Welcome back to North America’s best source for news and information for RVers. Here come the holidays! Last Thanksgiving seemed to be mostly canned cranberries and awkward family Zoom calls. Hopefully this Thanksgiving you will all be able to safely elbow bump your uncle and actually fight in person over that last drumstick. As always, we at RVtravel.com appreciate your help through voluntary contributions to keep this newsletter coming your way, and be sure to check out all of our other RV-related newsletters.

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Sunday, November 21, 2021
Non-Members (advertising supported) edition

Did you miss yesterday’s edition of the RV Travel Newsletter? If so, it’s here.

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Many people will go hungry this Thanksgiving, including many children. If you are financially able, please donate $20, $50 or $100 to a local food bank. You will feel so good if you contribute — knowing you helped people go to bed on one of America’s most cherished holidays without the pain of an empty stomach. Here’s where to donate.

 Featured articles 

Worker shortage taking toll on campgrounds and campsite fees

By Mike Gast
It really is a great time to be a campground owner… except for the insurance troubles we talked about last week, the supply chain issues and the seemingly never-ending problems with staffing. You’ve no doubt literally seen the signs of the labor crisis in the windows of nearly every U.S. business. From your favorite fast-food joint to high-end resort hotels, all have signs out front begging for help.

It was bad enough for employers before the pandemic. Minimum wages were on the rise, and entry-level jobs were tough to fill. Today, we’ve added a new degree of difficulty with people quitting their jobs in record numbers. More than 4.4 million Americans quit their jobs in September alone. Yet campgrounds are booming. Parks are full seven days a week. Revenues are way up. All is good… right? Read more.

Guilty plea in murder of Padre Island boondockers

By Russ and Tiña De Maris
The RV community was shocked and saddened by the 2019 deaths of James and Michelle Butler. You may recall they were first reported missing in October that year. Four days later, police found the RVing couple’s abandoned travel trailer on Texas’ South Padre Island and later the suspects. The story has seemingly dragged on since that time. One of the two suspects has entered a guilty plea. Continue reading.

Part two: RV parks and big money investors – Are they building trailer courts or RV parks?

For some people, RV parks are becoming an intermediate stop on the slippery downward slope to homelessness. RVs have kitchens and bathrooms and a front door that can be locked, and that’s more than you can find on the sidewalk. Meanwhile, zoning officials are increasingly modifying or lifting length-of-stay restrictions at RV parks. And so, increasingly, those with nowhere else to go are knocking on RV park gates. Read more.

KOA moves into future with electric vehicle chargers

By Mike Gast
Interest in adding electric vehicle charging stations to campgrounds is accelerating faster than a Tesla Roadster. KOA (Kampgrounds of America Inc.) just announced a new program to add Level 2 EV chargers to a few select campground locations across the U.S. and Canada. The announcement came during KOA’s annual International Convention in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Learn more.

Campground Crowding: “Am I supposed to employ a bot or two to make my reservations?”

RV sales have skyrocketed and more people than ever are taking up RVing. The result is campground crowding like never before! In this weekly blog, RV Travel readers discuss their experiences. This week we hear from readers with good advice for obtaining campsite reservations, and more frustration at the difficulties getting a campsite with empty spots all around. And we heard from one RVer who is so fed up with bots he’s wondering if he needs to employ a bot in order to compete with them. All of that and much more, here.

Yosemite closes popular campgrounds until 2024

If campground shortages weren’t bad enough, now comes word that the largest campgrounds in Yosemite National Park are being closed for extensive renovations. There will be no camping available in them until 2024, perhaps even 2025. Renovation plans include new roads, restrooms, and water and sewer systems. Learn more.

In today’s RV preview, industry insider Tony Barthel looks at a Whale-shaped travel trailer. This trailer might resemble a whale, but it sure is cool and transformative! Tony says “it may be in a campsite near you sooner than you think.” Read this whale of a tale here.

