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Saturday, June 15, 2024
Issue 1161
Free, abbreviated edition
THIS WEEKEND’S RVER WEATHER FORECAST
This weekend:
• Scattered severe thunderstorms and local heavy rain possible across the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and parts of the Central Plains through this evening.
• Severe weather and flash flood risks shift to the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest this weekend.
• Above-average summer heat continues across much of the Southern Tier before expanding into the Midwest by Sunday…. Get the full forecast.
Featured articles
Would you pay $1,500 to test drive up to 113 motorhomes? You could have at this RV show
By Steve Blume
RV shows are packed, and working your way through each new model with ten other people inside is flat-out uncomfortable. That may have just changed for serious buyers. Would you pay $1,500 to park your RV at a fairground, to have exclusive access for three days, and test drive any of 113 new motorized 2025 RVs…. What about paying $500 for a day pass? Read about this historic first-ever event.
Be warned: East Coast toll road fines equal BIG extra RV expenses
By Cheri Sicard
In this video from Robin Barrett of Creativity RV (one of the winners of our 2024 RV video awards) she gives a warning of toll road fines you can incur on East Coast toll roads without even realizing it. These fines can mean BIG extra expenses. More about those fines here, as well as how to avoid them.
What are these mystery lights at Yosemite National Park?
As the stars start to emerge at Yosemite National Park, something else magical and unique to Yosemite Valley begins: lights flickering on from the surrounding cliffs. Are they simply reflections? Or are your eyes playing tricks on you? No. It’s better than that.
Campground crowding (and more!)
Would you pay extra for a “quiet loop” campsite?
RV sales have slowed and fewer people are buying RVs. Has that changed campground crowding? This week Nanci Dixon shares more of your stories about difficulty getting reservations in some locations, expenses of RVing, noise in campgrounds, lack of good RV service techs—all contributing to another RVer selling his motorhome and another contemplating the same. Have you ever found your RV slideout 4″ from your neighbor’s slideout? Yikes! Talk about cozy! But there are more tips on how to get around some of those RVing negatives. And would you pay extra for a campsite with a designated “quiet loop”?
RV walk-through
Tiny, adorable and innovative Japanese micro motorhomes!
By Cheri Sicard
Get a glimpse into RVing in Japan with this fascinating compilation of Japanese micro motorhomes from CampingcarFan. The video is in Japanese, but you can watch with English subtitles. Although they are not completely accurate, you will get the general picture. Even without the subtitles, you can still marvel at the tour of the amazing micro motorhomes on display at a Japanese RV show.
More RVing news
A severe illness has sickened more than 300 visitors to Grand Canyon’s Havasupai Falls, prompting emergency helicopter evacuations for many. The incident began on June 11, as hikers, readying for the ten-mile trek out of the canyon, started experiencing alarming symptoms, including fever, weakness, uncontrollable vomiting, and diarrhea. The sudden illness left many unable to make the strenuous hike back to the trailhead on their own. Read about this nightmare here.
A beloved park ranger has died in a Bryce Canyon accident. Perhaps it was fitting that Ranger Tom Lorig’s life ended while he was on duty, serving park visitors in Utah’s Bryce Canyon. The beloved park ranger was 78. Here’s what happened.
Get a load of this! When daylight burglars hit Camping World, stealing $1,500 of gear. So who wants Camping World gear? Police in Bakersfield, California, would like to know. Earlier this week, they put out a request to try and identify two suspects in what’s alleged to be a daylight rip-off that happened back on April 15. Can you help find these brazen burglars?
Last week’s catastrophic failure of a portion of Teton Pass (Wyoming Highway 22) has created a related catastrophe. The route is the main road into Jackson, Wyoming, and tourist dollars figure heavily into the need for reopening that route. The State of Wyoming is handing over nearly a half-million dollars to a construction company to install a bypass quickly. However, some RVs might not be able to use the Teton Pass detour.
