RV Travel Newsletter for Saturday, March 16, 2024

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Saturday, March 16, 2024
Issue 1148
Free, abbreviated edition

NEW FACEBOOK GROUP: RVing State Parks

 Featured articles 

Is your car spying on you? Insurance companies sell your driving data, revealing your every move

By Russ and Tiña De Maris
In an era where privacy feels like a distant memory, your car may be the latest accomplice in the surveillance game. The days of George Orwell’s telescreens may have passed, but the rise of interconnected technology has ushered in a new era of surveillance—this time from within your vehicle. Reports abound of individuals facing exorbitant insurance premiums despite pristine driving records. The culprit? Data brokers tapping into the treasure trove of information stored within your car’s computer systems. Learn more.

The Dyrt’s 2024 report reveals surprising new trends and wake-up calls for campground owners

By Andy Zipser
Step beyond the surface of camping statistics in The Dyrt’s recently released 2024 Camping Report. Compiled from a diverse array of sources from campers to campground managers across all 50 states, this report offers a comprehensive snapshot of the camping landscape and how it’s changing. Amidst the hype of record-breaking camping numbers, a deeper narrative emerges. Yes, 2023 saw an unprecedented 84.8 million campers hitting the trails, but the story doesn’t end there. Read this compelling report.

GEICO avoids class action in lawsuit over pandemic premiums

By Randall Brink
In a legal showdown, GEICO emerges unscathed from a high-stakes lawsuit alleging pandemic-era overcharging. Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman’s ruling sends shockwaves through the insurance industry, sparking debates on consumer rights and corporate accountability. But why did the court decision leave plaintiffs in the lurch? And what does this mean for policyholders nationwide? Find out here.

The latest Starlink Roam news for the week of March 11, 2024

By Randall Brink
Starlink revolutionizes connectivity with a significant latency reduction, enhancing user experiences globally. Also, Starship achieves major milestones in its third test, showcasing successful engine startups, stage separations, and more. Plus, SpaceX gains FCC approval for high-frequency radio waves, paving the way for expanded broadband capacity. Explore the full story for the latest in space internet innovation.

Campground Crowding (and more!)

RVer claims weekend campers are the problem; plus, the difference in amenities and space at RV resorts and state parks

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 comments on ongoing difficulties obtaining reservations, even when hitting the button at the earliest time possible; complaints of weekend campers trashing campsites; and the observation that you get your choice between privacy or amenities, depending on the type of park. Plus, more complaints of higher campsite prices, and a couple of tips to save money on them.

Click here to read

RV Tours

Tour the 2024 Entegra Arc Class B—small motorhome, big features

By Cheri Sicard
In the video below we join Gabby of RVs with Gabby for a tour of a small motorhome with big features, the 2024 Entegra Arc. I like the large rear wet bath with plenty of room for the cassette toilet, shower, and a large closet and three drawers. There is even a fold-up sink so you don’t have to use the one in the kitchen. Speaking of the kitchen, it features a portable induction cooktop, microwave oven, and a 3-cubic-foot refrigerator/freezer.

Click here to tour

More RVing News

While January was a dismal month in terms of new RV sales, there still had to be “winners” in that slow horse race. The top-selling travel trailer for the month may just surprise you. See what January’s #1 best-selling travel trailer was by clicking here.

Thor’s EV RV revolution begins! In a groundbreaking move towards the electrification of RVs, EV truck manufacturer Harbinger Motors has just handed over the inaugural customer chassis to Thor’s Indiana-based research and development facility. This significant milestone marks the beginning of Thor’s endeavor to construct Class A living quarters atop these electric vehicle platforms. Click here to learn more.

Buy your RV from Blue Compass RV? You could see big gas savings. RVers who buy a rig from a Blue Compass dealership could see big savings when they fill up at Love’s. Examples include 20 cents off a gallon of diesel, or 13 cents off gasoline. The incentive-to-buy program put out by Blue Compass features exclusive discounts touting “the largest discount offered from Love’s for any RV dealership group.” Here’s the breakdown of discounts.