Yesterday’s review: 2022 Coachmen Apex Remote 16R

Last week’s reviews:
• 2022 Ember RV Overland 191MDB production model
• Ibex 19MBH bunkhouse adventure trailer
• 2022 Cedar Creek 291RW fifth wheel
• 2022 Keystone Cougar 316RLS fifth wheel
• Rockwood 2442BS mini fifth wheel

Read all other RV reviews by clicking here.

 NEW!  RVtravel.com Forums

Most RVtravel.com writers are getting their own forums, where readers can discuss their articles with them. Here are the first two:

• Dave Solberg (RV Repair and Maintenance)
• Mike Sokol (RV Electricity)

That was the RV week that was

November 14–20, 2021

No slowdown in RVing expected next year. A new survey says you can expect a lot of company in your favorite campgrounds and “secret” boondocking spots next year. The survey, conducted by Cairn Consulting, found that 72 million Americans plan to take an RV trip in the next year in a recreational vehicle, their own or to borrow or rent. That’s up from 61 million in the same survey conducted last year. RV Industry Association Senior Director of Membership and Research Bill Baker said remote work and school flexibility remain one of the top reasons for RV travel but is not No. 1. “This new data shows that interest in exploring the outdoors is by far the number one reason for people wanting to take an RV trip,” he said. The survey also showed that 76% of leisure travelers are planning to travel over the 2021 holiday seasons, defined as Thanksgiving through New Year. About 1-in-8 respondents, representing 18.5 million Americans, plan on traveling in an RV during the season.

Living small and mobile is now the way to go. Class B RVs like this one built on a Mercedes-Benz chassis are helping drive the boom in RV sales. Considering a new life on the road? So are a lot of other folks. Data from the National Association of Home Builders gives us a clue that more people are open to the idea of not having a big house with a white picket fence. In 2018, about 53% of Americans said they’d consider living in a tiny house (400 square feet or less). By late 2020, after experiencing the pandemic, that had grown to 56%. Perhaps more telling are the sales numbers for Mercedes-Benz vans in the U.S. Those van sales increased by 22.5% in 2020, even as overall Mercedes sales for all models fell by 8.9%. It’s a good indicator that the next generation of “home buyers” is more interested in the view out their windshield than the view from their front porch. Also fueling the switch is the incredible run-up in home prices, and the intense competition for what most would have previously seen as “unlivable” properties. Pair it all together with the trend toward more remote work, and you have at least part of the answer to the booming sales of RVs.

European RV maker enters U.S. market. European RV manufacturer Wingamm is invading the U.S. RV market with its Oasi 540 Class B unit. The company plans to display the RVs in high-traffic, high-end malls in Santa Monica, California, and Long Island, New York. The first two locations will be at Santa Monica Place in California, and Walt Whitman Shops in New York. Wingamm CEO Lorena Turri said the company now has a long waiting list to purchase the RV. She said the motorhome is the first micro class RV available for sale in the United States. Micro class RVs are vehicles less than 18 feet long that can sleep four people and include a full indoor bathroom. If you want to personally kick the tires, the Wingamm Oasi 540 will be on display in Santa Monica Place from Nov. 15 to Dec. 15. A nationwide rollout is planned for 2022.

4 killed in Tucson park shooting. Four people were reportedly killed last Sunday morning in a shooting at the Plaza Del Sol Manufactured Home & RV Resort in Tucson, Arizona. Police said one victim was found dead outside a mobile home at the facility, and three more adult males were found shot inside a mobile home. The park, as its name implies, serves as both a mobile home park and a transient RV park.

Little girl reunited with lost teddy bear. Five-year-old Naomi Pascal lost her beloved stuffed teddy bear in 2020 while hiking with her parents in Glacier National Park. The bear was special, because it was given to her right before her parents adopted her from an Ethiopian orphanage. The family gave up the bear for lost. Then, a friend saw the bear sitting on the dashboard of a park ranger’s vehicle when they were visiting the park in October, 2021. Ranger Tom Mazzarisi had found the bear while he was out monitoring real bear activity in the park and kept the bear in his truck as a mascot. In early October, Naomi got her teddy bear back.