Oregon’s Beverly Beach State Park will extend its closure through July 31, 2024, due to construction delays. The popular campground and day-use area right along the beach closed last September for construction. Work included moving power lines underground and replacing aging water lines to help better serve visitors in the future. Learn more.
You won’t have to wait quite as long in the future to buy the latest model RV. Last week, the RV Industry Association Board of Directors approved its RV Model Year Task Force’s recommendation to move the Voluntary Model Year Introduction Recommended Best Practice dates up. Here’s when you can expect to see the 2026 models.
Thor Motor Coach has announced updates for its 2025 model year motorhomes, across its Class A gasoline engine lineup. For starters, it has introduced a new 26.2 floorplan, the latest addition to the Axis and Vegas motorhome lines. This new design sleeps four, offers ample closet space, and features versatile twin beds that can convert into a comfortable king-size bed. Here’s a list of updates.
When we recently wrote about the real costs of EVs versus those of hybrids and “gassers,” thousands of folks tuned in. If most car buyers are truly wise consumers, that may explain the results of a recent AAA consumer survey on electric vehicles. Most are turned off by EVs when thinking about buying one. Photos from space back that up. Wait, what?!
A rare white buffalo calf has been born in Yellowstone. Visitors to Yellowstone National Park recently witnessed a rare sight: a white buffalo calf. The calf, born with a white hide, also has a black nose, eyes, and hooves. (It is not an albino, which would feature pink eyes.) The rare calf fulfills a long-held Lakota prophecy.
Man who trespassed in the Yellowstone National Park thermal area gets jail time. In addition, he was placed on two years of unsupervised release and received a two-year ban from YNP for a closure violation. The defendant had crossed over the fence and was walking up the hillside within 15-20 feet of Steamboat Geyser’s steam vent. Here’s the full story, with an excellent reminder.
If RV retail sales are any indicator, there could be more campsites available this summer. The April statistics are in, and RV retail sales continue to decline across the board. Registrations of new RVs for April (the most recent statistics available) show a drop of 9.8% compared to April of 2023. The numbers are here.
DUMB CAMPERS! There’s no doubt that the job of forest and park rangers is a thankless one. Don’t feed the wildlife. Put your trash in the trash can. Don’t pose for selfies with a moose. The list goes on and on. But now there’s apparently a new wave of not-too-smart campers, and they’re plaguing Forest Service rangers in Colorado. Forest Service officials say there’s “considerable recreation activity” taking place right in the area of a prescribed fire. These dummies want to camp right in the middle of an active fire zone! Here’s the story.
Speaking of prescribed burns… A Forest Service firefighter who was arrested and charged with reckless burning has seen his case dismissed. Somehow the burn got out of the prescribed area when embers caught by wind dropped onto private property across the road. Before it could be contained, several acres of a rancher’s property burned up. The Service has posted its relief that the reckless burning charges were tossed out of court. Here’s why.
“A hungry bear walks into a California kitchen…” This sounds like the beginning of a joke, but this really happened on Tuesday, June 4, in Sierra Madre, California. Around 5:30 p.m., Jason Wightman washed his dinner dishes when he suddenly realized he was not alone. A black bear had strolled through Wightman’s patio door, presumably searching for his own dinner. Read more and watch the crazy video!
Are your last-minute RV camping plans stymied by no place to stay? If you’re RVing in Washington state, there may be an answer. You can now make same-day reservations in 26 of its state parks. Or if you’re not quite sure about when you want to camp, a new “flexible dates” feature lets you easily see what’s available when and where—even in the most popular parks. Learn more.
INTERESTING: In May, Forest River issued the same number of safety recalls on its RVs as Ford and General Motors combined on their vehicles — 6 for Forest River, 3 each for Ford and General Motors.
What’s new at campgrounds and RV parks
Stay up to date on news about campgrounds and RV parks across North America. Every week, learn about new parks, expansions, or special events coming up at campgrounds throughout North America. Read this week’s latest news here.
