RV Travel Newsletter for Saturday, January 20, 2024

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Saturday, January 20, 2024
Issue 1140
Free, abbreviated edition

DON’T MISS tomorrow’s issue of this newsletter where we announce that “We just hit a grand slam!” Find out why!

  Featured articles  

Camping World takeover turned down – Wyoming dealer says “No thanks!”

By Russ and Tiña De Maris
Is a Camping World march to domination inevitable? Marcus Lemonis, the company CEO, makes no bones about it. He wants the company to have 320 locations in the U.S. by 2029. Last July, Lemonis sent out yet another media release touting another capture, this time in the Cowboy State (Wyoming). But in what must be major chagrin for Lemonis, the Camping World takeover got a major rebuff. Sonny’s RV, near Casper, Wyoming, rethought the offer and called it off. Continue reading this story.

Former TV sportscaster ejected from RV on freeway, miraculously survives (video)

By Randall Brink
In an astonishing incident, a man miraculously survived after being ejected from a moving motorhome on a busy California freeway. This harrowing event was captured on dashcam footage, which showed the man flying out of the RV’s driver’s window and over the freeway divider. Watch the actual incident and the interview with the lucky [understatement!] survivor here.

SEC withdraws Natural Asset Companies proposal; big win for RVers

By Randall Brink
On January 12, 2024, I commented on previously reported news regarding the Bureau of Land Management’s plan to tie up and lease out public lands in conjunction with a conservation lease scheme formulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission. In a surprising turn of events this week, the Securities and Exchange Commission has withdrawn its proposal concerning Natural Asset Companies (NACs). This decision is a significant victory for outdoor recreation enthusiasts, including the RV and camping community. Learn more.

Rec.gov campground sold out? Get notifications of site openings for free

By Russ and Tiña De Maris
Trying to reserve a campsite on recreation.gov, but can’t because your dates at the campground are sold out? Back in 2019, we told you about a private company that for “a fee” would be happy to keep an eye open and tell you about cancellations. Well, forget about paying for that service. The reservation site recreation.gov’s new Availability Alerts will tell you for free. Learn more here.

‘Not-In-My-Backyard’ lawsuit filed against proposed Tennessee RV park

By Randall Brink
A legal dispute has emerged over the development of a new Tennessee RV park in the Camp Creek area of Greene County, once again raising the specter of conflict between local development, regulatory compliance, and community interests. Continue reading.

RVer dies in Quartzsite accident

By Russ and Tiña De Maris
The area around Quartzsite, Arizona, gets pretty busy this time of year. With the “Big Tent” RV show, and the gem show at the Quartzsite Improvement Association, traffic begins to get tricky. Sadly, Wednesday, January 17, was one of those big traffic days marked by a Quartzsite fatality accident. Learn more.

Campground Crowding

RVer suggests “multi-level” campsite fees and says some RV resorts are “definitely NOT” resorts

RV sales have slowed and fewer people are buying RVs than has been the recent trend. Has that changed campground crowding? This week Nanci Dixon relates your thoughts about the advantages of full-time RVing, and an RVer’s suggestion to “keep it simple and you will then be satisfied with the camping experience.” Also, we received more complaints from RVers about corporations buying campgrounds then “scalping” campers, and mismanaging the parks. Plus complaints about campgrounds adding “resort” to their name and increasing fees accordingly, without adding features.

Click here to read

RV Tours

Tour the 2024 Thor Axis: Small Class A with twin beds

By Cheri Sicard
The video below from one of our readers’ favorite YouTube channels, Matt’s RV Reviews, takes us on a tour of a unique new Class A motorhome, the Thor Axis model 24.1. What’s so unique about the Thor Axis? For a Class A, it’s small, and it also comes with twin beds! Matt says this is a Class A motorhome body built on a Class C chassis. The interior and floor plan are reminiscent of many popular European motorhomes.

Click here to read more and tour

NEED SOMETHING FOR YOUR RV? IT MIGHT BE ON SALE!
Here’s every RV item that’s currently on sale at Amazon. Save big!

More RVing News

We reported Tuesday that states using humor on highway reader boards were put on notice. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) warned states via its new Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD). The 1,100-page tome essentially warned funny highway signs were out. States were given two years to get straightlaced. Well, we have an update: It’s a recommendation, not a rule. Interesting…

Going on now: The Florida RV SuperShow, January 17–21, is a big one and, well, we can only guess how many people will pass through the gates this year, but it’s usually more than 80,000. But if you’re nowhere near Florida, or despise crowds and long-winded salesmen, take heart! You can take a virtual tour of the big event.

Lazydays “reimagines” itself—new branding, website, stock symbol. With fanfare, the company announced “a comprehensive nationwide rebranding campaign, including new logos, colors and fonts.” And to appeal to the new wave of potential customers, “the upcoming introduction of a re-imagined digital retail shopping experience.” Will it make much difference to the ordinary buyer?

If you own a Forest River RV, you probably already know that gazillionaire Warren Buffett is remotely involved in your life. Forest River is owned by Buffett’s company, Berkshire Hathaway. Now Berkshire Hathaway has 10 fingers in another sort of RV-related business. The big corporation just bought up the last 20% of Pilot Travel Centers.

What swarming thing will chill us in 2024? No streaming TV or theatre required—cicadas may be coming to a travel venue near you! If your travels take you east of the Mississippi, it may be hard to miss them. Here’s the rundown for cicada mania.