Dent Acres Campground closed by slide. The Dent Acres Campground near Ahsahka, Idaho, has been closed due to a road slide. The entire Dent Acres Recreational Area has also been closed to the public until further notice.

Here’s your next tow vehicle. Motortrend’s 2022 Car of the Year is likely one you’ve never heard of. Electronic vehicle manufacturer Lucid has been around for a while but has gotten lost in the frenzy of e-vehicle news from the traditional big boys. Lucid’s new “Air” sedan won this year’s award due to providing 1,111 horsepower and 1,390 lb-ft of torque and a range up to 520 miles on a full charge. They managed to get that range without installing huge and heavy additional motors and batteries. Lucid used a new method of winding 24 square copper wires in the motor and coming up with a new air-cooling method to get the heat away from the wires. It also has a fast-charging system that adds 300 miles of range with just a 20-minute charge. The car is expected to retail at just over $77,000. Next up for Lucid is their new SUV model.

A new RV park is now under construction in Clinton, Tennessee. The new park at the Museum of Appalachia in Clinton is slated to open next summer. The park will be called the Appalachia Ridge RV Resort & Campground. The new facility will have RV pads as well as glamping tents and tiny home cabins. Museum officials are also planning to add treehouses for overnight stays. Plans also call for a “creek-side concert” venue to be added later. The new campground should be open for business in July 2022. The museum itself is open now from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day except Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day.

A resort by any other name. Sun RV Resorts, which owns and operates more than 175 RV resorts and campgrounds in the U.S. and Canada, is changing its name to Sun Outdoors. CEO John McLaren said the new name better reflects the widening scope of the company’s offerings. He said Sun will soon be adding a new mobile app, original YouTube content, a loyalty program and new onsite signage to ensure a consistent brand presence. Sun Outdoors also plans to create four “sub brands” to better identify offerings at certain parks. They will be Sun Outdoors, for short-term vacation resort stays; Sun Retreats, for seasonal vacation resorts and longer stays; Sun Resorts & Residences for 55+ resorts offering long-term active-living amenities; and Sun Uncharted for “glamping.”

Outdoor Recreation Act introduced. Senators Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) on Thursday introduced the bipartisan Outdoor Recreation Act, which would boost outdoor recreation opportunities nationwide. Here are some of the act’s provisions.

Complaints about RVs illegally parked on Denver streets continue to increase. “It’s difficult to get in and out of the parking lots in this area,” said resident Qwativia Thomas. “They create blind spots, so if you’re turning in and out of parking lots, you can’t see anything coming, so you just kind of take a chance and drive out into the street.” Denver Homeless Outbound’s Benjamin Dunning said, “We’re in the middle of a long-term housing crisis, which is being exasperated by a pandemic. Sleeping in an RV is a lot better than sleeping in a tent.”

Fire forces evacuations near Estes Park. A late-season fire in Rocky Mountain National Park prompted mandatory evacuation orders for residents and businesses in and near Estes Park. Several structures were threatened, according to the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office.

Did you load up on Camping World stock? Many RVers seem to have a love/hate relationship with Camping World, the largest RV dealer in North America. But, you can’t deny that if you’d bought stock in the company at the beginning of 2021, you’d be laughing all of the way to the bank. Camping World stock is up 60% year to date, compared with about 25% for the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index. So far this year, Camping World has reported a 14.2% increase in revenues and a 22.3% boost in net income for the third quarter of the year.

Largest Airstream-only dealership opens in AZ. Chandler, Arizona, is now the home of the nation’s largest Airstream-focused RV dealership. The dealership is called We Are Airstream. It was formerly known as Airstream of Scottsdale before a recent large expansion into the former location of Chandler’s Sam’s Club.

Catalytic converters continue to be prime target. The Dunlap Family RV dealership in Bowling Green, Kentucky, recently had four catalytic converters stolen from motorhomes. Replacement cost for the converters is about $3,300. “This gets definitely frustrating because we’ve taken measures to secure our lots,” said Sales Manager Amanda Minter. “And it happens so quick. We have some barbed wire on the fence. We have security cameras, we have gates that are locked, and they’re still finding a way to come in.”