Saturday giveaway!
How would you like to win this camping multitool with a hatchet?
This tool is 14-in-1! It features a hatchet, knife, pliers, saw, hammer, wrenches, screwdrivers, bottle and can opener, file, and more!
How to win
We’ll select a winner at random out of all entries we receive today (June 15, 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 do you do most often when you see other RVers disregard rules?
RV and RV-related recalls
Forest River recalls more than 41,000 RVs for bad wiring fire risk
More than 41,000 Forest River fifth wheels and trailers are being recalled for a bad wiring fire risk. The overcurrent protection from the trailer battery may have been incorrectly routed, allowing the wires to be pulled out of the junction box. A loose wire can cause a short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire. Learn more.
Thor issues 2 separate recalls for motorhome fire risks
Thor Motor Coach announced two separate recalls on June 11, both of which can put the respective RVs at risk for a fire. Thor is recalling certain 2024-2025 Indigo and Luminate motorhomes. The heat shield that protects the propane tank from engine exhaust may be too short, which can cause the propane tank to become overheated. Thor is also recalling certain 2025 Thor Tranquility and Sanctuary motorhomes. A 50-amp circuit breaker was incorrectly installed when a 20-amp breaker was required. Read more here.
Popular bicycle rack recalled—could drop bikes and create road hazard
Kuat Innovations LLC is recalling certain Transfer v2 bicycle hitch racks. The pivot cams may become disengaged, which can cause the bike rack to unexpectedly drop. A rack, which can hold one to three bikes, that drops unexpectedly can cause a bicycle to detach and become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash and injury, not to mention destruction of any bicycles involved. Learn more.
HAVE YOU SEEN THIS STOLEN RV?
No reports this week. Good News!
Did someone rip off your ride? Let us post information on your stolen RV. Email Russ (at) rvtravel.com.
?? MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY ??
We really like their other one, so we expect the same quality from this one, too. If you’re traveling to one of these places, this will come in handy.
Latest fuel prices
Here are the latest U.S. average prices per gallon of gasoline and diesel fuel as of June 10, 2024:
Regular unleaded gasoline: $3.43
Change from week before: Down 9 cents; Change from year before: Down 17 cents.
Diesel: $3.66
Change from week before: Down 7 cents; Change from year before: Down 14 cents.
For fuel prices for specific regions, states, and cities, go to U.S. Energy Information Administration.
Recipe of the day
Garden Couscous Salad
by Karie Houghton from Milton, WA
This garden couscous salad can be served as a main dish or side dish. It’s filled with fresh vegetables and garbanzo beans and tossed with couscous. If you’re unfamiliar with couscous, it’s a pasta ground from semolina that originated in North Africa. On its own, it’s flavorless, but when mixed with other ingredients, it takes on those flavors. The vinaigrette adds the right amount of savory flavor and brightens up the fresh veggies. Everything is tossed with feta cheese that balances out the textures in the dish. Light and fresh, this is a delicious spring or summer salad.
Trivia
The world’s most expensive coffee, called Kopi Luwak, is made using coffee beans that have been eaten and then excreted by a civet, a small mammal. The beans are collected from the feces, cleaned, and processed to make the coffee. The unique fermentation process that occurs in the civet’s digestive tract is said to give the coffee its distinctive flavor. Would you try it? If so, you can buy it here for a whopping $198 for 16 oz. (and that’s on special!).
The perfect scam
In this 2021 episode, after 80-year-old Alan returns from a trip to the Middle East and Africa, where he visited new “friends” he made online, his wife grows suspicious that he’s involved in a scam and contacts the FBI. That’s when rookie FBI agent Mike gets involved. Over the next nine months, Alan becomes Mike’s informant as they work to prosecute scammers who aren’t even on American soil.
Laugh of the week
Today in history
RVtravel.com Staff
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