Issue 986 • October 11, 2018
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QUICK TIPS
Do one final walk around before departure
You may have a mental “departure checklist,” but Richard Stegner suggests a “once more around the block” approach. You “think” you got it all, but before turning the key, just walk around “one more time” to double-check. Citing his own experience, Richard wrote, “A couple of times I have found something loose, hatch cover not locked, antenna up, jacks up, etc., especially on the tow dolly (forgot to put the pin that locks the platform down). I painted the pin red so it stands out. Would have been a disaster had I not done one more walk around.” Thanks, Richard!
More thinking on RV fresh water hoses
Mitchell Reeves shares his hose history: “We have been fulltime for 5 years and have used a lot of different water hoses. Recently went with a blue 35′ Camco hose from WalMart. Not as happy as the 25′ white hoses (they kink far too easily) but I must say the return policy at WalMart is easy. Just keep your receipt.” Thanks, Mitchell. Now if we can just figure out where to file those receipts.
Did you miss the latest RV Travel Newsletter? If so, read it here.
Today’s brain teaser (answer below): What has thirteen hearts, but no body or soul?
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JOIN THE NEW FACEBOOK GROUP: RV Horror Stories (A place to share your story about a new RV you recently bought that is riddled with defects that your dealer or manufacturer can’t or won’t repair.)
MORE QUICK TIPS
Don’t put anything extra down toilets
What’s safe to put down the RV toilet so as not to create damage or dumping problems? Other than toilet paper, if you didn’t eat it or drink it first, don’t put it down there. And, by the way, never put Kleenex down the toilet. It doesn’t dissolve and can cause clogging.
Place step ladder by the fire escape window
Our RV comes equipped with a special fire escape window in the bedroom. If for some reason we are unable to escape a fire through the regular door we would have to shimmy our way out the window. It is designed to open up fully but then we would be faced with about an 8-foot drop to the ground. Because of this I always place a small step ladder under the window to aid us if we ever need to evacuate the rig. Thanks to Ray Burr at loveyourrv.com.
Do you have a tip? Send it to Russ (at) rvtravel.com
Fake “TV” keeps burglars away
Most burglars will not even try to enter an RV if they think someone’s there. That’s where this inexpensive light fits in: it mimics the light of a typical 27-inch TV. Just close the shades, turn it on and then head out for dinner or a movie. To anyone passing by — including a bad guy — it will simply appear someone is inside, watching TV. This is cheap burglary insurance. Learn more or order here.
WEBSITES OF THE DAY
The best books of 2018 (so far)
As a staff, we’ve read many of these and the rest of them are on our lists! As Lemony Snicket says, “Never trust anyone who has not brought a book with them.”
RV bloggers give advice to newbies
Well-known RV bloggers give advice on what they wish they’d known when they started.
Check out the long list of great RVing-related websites from RVtravel.com.
The EASY way to buy window shades
Carefree‘s Simply Shade Window Awning is the first cash and carry complete window awning system that can be bought off of dealer shelves and installed the same day! Simply Shade Awnings fit windows up to 36″ tall. Click here to learn more.
JOIN THE DISCUSSION: RV Travel Forum A place to meet other RVers and discuss topics related to the lifestyle. Come say hi! New users register here.
Answer to today’s brain teaser: A deck of cards
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LEAVE HERE WITH A LAUGH
An elderly couple were getting more forgetful. Their doctor told them that they should start writing things down to help remember.
A week later they went camping. The woman told her husband to make her a cup of coffee. “You might want to write it down,” she said. He said, “No, I can remember.” She then told him she wanted a cup of coffee with cream. “Write it down,” she told him, and again he said, “No, no, I can remember.” Then the elderly woman said she wanted a cup of coffee with cream and sugar. “Write it down,” she told her husband and again he said, “No, I’ve got it. You want a cup of coffee with cream and sugar.”
So he went outside to the camp stove to make the coffee. But he didn’t return for 30 minutes, whereupon he handed his wife a plate of bacon and eggs. She stared at the plate for a moment, then looked at him and asked, “Where’s the toast?”
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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.
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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One thing I do is hang my ignition keys on the antenna crank and alway do a walk around at least twice
I once put a hangar with clothes on the crank, and the crank fell part. 🙁
For your survey…how many sleep with an electric blanket in the winter?
