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Saturday, February 3, 2024
Issue 1142
Free, abbreviated edition
Featured articles
RV Self-Park breaks ground on second automated RV park
By Russ and Tiña De Maris
We first wrote about the Sullivan, Missouri, RV Self-Park back in 2020. At the time, we wondered if it were a wave of the future. If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, then the Sullivan park has its admirers. In 2022, Weary Traveler opened its version of an automated RV park in Seymour, Indiana. Now, RV Self-Park is doing site prep on its second automated RV park. Continue reading.
California bill would auto-limit vehicle speed to 10 mph over speed limit
By Randall Brink
The California legislature is considering a bill that would mandate a speed-limiting device (“governor”) in vehicles, capping speeds at just 10 mph over the posted limits. This legislative proposal, Senate Bill 961, ostensibly focuses on enhancing road safety through technology. The bill aims to equip vehicles with “intelligent speed limiter” systems. Continue reading.
Move-over laws ignored; 4x more roadside assistance providers killed in crashes than official stats say
By Russ and Tiña De Maris
In the real world of RVing, having a tire fail or other breakdown is a reality. Sitting next to the highway with traffic speeding past is nerve-wracking enough. But imagine the stress level for your “highway hero,” the man or woman who comes out to change your tire or rig up a tow. They literally take their lives into their hands at each roadside response. While all 50 states have move-over laws, most don’t apply to these workers. And even worse, only a third of all drivers even know what a move-over law is, and how it applies to them. Learn more.
Automotive industry seeks to ditch AM radio
By Randall Brink
If you are an avid RVer, you probably enjoy listening to the radio while driving or camping. But some new cars, especially electric vehicles, are no longer equipped with AM radios. This may seem like a minor inconvenience, but it could have serious implications for your safety, entertainment, and information needs. Why is the automotive industry phasing out AM radio? AM radio is still important for RVers. There are ways you can preserve this valuable communications service. Continue reading.
New study predicts more than 1.1 million Americans joining RV lifestyle, including EV owners, surpassing pandemic boom
By Dave Helgeson
A recent study commissioned by the RV Industry Association (RVIA) concerning electric vehicles (EVs) and EV owners revealed the following: 30% of leisure travelers who have used an RV already own an electric vehicle; an astonishing 17% of leisure travelers who have used an RV plan to buy an electric vehicle within a year; … 22% of current electric vehicle owners and 30% of those planning to buy an electric vehicle are considering purchasing an electric motorhome. … If those numbers are correct, then the surge of new RVers to enter the RV lifestyle will greatly exceed those during Covid. Learn more.
Church’s housing of homeless people in RVs could go to court
By Russ and Tiña De Maris
A Castle Rock, Colorado, church and town officials may soon see each other in court. The bone of contention is the church’s housing of homeless people in RVs. Town officials say zoning rules don’t allow it. The church says it answers to a higher authority. Continue reading.
Take an extra 10% off a GhostBed luxury RV mattress!
The GhostBed RV mattress is 10” deep, crafted with gel memory foam for coolness, has 3 layers of luxurious comfort and is perfectly sized for your RV! Ahhhh… Wake up relaxed and rejuvenated. RVtravel.com readers now get an EXTRA 10% OFF a GhostBed Luxury RV Mattress! CLICK HERE and use code RVTRAVEL10. Watch RVtravel.com’s Tony Barthel’s RV mattress review here.
Campground Crowding (and more!)
RV expenses rising faster than inflation rates; housing crisis vs. RVers is “a nationwide, silent, untold story”
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 views on the costs of RVing rising faster than inflation, one reader’s many concerns about full-time RVing (maybe you can help put his mind at ease), complaints about unused reservations, and more complaints about RV campgrounds’ reservation and lock-in site fees. But others are more philosophical and have plans to continue RVing with adjustments as needed.
RV Video Tour
Tour the 2024 Coach House Arriva V24 Class B Sprinter van with amazing bathroom
By Cheri Sicard
In the video below, we join Scott from the Go Small. Live Large! YouTube channel for a tour of an amazing Class B Sprinter van RV, the Coach House Arriva V24. I think after the tour you will agree that it is the bathroom that really sets this Class B van motorhome apart from much of its competition.
