Issue 931 • July 9, 2018
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QUICK TIPS
Roadside emergency kit
Here are a couple of items that you may not have thought to put in your “roadside emergency kit.” A reader named Pat writes: “I would suggest adding road cones [orange safety cones] and blinking lights to the emergency kit. We found some that collapse at Harbor Freight. We also got reflective vests for the kit too. Found a red tote bag at a thrift store with plenty of space to store it all.” Thanks Pat, for helping us stay safe out there.
Trailer towing? Remember “gross weight” is more than just the trailer
Your pickup or other tow vehicle has set limits as to how much weight it can handle. Typically the number to watch for is gross combined weight rating or gross combination weight rating (GCWR). That’s not limited to the weight of the tow vehicle, the trailer and the stuff you’ve “stuffed” in the trailer. It also includes passengers and everything you have in the truck bed. Always a good idea to run your tow vehicle and trailer “over the scales” to ensure you’re not overloaded!
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Ask Yourself: Are you Ready for the Road?!
Prepare for your next big adventure with Road & Home’s Ready for the Road checklist. This simple, easy-to-use guide of must-have repair and replacement products will keep you moving while on the road! Equip yourself with peace of mind and ensure safety and convenience when you head out. Shop the entire collection here.
Answer to today’s email alert brain teaser: The word “short”
MORE QUICK TIPS
Know the toll before you roll
A motorhomer who crossed the George Washington Bridge in New York didn’t check the price before rolling over, using an EZ-Pass. He found out when he saw the bill – $72 for a one-way trip. Traveling in toll-bridge country is new to many from the West, so a little advance routing research could save you big money.
The dangers of RV batteries
Batteries can be extremely dangerous. They emit gases that are explosive and contain a very corrosive acid. If you perform your own maintenance, then certain precautions must be taken. Do not use an open flame or smoke around batteries. Avoid any electrical arcing or sparks around the battery(ies). Wear protective clothing and safety glasses, and avoid getting any battery acid on your skin or clothes. If you do come in contact with battery acid, flush the exposed area immediately with a lot of cold water. Tips from Mark Polk, RV Education 101.
Do you have a tip? Send it to Russ (at) rvtravel.com
Stinky holding tank odors? Here’s the solution
Eliminate disgusting tank odors for less than $1 per treatment with formaldehyde-free Unique RV Digest-It. Unique’s highly concentrated, non-toxic blend of tank-cleaning microbes maintains clean sensors, eliminates odors and liquefies the solids in your tank, ensuring no backups. All without harsh chemicals or dangerous ingredients. Try it once and you’ll be shocked at how clean your tank can be! Learn more or order.
WEBSITES OF THE DAY
RV USA
Looking around for a new rig? Want to see what others are selling your same year and model for? RV USA lists over 40,000 RVs for sale – new and used! 
Technomadia and essential RV apps!
Chris and Cherie have an excellent website about life on the road, but their page (and video) on must-have RV apps for your phone is a great resource.Â
Check out the long list of great RVing-related websites from RVtravel.com.
A DEET-free mosquito and tick repellent … that works!Â
Well, it’s that time again (unfortunately). If you’re one of those people that mosquitoes love (we all know at least one person like this), this product is for you. 700+ five star reviews? Yup. This awesome DEET-free insect repellent works for mosquitoes, ticks and other biting insects. Keep this one handy, folks. As RVers, there’s a good chance you’ll probably need this. Learn more or order here.
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RV Daily Tips Staff
Editor and Publisher: Chuck Woodbury. Managing editor: Diane McGovern. Associate editor: Deanna Tolliver. Staff writer: Emily Woodbury. Contributing writers: Russ De Maris, Bob Difley, Gary Bunzer, Roger Marble, Mike Sokol, J.M. Montigel and Andrew Robinson. Advertising coordinator: Gail Meyring. Marketing director: Jessica Sarvis.
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This is almost a “Ford or Chevy” type discussion.