Autonomous trucks, commercial driverless freight transporters, aren’t taking off like a rocket. Two state legislatures are considering proposals that would put the brakes on robo-trucks, at least to a degree. More info on that here.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park is closed with no open date set. The park, which is located in both North Carolina and Tennessee, has been closed since Tuesday due to hazardous weather and icy roads. More info.

Dog distemper has been found in a popular Florida park. It may be viewed as a snowbird paradise—Fort Desoto Park in Florida’s Pinellas County is a magnet for RVers. With 238 RV sites, it attracts a big crowd, and some of those have dogs. But beware! Dog distemper, more properly, canine distemper, has been found at the park.

Visiting Washington’s beautiful Mount Rainier National Park this year? You’ll need a reservation to enter the park through the Nisqually, Stevens Canyon and Sunrise/White River entrance stations during peak hours this summer. More info here.

Speaking of Washington’s National Parks… The cause of the devastating Hurricane Ridge Lodge fire remains a mystery. The final investigation into the origin and cause of the fire that destroyed the lodge on May 7, 2023, was able to determine an area of origin but was unable to determine the specific cause of the fire.

Brand-new! 2024 Rand McNally Road Atlas & National Park Guide
This comprehensive guide is a must-have for RVers and nature lovers, offering stunning visuals, essential visitor information, and invaluable travel tips for all 63 of America’s national parks. The guide also includes a complete 2024 Rand McNally Road Atlas, ensuring seamless navigation for travelers across the country. Learn more or order.

ABOVE: A coyote carries a small gray fox it captured in Yosemite National Park. Coyotes here and elsewhere also prey on small dogs. For years Death Valley National Park kept a daily tally of Poodles, Pomeranians and other small dogs (and cats) that coyotes snuck off with in park campgrounds. The message: Don’t leave your pets outside unattended.

Saturday Giveaway!

How would you like to win this cute Camco RV hitch cover?

How to win
We’ll select a winner at random out of all entries we receive today (January 20, 2024) by 7 p.m. Pacific time. Remember, you can only enter once and after we notify you by email via RVcontests@gmail.com that you won, you have 24 hours to respond or we’ll give the prize to someone else.

Click here to enter or see last week’s winner!

Say goodbye to rodents with Tomcat Rodent Repellent
Keep rodents away from your RV. Made with ingredients like cinnamon, peppermint, and garlic oils, it is safe around kids and pets while repelling rodents. Use it on the RV frame, the outside electrical connections, around (but not on) the tires, etc. It lasts about 9 months. Tomcat Rodent Repellent provides another form of cheap insurance against a mouse infestation. Watch the video and learn additional ways to keep rodents out of your RV.

Reader poll (and article)

Has RVing lost its allure?

Click here to read the article by Gail Marsh and vote

RV and RV-Related Recalls

Forest River is recalling some motorhomes for electrical shorts

It’s not a bad laundry day, but Forest River is recalling some motorhomes for shorts—electrical shorts, that is. Forest River is recalling certain 2020-2024 Coachmen Galleria motorhomes. The battery boost wiring may become damaged, resulting in an electrical short circuit and causing a loss of power steering. More info here.

Video: RVing on the Streets
Los Angeles further restricts where RVers can park on streets

?? MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY ??
Did you know your RV enjoys getting dressed, too? It doesn’t like to wear the same thing every day! So don’t be rude and make it wear the same thing! Get your RV dressed every day. It will love this.

Latest fuel prices

Here are the latest U.S. average prices per gallon of gasoline and diesel fuel as of January 15, 2024:
Regular unleaded gasoline: $3.06
Change from week before: Down 2 cents; Change from year before: Down 25
Diesel: $3.86
Change from week before: Up 4 cents; Change from year before: Down 66 cents.

For fuel prices for specific regions, states, and cities, go to U.S. Energy Information Administration.

Upcoming RV shows

Click here for a directory of upcoming shows.

Recipe of the Day

Asiago Chicken in a White Wine Mushroom Sauce

by Diane Atherton from Pine Mountain, GA

This Asiago chicken in a white wine mushroom sauce is impressive and easy. The chicken is tender and juicy, and the sauce is creamy and flavorful. Garlic and thyme add a wonderful aroma, while mushrooms add earthiness and a nice texture. Asiago melts into the sauce and adds a nutty and salty taste. There’s a hint of acidity and sweetness from the white wine. The wine also helps get all the brown bits up from the pan. We served it with rice and green beans, but this would be delicious with your favorite vegetable.

Click here for the recipe

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Trivia

Did you know that the Filet-O-Fish sandwich from McDonald’s was created to cater to customers during Lent? The sandwich was introduced in the early 1960s by a Cincinnati McDonald’s franchise owner named Lou Groen. He noticed a decline in sales during Lent when many people abstain from eating meat on Fridays. Groen came up with the idea of a fish sandwich, and after some persuasion, it was added to the menu nationwide. The Filet-O-Fish went on to become one of McDonald’s iconic menu items.

Laugh of the Week

Today in History

RVtravel.com All Star Team

Publisher: Chuck Woodbury. Editor: Emily Woodbury. Associate editor: Diane McGovern. Senior editors: Russ and Tiña De Maris. Senior writers: Nanci Dixon, Gail Marsh, Dave Solberg and Cheri Sicard. Contributors: Roger Marble, Dave Helgeson, Janet Groene, J.R. Montigel, Randall Brink, Dustin Simpson, Dale Wade, Jan Steele and Tony Barthel. Financial affairs director: Gail Meyring. IT wrangler: Kim Christiansen. Artificial Intelligence (AI) contributors: Johnny Robot and Milly MacWilly. Canine mascots: Archie and Astor “the Disaster”

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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