Heavy rains close campground on Vancouver Island. Heavy rains continue to plague campgrounds in the Northwest. Last week, the Cedar Grove RV Park & Campground near Qualicum Beach, British Columbia, was evacuated due to rising flood waters. Campground residents were taken to the local civic center. Campgrounds throughout the Northwest were forced to close and evacuate RVers.

Each year, Kampgrounds of America Inc. identifies its award-winning parks. Last week at its Baton Rouge Convention, it announced the winners of its KOA President’s and KOA Founder’s Awards. Campgrounds receive these awards based largely on satisfaction scores from actual campers in the past year. The big award at KOA is the annual KOA Campground of the Year, which went this year to the Indianapolis KOA.

How crazy is this? Electric truck maker Rivian is now the third most valuable car company in the world, behind only Tesla and Toyota. So far, Rivian has sold a grand total of 156 electric pickup trucks. Yet, since going public last week, its stock has more than doubled in value. Not bad for an auto manufacturer with no actual revenues. For perspective, Volkswagen cranks out 10 million vehicles a year and generates revenues of $300 billion. By the way, Rivian is now also more valuable than Starbucks, Boeing and Goldman Sachs. It all speaks to the enormous interest in the future of electric vehicles, with everyone scrambling to get in on the ground floor. After all, those early Tesla investors are now reaping the rewards of owning a piece of a one-trillion-dollar company. BloombergNEF is reporting that drivers are expected to buy 5.6 million electric cars globally this year, double the number purchased in 2020. That’s almost 8% of all the vehicles sold in the world.

Illinois wants to be center of the e-vehicle world. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker last week signed a law called the Reimagining Electric Vehicles in Illinois Act that provides tax breaks to help put a million e-vehicles on the road by 2030. The new law provides tax credits to help create new jobs and retain employees. Illinois is already home to e-truck maker Rivian (see story above). A Rivian executive said the new law will help promote Illinois as a state that welcomes and supports the entire electric vehicle manufacturing ecosystem.

RV resort in trouble for cabana use. The City of North Myrtle Beach has filed a lawsuit against Carolina Pines RV Resort for allegedly illegally using one of the city’s beach cabanas that is reserved for homeowners’ associations within the city limits for bathing and clothing changes during beach visits. The cabana in question passed through the hands of several homeowners’ associations over the years before being sold to a company affiliated with the RV resort. Since the resort lies outside city limits, it was in actuality an illegal sale and opponents said the resort wasn’t taking proper care of the cabana. They also claim the RV resort has been using the cabana as an event center for weddings and other gatherings.

Building a plant without the needed workers. Last week, Forest River announced plans for a new parts, service and production center in Ligonier, Indiana. Now, the company has to figure out how to fill the 500 jobs slated for the new site. Other businesses in Noble County are in an all-out hiring mode, too, unable to fill positions as unemployment rates in the area sink to historic lows. Forest River execs said it’s confident it can fill the jobs and get the plant up and running soon.

Fire burns more than 100 RVs in storage. A fire in an RV storage lot in Abbotsford, British Columbia, ignited between an estimated 100 and 200 RVs. The Fraserway RV holding lot is located directly under high-voltage power lines, and the area has also been inundated with flood waters for more than a week. Approximately nine vehicles and 45 firefighters responded to the blaze.

Camping fees going up at Michigan state parks. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is boosting the cost of a night’s stay in a state park campground by anywhere from $2 to $8 a night. It’s the first increase in the past four years and took effect Nov. 1. Department officials said the increase was needed to pay for sharp increases in maintenance costs due to increased use.

Cleaner transportation alternatives coming to a national park near you. The heads of the U.S. Department of the Interior and U.S. Transportation Department signed a deal last week to provide more money for things like electric shuttle buses and scooters to move the crowds at national parks. “We have been thinking about transportation in connection with our national parks since they were first established,” Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said at an event last week near the Lincoln Memorial. “But today, instead of covered wagons, we’re thinking in terms of electric shuttles, e-scooters, bike shares and all the other modern transportation options that play a role.” Buttigieg and Interior Secretary Deb Haaland signed a memorandum of understanding, which officials said would allow for more equity and access in national parks.