We kept our 97 Nash for 16 years and never had so much as a hiccup out of the fridge. Now we have a 2012 Arctic Fox with a Norcold fridge. We DID have an issue with it not wanting to work at a 7,000 foot campground. It would start, then stop. We’d restart it – then it would quit. I called Norcold and their suggestion was to move to a lower altitude. Now THAT’S customer service – NOT.
I called our favorite mobile RV repair guy back home and he told me how to put a bit more space between the igniter points on the fridge and – problem solved. It’s been over five years now and no problems – even at higher altitudes.
For boondocking like we do, I don’t know what kind of fridge would be as good.
Could you please give details about the system where you can use the a standard unit?
Mike has a great statement. Batterys are very dangerous. I have no maintenance battery’s, one deep cycle and one engine (older class A). My inverter overcharged the house battery and gases built-up in the compartment. I went to start the engine and boom! No one hurt and just the battery was destroyed however It could have been deadly. New 4 cycle inverter and battery and all is well. Be safe!
Much as I would love to have a residential refrigerator in our RV, our fridge is located right above the heater so there’s no way we can replace ours unless we relocate the heater too. However the only reason to have a house refrigerator is to be able to put more “stuff” in it and I think ours is just the right size for two people or else we would put too much “stuff” in it .
To be fair, our refrigerator is just about right because it is a full-size, residential, side-by-side GE. We full-time and it has gone a lot of miles in the past five plus years with no issues (knock wood).
That toll for the George Washington Bridge is for both ways, not one way. But if you don’t come return by one of the many bridges that cross from NY to NJ then it will indeed be one way.
All our previous rv’s had the absorption type AC/gas fridge and while they worked fairly well, they really came in handy when we were younger and “camping” more often where no hookups were available. We now have left that part of our lives behind us and travel the US in our 44′ motorhome and very, very seldom do we ever stay where FHU’s are not available; therefore, our current motorhome has the large 3-door residential fridge that holds more, cools more and is absolutely trouble free. No recalls, no frosting of the coils, no mud dobbers getting into the heating element and no adjustment or replacing of the thermistor.
If this is a full electric fridge, how do you travel with food in it ?
Dianne, the residential type fridge works off of the inverter while not connected to shore power. The inverter draws power from the house batteries (I have six) which in turn is kept at a full charge by the engine’s alternator. When parked and not connected to shore power, and the engine off, your car charges the batteries (when needed) by the generator.
Dianne: In our case inverter and batteries keeps fridge running fine. Alternator keeps batteries up. Solar as well.
I can’t answer for Ron, but mine runs off the inverter in travel mode or when I’m docked…
we have had a gas/electric unit since we started camping in 1974. We usually keep a rv for 7-9 years. We have had no trouble at all with them . How ever, our daughter that full times has had several problems with their residential type.
we have had a gas/electric unit since we started camping in 1974. We usually keep a rv for 7-9 years. We have had no trouble at all with them . How ever, our daughter that full times has had several problems with their residential type.
Chuck after reading the newsletter Saturday July eighth, that you and Mike talk about starting a new program on checking Parks electrical post intrigued me. Therefore I have made a small donation to help cover some of your expenses. I hope I get chosen to help on this project.
I have been reading your newsletter and tips for about a year and a half, we have been full time for a little over 3 years and have been reading your articles for about a year and a. We both love what we are doing and have learnt so much from your articles
Thanks
My RV doesn’t have a typical RV fridge but rather a residential 18 cu/ft Samsung fridge which is GREAT! Would never go back to your run of the mill RV type fridge.
The RV frigde manufactures have been ripping us off for years and are really for the boon-docking camper but for we folks who do very little boon-docking or for a shorter period ..the RV style fridges are a terrible investment for limited space..who in world would replace a 2 or 4 door at the cost of thousands and the one most have don’t last nearly as long as a compressor unit..It was our decision to invest in a system that we can use the standard unit and far easier to repair if ever needed and have never looked back and NO problems just like home..and we can carry more prepared meals when traveling and the food savings has really make our decision a sound one..Never will go back to the poor quality of Norcold and others..