A must-have gadget for RV dumping
Dump Buddy® will change the way you empty your waste tanks. No longer will you need a second set of hands to prevent a spill. Rocks and branches are a thing of the past. Dump Buddy securely fastens your waste hose to the waste pipe, preventing a spill. Whether you are doing a simple dump at the end of a trip or need a more permanent hookup for longer stays, Dump Buddy is there to assist. Read Tony Barthel’s review of it here, or click here to find it on Amazon.
Don’t miss out on the latest, breaking news for RVers!
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Don’t want to sign up? Don’t worry. This newsletter isn’t going anywhere. Continue reading this newsletter every Saturday for a recap of the latest news for RVers.
More RVing News
A new KOA AI Chatbot can come to your rescue with important RVing and camping information. But, hang on. Just how real is the information? In a press release, KOA touts the new AI smart feature. “The new KOA AI Chatbot is designed to meet and exceed the rapidly evolving expectations of today’s campers and travelers.” The company reports, “32% of campers report already using AI for trip planning, with an additional 22% planning to utilize it in the future.” So if you can plan a trip with AI, why not use it while on the trip? Here’s more info.
Just a few weeks ago, University of Michigan football coach Jim Harbaugh was celebrating his team’s victory over the University of Washington Huskies in the national championship game. Shortly thereafter it was rumored that he might be moving to the pros as head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers. Shortly thereafter, the rumor was confirmed as true. But unlike most coaches in a similar position he didn’t start looking for a home near his new team… See what he’s doing instead.
As we move into the second month of 2024, many are getting itchy feet. Maps and bucket lists are appearing on tables across the country. It’s time to plan an RV trip. Be sure to include all the factors, especially that important one: fuel prices. While the weather might be cold, gas prices are warming up, according to AAA.
A $10,000 reward is being offered for information that leads to the successful prosecution of those responsible for killing 19 wild burros. The reward offer has been posted by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) office in Needles, California. On August 13, 2019, 19 wild burros were found dead along Interstate 15 between Baker, California, and Primm, Nevada. The BLM says it has “two vehicles of interest” in the case. Learn more and help solve this sad mystery.
Zebras and camels close Indiana I-69. Oh, my! A section of Indiana’s Interstate 69 was closed Saturday morning while zebras and camels strolled about on the median. It was an unexpected situation, but law enforcement officials rose to the circus-like occasion. But where the heck did they all come from? Find out here.
Last May, we asked readers for help in attempting to locate Trammell Evans, a missing Joshua Tree hiker. Evans, 25 at the time, was last seen in California’s Joshua Tree National Park. Sometime before last Thursday, park researchers happened upon a backpack off a trail in the Black Rock area of the park. The pack was found to belong to Trammell Evans. Now human skeletal remains have been located in the area. Read more.
Saturday Giveaway!
How would you like to win this non-stick camp griddle?
How to win
We’ll select a winner at random out of all entries we receive today (February 3, 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!
Reader poll
What are your two major sources of news?
RV’s leather furniture cracking, peeling or looking dull? Here’s a fix
Dustin Simpson writes, “Everything from the oil in your skin, the products we wear, sun exposure, moisture in the RV, and storage temperatures can cause the materials on your RV furniture to break down. Do regular cleaning: wiping off furniture with 303 Leather 3-In-1 Complete Care to regularly remove sand, dirt, and other grime. The best way to maximize the longevity of your furniture is to keep it clean because when oils, dirt, and other residues have time to soak into your furniture, the quicker those materials break down.”
RV and RV-related Recalls
Winnebago recalls some trailers: Overheated circuit board could cause fire
Winnebago is recalling certain 2022-2023 Micro Minnie, Micro Minnie FLX, Hike 200 and Minnie travel trailers. The LED backlight circuit board in the cooktop range may fail, causing the board to overheat. A circuit board that overheats increases the risk of a fire. Continue reading to learn more.
Forest River awning recall will stop the unraveling
Earlier this month we published a recall notice for Carefree awnings. Included in that notice were several RV brands. Now we add a Forest River awning recall, adding to the not-so-carefree list. Forest River, Inc. is recalling certain 2020-2023 Coachmen Galleria, 2021-2023 Forest River Beyond, and 2021-2023 Coachmen Nova Class B motorhomes. The retractable awning may extend unintentionally during transit. Here’s more info.
