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Saturday, April 6, 2024
Issue 1151
Free, abbreviated edition
Featured articles
RV park expansions ignite land use disputes: Towns clash over camping evolution
By Andy Zipser
Once characterized by tents and fire rings, campgrounds have now transformed into RV parks with amenities like swimming pools, fitness centers, and even glamping options like safari tents and treehouses. However, this evolution has brought challenges, with communities grappling with the impact of sprawling RV parks and campgrounds on local infrastructure and quality of life. From proposed mega-resorts facing backlash to smaller RV parks being rejected due to concerns about noise and environmental impact, tensions between developers and local residents are on the rise. Click here to read.
Court dismisses RV owner’s appeal against Ford—A cautionary tale in RV warranty legal battle
By Randall Brink
In a recent legal ruling, Kenneth Boyle’s appeal against Ford Motor Company regarding warranty coverage for his newly purchased RV was dismissed. Boyle’s RV, bought in 2020, developed alignment issues shortly after purchase. Despite attempts to fix it, Boyle argued that the repair costs should be covered under Ford’s warranty. However, Ford contended that the warranty didn’t apply due to modifications made by Thor RV post-manufacture. Boyle filed a lawsuit alleging breach of warranty, but both the district and appellate courts ruled in Ford’s favor, citing warranty exclusions for post-manufacture alterations. Here’s the whole story and what it means for RVers.
Beware! Fake eclipse glasses flood market, risking eye damage and blindness
By Russ and Tiña De Maris
Come Monday, thousands, perhaps millions will be gazing up at the sky. For the U.S., it’ll be the last total solar eclipse until 2044. If taking in that phenomenon is on your bucket list, you know eye protection is essential. Don’t be blinded by scammers (literally) by buying fake eclipse glasses. Reports are coming in that scammers are selling “safe” eclipse-viewing eyewear that could leave you with eye damage, or even blindness. Here’s how to tell if your eclipse glasses are real.
Bridges are taking a hit – three in a week
By Russ and Tiña De Maris
Bridges are taking a hit. Last week’s huge impact that knocked down (and out) the Francis Scott Key Bridge wasn’t the only bridge disaster. RVers looking to travel I-95 in Northeast Philadelphia must look for alternatives. It’s closed for an unknown time frame, after an oversized truck clobbered a bridge overpass on April 1. But the non-fool’s joke is just another in a line of recent bridge problems.
Campground Crowding (and more!)
RVers and camp hosts share a trick to getting around the 14-day stay limit. It works, but are the consequences worth it?
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 stories regarding campground reservations, including some benefits of a Class B van, having a positive attitude, and booking way in advance. Also, a longtime RVer’s observation that full-time RVers can substantially underestimate the costs of maintenance, as they and their RVs age. And one RVer calls out the cheaters that get around the 14-day rules for campground reservations, with Nanci’s response to that situation as a camp host.
RV Tours
Tour the 2024 Rockwood Geo Pro G15TB travel trailer—A mobile master suite
By Cheri Sicard
In [this video] we join the team from Big Truck Big RV for a tour of the 2024 Rockwood Geo Pro G15TB travel trailer by Forest River. One of the tiniest towables around, the Rockwood Geo Pro G15TB is essentially a master suite on wheels. For a tiny trailer, I was impressed by the amount of exterior storage it has. Couple this with a respectable cargo carrying capacity of over 1,000 pounds and you can tote along a fair amount of gear.
Click here to read more and tour
More RVing News
In a move that has some park’s friends groups up in arms, Iowa is ending “park rangers.” Not that the state is “terminating” park rangers; rather, they’ll now be “conservation officers.” It’s not the name change that’s causing alarm, it’s what the nomenclature change will mean for the parks.
Twice as many full campgrounds were encountered in 2023 versus 2020. This unhappy encounter is most likely at non-reservation, first-come, first-served campgrounds, according to The Dyrt’s 2024 Camping Report. What makes it all the more difficult for some RVers—most FCFS campgrounds are the less-expensive public campgrounds. So if you need a spot for the night and the public ones are gone, you’ll likely add insult to injury by paying more for a private RV park space. Click here for more information.
Florida is cracking down on distracted drivers. That’s the message being pumped out to the public in the Sunshine State. In Florida, every 44 seconds there’s a vehicle crash. Of those crashes, one in seven has a distracted driver at fault. Take the case of the Scherer family, whose life was turned upside down.