We use an electric blanket. It runs off of our 12 volt. We put it under the fitted sheet and turn it to the lowest setting. Works great.
Every electric blanket I’ve seen has a warning about putting pressure on the blanket to prevent a short in the wiring. You may be creating a fire hazard.
This is from the electric blanket institute, “The basic principle of warming blankets or warming mattress pads is that an electric current passing through a resistive wire generates heat. All electric bedding contains a long length of resistive wire heating element fastened in a serpentine pattern throughout the pad or blanket.”
https://www.electricblanketinstitute.com/general-information/how-they-work.html
Electric blanket is a must. Blood is too thin.
I too do a final walk-around, checking lights, tires, etc… also stop after 40 – 50 miles and do another, checking tires, hitch and give it all a once-over, habit now and feel ‘funny’ if I don’t do it
We started RV camping in 1970 with a pickup and slide-in camper. One of the first things we bought was a white 25′ water hose. Still using it today!
Years ago we where hauling a load for NASA down to KSFC. Drivers went in for lunch, came out and did no walk around as per procedure. When they pulled out the 5th wheel pin was retracted and the load dropped off the tractor. Some one thought it was funny and pulled the pin while they where eating – we never found out who. Cost was high, flight was delayed, drivers got fired, and the load was hot [but nothing detonated]. Make a checklist for your rig and use it whenever you leave it.
Given the size of the fire escape windows in current campers and the size of the people looking to buy them as viewed at the Hershey Rv show this year I don`t think not having a ladder near an escape window is going to be the problem.
We have been using a written checklist almost since the beginning of our RVing days. It pays off to feel safer than relying on memory. We also check all lights and pull the toad up a few feet after hooking up our aux braking system to make sure the toad’s wheels are not locked up. Peace of mind goes a long way toward a nicer trip. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve run after an RV leaving a campground with it’s antennae up.
Stopped in South Carolina to eat dinner at Cracker Barrell after the one at the previous exit had no room to park our rig. I had checked the tow hitch at that exit and everything was fine. We stopped and ate dinner and were ready to pull out and I remembered I had not checked my tow hitch this exit but had checked it 20 or so miles back down the highway and it should be fine. It nagged at me and my instincts would not let me pull out without checking it. Call it OCD or old people superstition or what you will so I checked it. I couldn’t believe it, the left hinge pin on my Jeeps tow bar was missing the locking head and the hinge pin had worked its way out to where only the last quarter inch of the pin was still in the hitch. I wouldn’t have made it 2 miles down the highway. Trust your instincts, it can save your life
Today’s tip included a comment about where to file all your Walmart receipts if you have to return something. Get the Walmart app and simply scan the receipt and the receipt is right on your phone in case you need to return something an added benefit is they check to see if something you purchase is available elsewhere at a lower price and they give you a credit for the difference. We average about $200 in credit a year.
Won’t be able to scan receipts much longer; they are doing away with that. But you can still use the Walmart app to pay for purchase with card of your choice, and the receipt stays filed on the app. Makes returns so easy. I use the Sam’s Club credit card (1% all purchases,3%dining and travel, 5%(yup 5%) on ALL gas.
The “Final Walk Around” saved me more than once. It’s just a good habit if you stop to stretch, get more fuel ( but pull away from pumps) etc.
I also do a walk-around my vehicle anytime I fuel up. I look for a low tire, leaking fluids that look suspicious, strange smells from an overheated wheel bearing, etc… And I caught a few things that would have stranded me down the road a few miles, but were simple to deal with since I was already in a truck stop. Of course I do a full look at all fluids and pressures every morning when I’m doing my 800 mile/day driving marathons. But it’s always good practice to take a quick look around your vehicle anytime you stop, especially if you’re towing something.
“Fake tv keeps burglars away”, we just leave the tv on for our dog who loves watching tv, especially the old westerns.
“Final walkaround before departure”.
Great idea, I usually do it twice. However, we take it a step further, we have compiled a” written” checklist, {probably close to 40 items} just like a pilot.
Such things as antenna down, vents closed, jacks up, you know the drill. Also on the checklist is checking the turn signals, brake lights and lights on the toad. I see so many people hook up to leave camp and not check the lights on the toad or trailer. For shame!!!!!!
What was it I read the other day: Oh yes, “world peace starts by using your turn signal”.