Tiffin recall for driver’s seat crack-up
A Tiffin recall will bring four lines of motorhomes back in for hazardous seating issues. Tiffin Motorhomes, Inc. (Tiffin) is recalling certain 2022 Allegro Bus, Phaeton, Allegro Red 360, and Zephyr motorhomes. The pedestal mounting plate on the driver’s seat may be improperly welded, which can cause the plate to separate and the seat assembly to loosen or detach. Learn more.
Winnebago recall for bad breakaway switch wiring
Winnebago is recalling certain 2024 Access travel trailers. The breakaway switch and trailer brakes may not activate when needed due to an incorrectly wired breakaway switch. Incorrect wiring may prevent the emergency trailer brake from engaging when the trailer becomes detached, increasing the risk of a crash. Learn more.
?? MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY ??
Three, two, one, blast off! A certain someone in your family is guaranteed to loooove this… Unless they weren’t made with the genes of most others… In that case, they’re just weird!
Latest fuel prices
Here are the latest U.S. average prices per gallon of gasoline and diesel fuel as of January 29, 2024:
Regular unleaded gasoline: $3.10
Change from week before: Up 3 cents; Change from year before: Down 39 cents.
Diesel: $3.87
Change from week before: Up 3 cents; Change from year before: Down 76 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
Cheesy Chicken Broccoli Stuffing Bake
by Sandra-Kay Pearson from Anderson, SC
Not only is this cheesy chicken broccoli stuffing bake delicious, but it’s also an extremely easy meal to prepare. It’s filled with chunks of juicy chicken breasts, broccoli, cheese, and stuffing on top for a bit of crunch. A quick and easy chicken casserole that will be a hit with your family.
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Trivia
Today’s toilet paper is noted for its softness and smoothness, with fancy additives like lotion and aloe, but that wasn’t always the case. It was once far more rough and coarse, and inefficient production techniques meant that cleaning your bum wasn’t always without an unpleasant surprise — a splinter! It wasn’t until 1935 that the brand Northern Tissue (now Quilted Northern) began to specifically promote “Splinter Free” toilet paper.
Laugh of the Week
Today in History
Facebook moderator wanted
We need help moderating our many Facebooks groups. If you spend a lot of time on Facebook and have experience as a moderator or are willing to learn fast, this could be for you. Modest pay is involved to start but could grow for a highly motivated person who enjoys spending a lot of time online, perhaps someone who has mobility issues that prevent working away from home (or RV). This freelance work will occupy a lot of time, so do not apply if you don’t have it. Also, fast internet access 24/7 is critical. Contact editor@rvtravel.com for more information.
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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I remember German tissue paper from when stationed in Europe. Rough and tough.
I was stationed in Spain in the late 60’s, the TP was like crepe paper and the toilets were basins set in the floor with two elevated areas on which you stood or squatted to relieve yourself.
Agreed. But not as scarce as C-ration paper.
I’ve heard it called “John Wayne” – it’s rough and tough, and doesn’t take crap off anyone!
Re: California Speed Limiter Proposal
The GPS in my car radio makes an announcement when it thinks I am exceeding the speed limit by ten miles per hour. It’s a nice feature when in an unfamiliar area; however, it is often not correct on the speed limit. Where and how the programmers for the GPS is a mystery to me, but it’s way too inaccurate to be relied on to actually control the speed of a vehicle. I hope the data is not gathered by a system that reads road signs as road signs indicating the highway speed when exiting an urban area are greatly lacking.
I recently took a trip from CA to TX and back using both Google and Apple maps on my iPhone. Both showed the road speed limit and changed as the speed changed. The only time it didn’t change was in a school zone with flashing lights to reduce to 25 from 35. Although I did slow when seeing the flashing lights as I coasted into the school zone (at 28) it was not enough for the local county sheriff.
Bring the speed limiter proposal to Toronto! You will get run over if you only travel at 10-15 km over the limit! Lunatics on the highways at home.
A Michigan state patrol officer was recently killed because a driver did not pull over. A huge turn out for his funeral did follow. But it was tragic. And about 6 years ago a driver ran right into a school bus killing the tow truck driver. But yes slow down and pull over. You will get there.