Airstream could use a little skilled help. More than 90% of Airstream trailers rolling out of the iconic brand’s factory in Jackson Center, Ohio, are already spoken for. “We’ve never seen anything like this,” said Bob Wheeler, Airstream president and CEO. “People have turned to us because we offer this incredible way to travel – we figured it might be a temporary bump, but it’s turned into a swell. And with that growth come a few growing pains.” Like every other employer in America, Airstream is suffering from a lack of qualified workers to keep the aluminum rolling at its plant. Wheeler said Airstream is a bit different since its trailers are handmade and require a high level of craftsmanship. If you’ve got a burning desire to join the Airstream team, you can apply here.

NBCUniversal sued over advice from Lemonis. A California tiny home manufacturer has sued NBCUniversal, claiming its CNBC show “The Profit” and star Marcus Lemonis committed fraud by falsely pledging to enrich the business. Tumbleweed Tiny House Company owner Steve Weissmann filed the lawsuit in California Superior Court in Los Angeles County. Weissmann said he followed Lemonis’ advice, and it bankrupted his firm. He appeared on the show in 2017. Lemonis is also the CEO of Camping World Holdings.

Seal money going to find more RV techs. Every time someone buys a new RV, $2 of the RV Industry Association’s “seal assessment” to manufacturers will go directly to the RV Technical Institute to recruit more new RV technicians. The Institute is aiming to recruit 1,000 new RV technicians as soon as possible. It has both in-person and virtual courses for students. Every RV sold in America comes with the RVIA seal attached, ensuring the rig complies with RV Industry Association standards.

Ford goes retro with zero-emissions F-100 pickup truck. What once was old is new is old again – the Ford F-100 Eluminator pickup truck. The automotive industry best-selling truck manufacturer recently announced the concept – a zero-tailpipe-emissions demonstration truck. It’s powered by the new Ford Performance Parts Eluminator electric crate motor customers can now buy online. Continue reading.

Vendors lining up for Tampa SuperShow. The Florida RV Trade Association has opened vendor registration for its 37^th Annual 2022 Florida RV SuperShow. The show is scheduled for January 19-23 at the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa. Show organizers are expecting record crowds this year. The theme of the show is “Get Out There!” The show is also bringing back its two-day pass for attendees, so the public will again be able to spend two full days at the show at no additional cost. In conjunction with the show, there will again be the Super Rally. The Rally is open to all RV clubs as well as the general public. For more info, click here.

New Heartland plant planned for Michigan. A site review plan has been approved for a Heartland RV manufacturing plant in Sturgis, Michigan. The site review is for the construction of a new manufacturing facility approximately 148,334 square feet in size for recreational vehicles.

The cutest ornament we’ve ever seen…
This adorable little camp stove is the perfect addition to your, or a family member’s or friend’s, Christmas tree this year. Makes the perfect gift for an RVer, camper, hiker, fisher… well, anyone! Learn more or order here (and see some other equally cute RV-related ornaments here).

Is this your RV?

If it’s yours and you can prove it to us (send a photo for comparison), tell us here by 9 p.m. Pacific time today, November 21, 2021. If it’s yours you’ll win a $25 Amazon gift certificate.

Last week one reader claimed their $25 Amazon gift card: Kathleen Verdino of Sun City, AZ.

We are discontinuing the contest at the end of November. We’ll have a brand-new contest. This contest will return again after a break.

We’ll have another photo in tomorrow’s RV Daily Tips newsletter (sign up to receive an email alert so you don’t miss the issue or those that follow). Some of these photos are submitted by readers while others were taken by our editors and writers on their travels around the USA.

Reader poll

Do you communicate more by phone or text messages in a typical day?

Please let us know. After you click your response, you’ll see how others have responded. Feel free to leave a comment. CLICK HERE.