Last Saturday, a landslide along California’s Highway 1 took what some described as “a giant bite” from the roadway. Travelers and locals alike were trapped overnight until official convoys could be arranged on Sunday to lead them out. Upwards of 2,000 people were stuck and had to be led out, according to California Highway Patrol estimates. Every state park in the Big Sur area is now closed until further notice. These include…
Utah’s Zion National Park has received National Park Service funding from the Great American Outdoors Act Legacy Restoration Fund, disaster recovery appropriations, and visitor entrance fee dollars to completely rehabilitate the park’s historic South Campground. It is the most popular campground in the park. The project is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to address deferred maintenance and repair needs related to the campground. Here are the park makeover details.
If you missed the public comment period last October, you may be shocked today. In an official announcement on April 1, 2024, Utah’s Cedar Breaks National Monument announced changes to its entrance and campground fees. This was not an April Fools’ joke—Cedar Breaks entrance fees are up a whopping 150%.
Not interested in the upcoming solar eclipse? You might change your mind when you see these special eclipse deals on food and drinks across the U.S. Get BOGO deals, special day-of offers, free foods, special margaritas, discounts and more. Here are the deals.
Speaking of the eclipse… Want to catch views of it on Monday but aren’t close to the “path of totality”? If you’re out Tennessee way, you can still catch a big chunk of Sol being blocked. Catch the eclipse at Great Smoky Mountains National Park. While outside the total eclipse path, viewers there will still experience an 86% to 87% obstruction of the sun during the event.
Harvest Hosts, the unique RV camping Membership that gives RVers unlimited overnight stays at vineyards, farms, breweries, and more, just launched a major update that introduces a suite of new features and improvements, making premium resources accessible to all Members. Check out the new features here.
A new Long Island RV park is being proposed at the Enterprise Park at Calverton (EPCAL), NY. The park would offer a potential new destination for RV enthusiasts in Eastern New York state. The project, put forward by Long Island Sports Park owner Dean Del Prete, aims to transform a 165-acre site into an RV park and campground.
BLM cautions visitors to stay on authorized trails at Fort Ord National Monument. The Ford Ord land is beautiful now but was once home to an active-duty Army base that trained American troops for combat duty in Europe during WWI, and for duty in the European and Pacific theaters of war during WWII. The U.S. Army continues to clean up old munitions in the area. That is why staying on marked and authorized trails is crucial for safety from potential explosive hazards.
It’s that time again… As grizzly bears begin to emerge from their dens this spring in search of food, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is asking residents and visitors in grizzly country to “Keep Bears Wild”. The Service reminds the public to remain vigilant and take proactive actions to avoid bear conflicts. Male grizzly bears tend to emerge from their dens in March and April, and females with cubs typically appear in April and May. Here’s what you should know.
A stinky flower has shut a portion of an Arizona national monument. This is no belated April Fools’ joke. Arizona’s Casa Grande Ruins National Monument says its picnic area is off limits until at least May. The cause? The invasive stinknet plant. More info here.
WE’RE HIRING! We’re looking for a news writer to join our team.
Do you have a background in journalism? Love to write and know RVing inside out? Do you read this newsletter every week and know what we’re all about? Send an email to editor (at) rvtravel.com and tell us why we need you. Must have a background in deadline writing, and provide writing samples. This is a freelance position. Work from anywhere. Pay depends on how talented you are and how much you choose to be involved. No beginners, please.
New and improved Dump Buddy is a must-have gadget for RV dumping
Dump Buddy® will change the way you empty your waste tanks. It securely fastens your waste hose to the waste pipe, preventing a spill. Whether you’re doing a simple dump at the end of a trip or need a secure hookup for a long stay, Dump Buddy is there to assist. Read Tony Barthel’s review of it 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.
Saturday Giveaway!
How would you like to win this tiny handheld 3-in-1 vacuum? It’s perfect for RVs!
How to win
We’ll select a winner at random out of all entries we receive today (April 6, 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
How willing are you to get on your RV’s roof?
RV and RV-Related Recalls
Keystone is recalling thousands of RVs. Circuit board overheat could cause fire
Keystone is recalling certain 2021-2023 Montana, 2021-2022 Montana High Country, 2022-2024 Fuzion, 2021 Crossroads Cruiser, and 2024 Dutchmen Aspen Trail LOFT vehicles. 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. Learn more.
