my batteries for years. Works like a charm.
Great idea Tommy, thanks