 PHOTO OF THE WEEK 

At first glance this looks like a lot of places in the USA. Nice road, pretty rock formation. But look closer. See the face? It’s President George Washington as carved on Mt. Rushmore. You can take the same photo less than a mile east of the entrance to the National Memorial along South Dakota State Route 244.

Out & About with Scott Linden

A one-minute radio feature from RVtravel.com as heard on SiriusXM radio. This time, Scott talks about how to deal with “Bots” that are stealing your campsites. Click below to play.

New: The Quartzsite Report

November winds down

By Russ and Tiña De Maris
Welcome to the first edition of our regular – albeit seasonal – update on the news from the RVing Capital of the World. If you’re a QZ regular, or just thinking about “dropping in to check it out,” we’ll give you ditties and dollops of what’s happening in God’s country. God’s country? Well, some will tell you, surrounded by desert, it’s called that “Only because the devil wouldn’t have it.” But even as November winds down, there are plenty of snowbirds who’d beg to differ. Continue reading.

We’ve also heard …

Teton Pass closed to trailers. Teton Pass between Wyoming and Idaho is now closed for the winter season to vehicles with trailers. The Pass will open again to trailer traffic April 1, 2022.

Staff at Rocky Mountain National Park have proposed a raise to the daily entrance fee and camping fees. Weekly and annual rates will remain the same. See the proposed rate increases here.

Eureka (Missouri) Police are investigating the theft of 21 catalytic converters cut off RVs at St. Louis RV Storage, 1500 S. Outer Road. The gate to the business was locked at the time, and it appeared the person seen in a video was parked outside the business. Have information? Contact the Eureka PD at 636-938-6600.

The City of Greater Sudbury, Ontario, Canada, operations committee voted earlier last week to close three RV dump sites at the Valley East, Chelmsford, and Sudbury wastewater treatment plants. Opponents of the closure are not going down easy, so stay tuned.

Virginia RV park plan facing opposition. A decision on a proposed 300-site RV park planned near Spotsylvania, Virginia, was delayed Wednesday after a contentious public hearing. The proposed 136-acre site sits along the man-made Lake Anna. A recent petition showed that 93% of the 800 residents signing were against the RV park plan. More than 40 local residents spoke against the park at Wednesday’s meeting.

A long fight for a small campground. After an eight-year legal fight, a developer will now be able to build a campground in Grundy County, Illinois. Developer John Russ Junior plans to operate a 29-site campground along the Kankakee River. He first filed his petition with the Grundy County Board in 2013.

New Year’s Eve festivities coming back to Times Square. New York City is bringing back its beloved New Year’s Eve celebration on Times Square. If you want to be among the million-plus revelers welcoming in 2022, don’t forget your vaccination confirmations. Only those with the full array of shots will be admitted. And there likely won’t be much RV parking nearby, either.

Proposed Colorado RV park not popular. A proposed new campground and RV park near Berthoud, Colorado, isn’t going over well with the locals. The 373-site Colorado Base Camp proposed by a Longmont, Colorado, developer is facing opposition from several local residents, mostly over traffic concerns.

New trails on the way in NC. The town of Old Fort, North Carolina, has announced plans to build 42 miles of new trails in the Pisgah National Forest that will be accessible to people of all abilities and backgrounds. The U.S. Forest Service has formally approved the plans. Groundbreaking will begin in January 2022.

Native American to lead National Park Service. Charles Sams III has been confirmed by the U.S. Senate as the new Director of the National Parks Service. He is the first confirmed director of the agency since 2017. Sams, an enrolled member of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation near Pendleton, Ore., will be the first tribal member to lead the Park Service in the agency’s 105-year history.

ARVC gives out annual campground awards. The Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds (ARVC) recently named its Parks of the Year in four size categories. Small Park of the Year went to the Aspen Grove RV Park in Trementon, UT. Medium Park of the Year is Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Camp-Resort in Quarryville, PA. Large Park of the Year is Santee Lakes Recreation Preserve in Santee, CA. Mega Park of the Year is Clay’s Park Resort in North Lawrence, OH.