Heartland recall involves hot circuit boards
Heartland is recalling certain 2023 Elk Ridge, Lithium, 2024 Eddie Bauer, Corterra, 2023-2024 Big Country, Big Horn, South Fork, Fuel, Gravity, Mallard, North Trail, Sundance, Milestone, Pioneer, Prowler, Torque, and Trail Runner fifth wheels and travel trailers. The LED backlight circuit board in the Suburban cooktop range may fail, causing the board to overheat. A circuit board that overheats increases the risk of a fire. Read more.
Déjà vu: Now Cruiser RV is recalling RVs for hot circuit boards!
In what could be a long, repetitive series of recalls, now Cruiser is recalling RVs for hot circuit boards. Cruiser is recalling certain 2023-2024 Avenir, Embrace, Shadow Cruiser, Radiance, Stryker, MPG, 2024 Twilight travel trailers, and 2024 Essence fifth wheels. 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. Learn more.
?? MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY ??
What would you do if your campground neighbor had a cow at their campsite? What if that cow came inside their RV with them? Would you believe your eyes? Well, you’d have to because with this, there really could be a cow in their RV!
HAVE YOU SEEN THIS STOLEN RV?
This 2018 trailer was stolen the morning of Saturday, March 23, near North 66 Avenue and Harding Street in Hollywood, Florida. The Hollywood Police Department is investigating. If you have information call 954.764.HELP (4357).
Did someone rip off your ride? Let us post information on your stolen RV. Email Russ (at) rvtravel.com.
Latest fuel prices
Here are the latest U.S. average prices per gallon of gasoline and diesel fuel as of April 1, 2024:
Regular unleaded gasoline: $3.52
Change from week before: Down <1 cent; Change from year before: Up 2 cents.
Diesel: $4.00
Change from week before: Down 4 cents; Change from year before: Down 11 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
Bacon & Bleu Cheese Potato Salad
by Barbara Pace from The Villages, FL
Hmmm… bacon and blue cheese. How can you go wrong? This is the perfect potato salad recipe if you’re a fan of bleu cheese. The flavors are fabulous! Next time I make this, I’m going to try and grill the potatoes like Barbara originally did. I bet that will add even more flavor. Perfect for summer cookouts!
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.
Trivia
Movie theater popcorn costs more per ounce than filet mignon in the U.S.
Laugh of the Week
FROM CANDID CAMERA:
Imagine you are a car mechanic and are asked by a young woman to get her car unstuck from a garage where it is pinned in an impossible position. You’ll bend over laughing at this classic gag!
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.
RVtravel.com is a participant in many affiliate programs, including the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Regardless of the potential revenue, unless stated otherwise, we only recommend products or services we believe provide value to our readers.
Publisher Chuck Woodbury is the author of “The ABCs of RVing: Everything you wanted to know about RVing but were afraid to ask.”
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That was a Classic Candid Camera, loved it.
Outstanding!!
How I miss the originality of shows like this.
It’s not candid camera anymore…it’s peck…peck…time on the smart phone. Another fad that hopefully goes away someday.
The video brings back memories of my senior year in High School in 1967.
On the last day of school, 12 of us picked up a girl’s VW Beetle and put it between two pillars at the main entrance of the school.
We did take it back out for her though, after some good laughs and the panic in her voice.
No cell phones back then so no pictures.
Way back then I knew some JD’s who moved a VW off the street and left a note: Keep your toys off the street.
No Damage…
Way back then… I remember in 7th grade going to school one morning and there was a car on top of the two-story-tall gymnasium. Not sure how they got it up there.🤔 That was sure a sight! In fact, I can still picture it in my mind’s eye (65 years later😲). Have a good night, Joyce and Bob. 😀 –Diane
Your trivia answer does not address the trivia question. Please provide the answer. Thank you.
The answer is in the article about eclipse deals.
Need to bring back candid camera. Love that series.
I think when you ask about getting on the roof of a RV you should include age of the person included in the question. At 74 I have given up doing anything like getting on the roof, going down in the well pit, building any buildings, cutting down trees and using jack hammer i just don’t have the reflexs or balance I used to have.