If the idea of self-driving cars sharing your roadway gives you the willies, you’re not alone. Self-driving car anxiety, says auto group AAA, isn’t getting any better. AAA recently surveyed U.S. drivers about their feelings on autonomous autos. A huge number expressed fear about the rigs. The fear of self-driving cars spiked in 2023, and it hasn’t come down.

Until 2015, Family Dollar was the second-largest chain of stores of its type. With 8,000 locations across the Lower 48, it’s hard to RV anywhere without running into one of them. But Family Dollar’s parent company, Dollar Tree, says almost 1,000 of the merchandise-crowded stores will close in the next three years. Your Family Dollar shrinks!

Police in Britain’s North Yorkshire got a bit of a shock when they got their man. Last week reports came in regarding a stolen travel trailer towed by a BMW. It wasn’t too difficult to locate. But when pulled over, surprise! They got themselves an 11-year-old RV thief. Did the pre-teen have help with the heist? You put the evidence together. Not only did the towing rig have “cloned” plates, there were several other stolen plates found inside. And the youthful crook was also found to have other car theft tools. Read more about this here.

Horror movie or real life? Real life! It makes you want to snowbird in Florida. 500 pounds of pythons were recently found near Naples, Florida. The “mating ball”—either the stuff of a horror movie or some weird erotica—contained 11 pythons, with one longer than 16 feet. Yikes is an understatement!

The latest report on RV sales shows a continuing nosedive. RV industry watcher Statistical Surveys Inc. has released its January 2024 report on the subject. As in December, so it was in January: RV retail sales sagged. Here’s the complete sales breakdown for the U.S. market.

Zion National Park officials want your input. The highly favored Utah park has seen many more visitors and plenty of changes on how they use the park recently. Add in aging infrastructure, and Park Service staff are getting a bit worried. It’s time to make some improvements—with your advice in mind.

Looking for a campground while exploring the bayou country? Louisiana has a new state campground at Cypremort Point State Park in St. Mary Parish. The park is parked on Vermillion Bay, at the end of State Route 319. Visitors launch boats here, fish, spot lots of wildlife and stroll a half-mile beach. It is one of the few spots along the Gulf coastline accessible by road. So, what more could you ask for, but a new 22-site campground?

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.

Saturday Giveaway!

How would you like to win these lantern-style outdoor string lights?

How to win
We’ll select a winner at random out of all entries we receive today (March 16, 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

Do you always wear your seatbelt while driving your RV or tow vehicle?

Tell us here

Latest fuel prices

Here are the latest U.S. average prices per gallon of gasoline and diesel fuel as of March 11, 2024:
Regular unleaded gasoline: $3.38
Change from week before: Up 3 cents; Change from year before: Down 8 cents.
Diesel: $4.00
Change from week before: Down 2 cents; Change from year before: Down 24 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

Best Reuben Sandwich

by Susan Bartley from Beaverton, OR

This Reuben sandwich recipe is very hearty. When you take one bite of the buttery grilled rye bread, the hot sliced corned beef with melted cheese, tangy sauerkraut, and Thousand Island dressing, you’re in sandwich heaven. Pick up sliced corned beef from the deli or use homemade St. Patrick’s Day corned beef. Either way, this recipe for the best Reuben sandwich is a winner.

Click here for the recipe

Trivia

The “corn” in corned beef refers to the large grains of salt, called “corns,” that were historically used to cure the beef. This method of preservation gave the meat its distinctive flavor and texture. So, despite its name, corned beef has nothing to do with corn but rather with the salt used in its preparation.

?? MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY ??
Not that you NEED another gadget, but you’ll certainly WANT this gadget! Use this inside, then bring the finished product outside to the picnic table. On a nice spring or summer day it doesn’t get much better… Enjoy!

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, J.R. Montigel, Randall Brink, Dustin Simpson, Dale Wade, and Tony Barthel. Financial affairs director: Gail Meyring. IT wrangler: Kim Christiansen. Director of Video: Keith Ward. Social Media staff: Gary Pratt. 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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