CVS plans to close hundreds of pharmacies. There might not be a CVS Pharmacy on every other block in some cities in coming months, which could impact traveling RVers who use the chain’s pharmacies to fill their prescriptions. CVS announced last Friday that it had plans to close about 300 locations annually during the next three years to reduce store density in certain locations and concentrate on online growth. CVS currently has 9,900 stores. The closings will begin in spring 2022.

Keep road flares in the RV for emergency
You should always have road flares in your RV in case of an emergency. This pack of three bright, waterproof, and shatterproof LED disks are perfect to keep tucked away. These bright lights can be seen from a mile away and can be used for traffic control, as a warning light, or as a rescue beacon. They can also be used for recreational activities such as camping and hiking. Learn more or order here.

New RV park OK’d for Crescent City. The Crescent City, California, Board of Harbor Commissioners has approved a plan for a 14-space RV park on vacant property on the Crescent City Harbor. 

Controversial SD RV park getting reviewed. The Milton Township Planning Commission is taking a look at plans for a new 70-site RV park near the Torch River in South Dakota’s Black Hills. The proposal is at the center of several legal battles. 

Tesla has plummeted on Consumer Reports’ annual list of most-reliable carmakers. The electric car manufacturer now ranks 27th out of 28 car brands, above only Ford-owned legacy luxury brand Lincoln.

Flooding closes popular Mount Rainier attraction. The Grove of the Patriarchs in Washington’s Mount Rainier National Park has been temporarily closed due to flooding. Recent heavy rains have damaged a suspension bridge in the Grove.

Zoning change could allow new RV park. The City of Olympia, Washington, is considering a zoning change along its Urban Waterfront Zone that would allow the construction of a new RV park. The local zoning board is scheduled to take up the proposal at a December meeting.

HAVE YOU SEEN THIS STOLEN RV?

Campground and RV Park News

Developments in places where we stay across the USA

Janet Groene reports each week on developments at RV parks and campgrounds across the USA and Canada. There’s a lot of good information here that you can use to plan your travels. Read the current installment of “Campground and RV Park News” here.

RV recalls posted since our last newsletter

• Jayco recalls some motorhomes: rear-drive axle problem
• Chrysler recalls 222,400 Ram trucks for potential engine stall

Did you miss yesterday’s RV Travel?

If so, stories you missed:
• Cover Story: Thanksgiving: What a season of gratitude and hope teaches us
• When it comes to cooking Thanksgiving turkey, don’t do this… or this… or this…
• Thanksgiving goes with RVing like biscuits go with gravy!
• DEF in a diesel tank? Don’t touch that key!
• No problem with reservations here. Is overcrowding a regional problem?
• RVelectricity: Dear Santa, I really want/need a surge protector….
• Climate change is affecting RV travels: Our future is first in flames, then underwater
• Give experiences instead of traditional gifts this year
• RV Consumer Support: Turned down when you want propane? For some RVers, it’s happening
• Always have pure, clean water in your RV with this tankless R/O system
• Thetford Titan 4-wheel, 21-gallon tote
• Top 9 boondocking gift suggestions
… and much more

Read it here | Back issues

????? MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY ??????
Wish you could sleep out under the night sky? Now you can… only, in your bed! This is very cool.

Latest fuel prices

Here are the latest U.S. average prices per gallon of gasoline and diesel fuel as of November 15, 2021:
Regular unleaded gasoline: $3.40 [Calif.: $4.53]
Change from week before: Down 1 cent; Change from year before: Up $1.29.
Diesel: $3.73 [Calif.: $4.77]
Change from week before: Up 1/2 cent; Change from year before: Up $1.29.

Brain Teaser

Can you find the pear in this photo? Bonus points if you can find the hamster, too! Click to enlarge.

(Answer below.)

Do you have a brain teaser you think we should use? Send it to us here.

Do you subscribe to our RV Daily Tips Newsletter?
Every Monday through Friday you get a short, informational email from us delivered straight to your inbox. Inside each issue you’ll find: quick RV tips, popular articles, reader polls, RV thoughts, helpful resources, a website of the day, RV clubs and organizations, trivia, jokes and more! If you don’t like it, you can easily unsubscribe, but we doubt you’ll want to. Sign up here.

