Issue 938 • July 19, 2018
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QUICK TIPS
Low temperature: Propane versus butane
If you and your RV travel south of the U.S. border, when you fill up your “LP” containers, beware – you probably aren’t getting propane. In many countries south of the U.S., butane is the standard for refilling LP containers. That’s not typically a problem, unless you try to use butane in cold weather. The boiling point of these two commodities is quite different: Propane boils, that is, gives off vapor, at -43.6 F, while butane’s boiling point is +30.2 F. Bring your motorhome tank home full of butane and try using it in cold weather and it just won’t vaporize – leaving you with a real problem.
Older motorhome entrance steps
“If you leave the master switch OFF when you drive away, the step should retract when you turn the ignition key ON. But when you park and turn the ignition OFF, guess what? The step is UP and the master switch is still OFF. The step may NOT extend until the master control switch is turned back ON. Watch that first step: It’s a big one! Newer RVs “remember” to extend the step, even if the master switch is OFF, after driving.” —From Motorhomes Made Easy.
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Answer to today’s email alert brain teaser: One in six. A die has no memory of what it last showed.
MORE QUICK TIPS
Overzealous LP detector?
Sometimes RVers complain that their LP detectors alarm for no obvious reason. While these electronic sniffers are designed to alert when they sense LP gas, there are other things that can cause them to launch into that ear-irritating behavior. Hair spray, cooking odors, even dog farts can create “false alarms.” Try opening a window when you blast the hair spray, and be sure to run the range fan when cooking. As to Bowser? We’ll leave that one to our readers to make a suggestion.
Better RV reefer organization
Confounded RV refrigerators are soooo small! That dozen eggs not wanting to fit? Cut the egg carton in half and stack one on top of the other!
Do you have a tip? Send it to Russ (at) rvtravel.com
Save your teeth, get that corn off the cob!
Nobody likes eating corn on the cob with a group of people, only to find out later they’ve got half the cob still stuck in their teeth. Not to mention, for some of us it’s hard to hold the whole cob, and it hurts our teeth! This easy-to-use corn stripper takes all the corn off the cob in one easy gesture. Your hands and teeth will thank you! Easy to clean and dishwasher safe. Order here for a great price.
WEBSITES OF THE DAY
Work with the NPS
Want to work or volunteer with the National Park Service? We think you should! Learn more about these great opportunities on this website.
Petfinder
It’s about time you got a dog or cat (or bird or turtle!). Petfinder’s infinite (well, it feels like it) database of available pets in your area is the perfect place to find your next best friend.
Check out the long list of great RVing-related websites from RVtravel.com.
The largest, tiniest blanket for all your outdoor needs
Pack your beach bags and park picnics, it’s summer! What’s one thing we always need for a relaxing day outdoors? A blanket! This tiny, super lightweight travel blanket is great for RVers, campers, hikers, concert-goers and travelers. When folded up in its drawstring pouch, it fits in the palm of your hand. When unfolded, it’s a waterproof 55″x70″ two-person blanket. Be right back, we’re buying it here!
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LEAVE HERE WITH A LAUGH
From Jerry Seinfeld: “They have the greeting cards with the couples on the front. They photograph them. These hazy focus people. They’re always having picnics. There’s always a tree, a pond… who are these people? I don’t know them. I don’t want them on my card either. What am I going to write inside there anyway? ‘Here’s another couple having a better relationship than us.’ ”
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RV Daily Tips Staff
Editor and Publisher: Chuck Woodbury. Managing editor: Diane McGovern. Staff writer: Emily Woodbury. Contributing writers: Russ De Maris, Bob Difley, Gary Bunzer, Roger Marble, Mike Sokol, Greg Illes, J.M. Montigel and Andrew Robinson. Advertising coordinator: Gail Meyring. Marketing director: Jessica Sarvis.
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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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Since money seems to be an issue to do more and better things with this newsletter… maybe just publish it 3 times a week instead of 6 or 7?!?!?!
Wouldn’t that help save money?
Yes, I’m a paid “member”.
Saw a road side sign in Maine yesterday… “Nobody Relishes a Pickled Driver”
David,
We make a modest profit on each of those Monday-Thursday RV Daily Tips newsletters, and, frankly, the money they bring in helps us pay a couple of writers, who are then available to contribute to the Saturday RV Travel Newsletter. So we would actually suffer a bit if we cut back. Good road sign, David! And thank you very much for being a member. We appreciate it very much — Chuck
Last week after returning from a trip, I found 9 tiny holes (1/16″ diameter) scattered across my roof. Close to a perfect circle except for the missing material on one side of the hole.
My guess is bird pecks since there were tiny 1/8″ long ants on the roof.
Every year or so I kick in $10 or $20 to support RV Travel newsletters. Just now, I almost skipped the contribution because whoever is running that webpage is asking for too much information. You don’t need my mailing address, phone number, etc. to send an email newsletter to me. My suspicion is that whoever runs that webpage is collecting the information to sell to spammers who fill my email inbox, keep my phone ringing with calls I don’t want to answer, etc. I didn’t use to worry about providing what I consider to be private information, but these days….
Aside from that, keep the excellent epublications coming.
I totally agree with Steve..back off suits me..I just had to give all my info just to get a List Price sheet & option costs to do my research on our next RV before I get the dealer and then pushed into hasty decisions..Back off on the info not needed as what are you hiding I told the manufacture..User name & passwords..REALLY !!!
Steve, you’re wrong. We don’t collect any information, just your name and email address which is actually held by Constant Contact which handles the mailing of our newsletters. We retain no personal information ourselves. In 17 years of business we have never shared any information with the public nor has any personal information been stolen (there is none on our website, actually). And we never will. You were asked to provide your address, etc., to process your credit card or to pay through Pay Pal. They have their own privacy rules and I have never heard of them sharing any personal information with anyone who has done business with us. If I thought they did, I wouldn’t do business with them. –Chuck/editor
So butane lighters really should not work that well below freezing?
I have to say, the only time an “RV Tech” even gets CLOSE to our rig is if something is wrong and WE can’t fix it ourselves. In over 25 years of RV’ing I’ve never had one check my roof. Maybe I should re-think that?
I agree..allowing an “RV tech” anywhere close to your rig is asking for a bill for something not needed. Most “RV techs” I have run into are not properly trained and are after a fast buck. While there a few out there who are kosher…knowing which ones that won’t rip you off is a crap shoot. One is better off doing one’s own inspection and work,if capable. Especially with much of the modern junk the RV manufacturers are shoving out the door anymore.