Makes a great gift!
Keep your beer, soda or other canned beverages cold… in style!
How cute are these incredible puffer jacket can coolers? Acting like mini coolers, they won’t let your beverage get warm or your hand get cold! They’re perfect for sitting outside around the campfire. They’d make a gift for the beer and soda lover in your life, especially if they love the great outdoors! Learn more or order.

Upcoming RV shows

• Greensboro RV Show, January 7-9, Greensboro, NC
• Gulf Coast RV Show, January 7-9, Mobile, AL
• Knoxville RV Super Show, January 7-9, Sevierville, TN
• NCRVDA Greensboro RV Show, January 7-9, Greensboro, NC
• South Carolina RV & Camping Show, January 7-9, Greenville, SC
• Ohio RV and Boat Show, January 7-16, Columbus, OH
• Indy RV Expo, January 8-16, Indianapolis, IN
• Quartzsite RV Show, January 22-30, Quartzsite, Arizona

See the list of upcoming RV shows.

Recipe of the Day

Yummy Thanksgiving recipes to try this year:

Cranberry Meatballs: Fantastic meatballs with a holiday flair. Using a combination of beef and pork for the homemade meatballs gives them a wonderful flavor. The slightly sweet and full of tang sauce is what makes these special. Click here for the recipe.

Roasted Butternut Squash With Sage & Dried Cherries: This is a simple way to roast butternut squash and the final result is big on flavor. We loved the sweet onion combined with the butternut squash. Sage adds a slightly earthy flavor to the side dish that’s balanced by the dried cherries. The perfect fall side dish. Get the recipe here.

Sweet Potato Cobbler: Dessert? Definitely. Side dish? Absolutely! Take your pick… No matter how you serve it, this sweet potato cobbler is a holiday delight. The filling is full of chunks of sweet potato floating in a yummy buttery spiced sauce. On top is a flaky crust dusted with sugar. The bottom of the crust soaks up the flavors of the filling. Click here for the recipe.

Did you miss yesterday’s Thanksgiving recipes? You’ll want to drool over them! Clck here and scroll down to find them in the recipe section.

Other recipes featured in this week’s Daily Tips Newsletters:
• Lasagna Soup
• Meatloaf and Mashed Potato Cupcakes
• Broccoli Shrimp Casserole
• Baked Brie With Cranberry Sauce
• Roasted Cornish Hens

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The Perfect Scam Podcast

Every Sunday we present a podcast from AARP about scams and how crooks are stealing your money, often via telemarketing. Their efforts are often most successful with people 65 years and older who fall victim to the scammers’ sophisticated techniques. Here is this week’s episode.

Free 90-day membership to the Dyrt PRO camping app. Its campground directory is superb. Save $$$. Learn more or sign up for free.

Sunday funny

Today in History

RVtravel.com Staff

Publisher: Chuck Woodbury. Editor: Emily Woodbury. Associate editor: Diane McGovern. Senior editors: Russ and Tiña De Maris. Senior writers: Nanci Dixon, Tony Barthel, Mike Gast. Contributors: Mike Sokol, Gail Marsh, Roger Marble, Dave Solberg, Dave Helgeson, Sandi Sturm, Janet Groene, Julianne Crane, Chris Guld, Machelle James, James Raia, Kate Doherty, J.R. Montigel, Andy Zipser, Clint Norrell, Randall Brink, Chris Epting, and Karel Carnohan, DVM. Podcast and our SiriusXM producer: Scott Linden. Special projects director: Jessica Sarvis. Moderators: Gary Gilmore, Linda Brady. Financial affairs director: Gail Meyring. Special Reports: Bradford Geer. IT wrangler: Kim Christiansen.

Honorary Correspondents: Loyal readers who regularly email us leads about news stories and other information and resources that aid our own news-gathering efforts.
Tom and Lois Speirs • Mike Sherman • George Bliss • Steve Barnes • Tom Hart + others who we will add later.

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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