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Issue 1174
The latest news for RVers
This may seem too strange of a story to be true… but it is true. A Burning Man RVer was caught in a sting operation that could cost him thousands. Chris Williams was eagerly looking forward to attending his second Burning Man Festival this year. To make the trip more comfortable, he rented a 32-foot motorhome. Heading to the festival, he was stocking up in Reno. While there, he made a big mistake. He posted a Craigslist ad, offering to take other Burners with him. Continue reading this hard-to-believe story.
Arizona snowbirds, look out! If you spend time on any of the popular Long Term Visitor Areas (LTVAs) near Quartzsite or Yuma, Arizona, you may need a bigger bankroll. The BLM wants to raise LTVA fees by as much as five times their current rate. Learn more about these new fees and when they could kick in there.
A dropped bag of Cheetos in Carlsbad Caverns National Park briefly turned the park’s ecosystem upside-down. What appeared to be a minor incident had a major impact. A bag of chips, some ask, is that such a big deal? “The processed corn, softened by the humidity of the cave, formed the perfect environment to host microbial life and fungi,” staff observed. Continue reading.
Elon Musk’s Starlink internet satellite system has turned the RV lifestyle on its head. For RVers who need internet access wherever they go, Starlink is basically the only game in town. But a major federal government official says a shakeup is needed. The Federal Communications Commission’s chief says something needs to disrupt Starlink’s monopoly. That something is new competition. Here’s the story.
And speaking of Starlink… Starlink users are already reacting to the latest move from the big internet satellite provider. It’s a Starlink Roam plan price boost that will jump users’ monthly charges on their bill. But Starlink promises you’ll get big advantages along with the price bump. Is it worth it? Find out here.
You probably know about Harvest Hosts and you may know about Bowlus RVs—a small upper-crust RV manufacturer that recently priced some of its travel trailers at a quarter million dollars. Now the two groups have set out on their own adventure. Harvest Hosts declares all Bowlus RVs “Adventure Ready.” But we have to ask—so what? Could it be a sign that Harvest Hosts could go the way of the original Good Sam Club? Learn more.
Ready to chase alligators and glamp at the same time? Camping with a side of adrenaline, anyone? Well, you may have the opportunity soon. A new, $19.5 million glamping resort is said to be coming to Orlando, Florida, and completion is just 12–18 months away. Here’s the story.
Authorities have reported that a 49-year-old man from Loveland allegedly ignited Colorado’s Alexander Mountain fire. The July wildfire scorched almost 10,000 acres and destroyed more than 50 structures in Larimer County. The man, identified as Jason Alexander Hobby, is accused of posing as a wildland firefighter to bypass roadblocks and access restricted areas. This is so bad and so sad!
Campground crowding (and more!)
RVer says “Goodbye, Florida” — $150 to camp on grass?
This week’s readers’ comments on the subject of campground crowding, as reported by Nanci Dixon, include a complaint about an RV resort that tacks on an undisclosed “activity fee” whether the RVer participates or not, a tip from a local resident on getting reservations at the very popular Upper Peninsula of Michigan, and another complaint about campground prices in Florida. Plus, one RVer mentions the importance of attitude when RVing. All that and more here.
RV review
Grand Surveyor 302RDBS—beautifully different
By Tony Barthel
Today’s RV review is of the 2025 Forest River Grand Surveyor 302RDBS. This is another very large travel trailer that I consider to be a flat fifth wheel, effectively. But this is different than many of the others we’ve looked at in some critical ways. Here’s why.
RV and RV-related recalls
1.2 million Ram pickup trucks recalled
Chrysler is recalling certain 2019, 2021-2024 Ram 1500 vehicles. Due to a software malfunction, the anti-lock brake system (ABS) control module may disable the electronic stability control system. Learn more.
Airstream recalls trailers for air conditioner fire danger
An Airstream customer found smoke blowing out of his air conditioner. He reacted quickly and shut the unit down. When Airstream looked into the matter, they found the air conditioner soft start can catch fire. Airstream has issued a recall. But it begs the question, even if you don’t own an Airstream, what about your soft start system? We have the answers.
More RVing news
And you thought it was hot where you are? Death Valley has had its hottest summer on record. A media release says Death Valley National Park experienced the hottest meteorological summer (June-August) on record, with an average 24-hour temperature of 104.5°F (40.3°C). This surpasses the previous record of 104.2°F (40.1°C), set in 2021 and 2018. Continue reading.
And speaking of Death Valley… 11 burros have been found dead in Death Valley National Park from what may seem a highly unusual cause. These poor burros met their fate after record-setting summer heat caused a harmful algae bloom in the waters. (This toxic algae bloom can harm or even kill you and your pets too!) Continue reading.
How much water does it take to put out a Tesla fire? 50,000 gallons. A preliminary report from the National Transportation Safety Board shows just how hard it was for firefighters in California last month to put out a Tesla Semi vehicle fire. While no RVs exist on a similar platform, it does raise some interesting questions.
While RV manufacturers are singing a merry albeit cautious tune, RV dealers only have the blues. The latest statistics of sales of new RVs in July show all types of RVs, including motorhomes and towables, are continuing to struggle. Retail RV sales continue to dive, as they have for months. Here are the numbers.
The National Park Service recently announced the indefinite closure of one of its historic hotels in Yosemite National Park. This decision has disappointed many visitors and history enthusiasts, as the hotel holds an iconic place within the park’s rich heritage. The closure is due to structural and safety concerns that require significant renovations before the hotel can welcome guests again. Here’s the full story.
A Canadian police agency is rightly strutting its stuff. The Halton Regional Police Service called it “Project Ninja”, which has taken down a ring of clever crooks. The thieves used a hollowed-out toy hauler to transport stolen vehicles. With four crooks on the lam, four others are cooling their heels in Canadian jail cells. Don’t try this at home, folks!
Along California’s Interstate 80 in Fairfield, the morning traffic on September 6 got a major snarl. It’s a colorful illustration of why RVers need to be careful. It’s always a mess when a travel trailer rolls over and plays dead. And this time it was really, really bad.
If you and your RV are heading to Kansas City, here’s a heads-up. A bridge in the Kansas side of the two-state city is closed, causing major disruptions. Authorities have closed the eastbound lanes of Clark Viaduct, I-70, over the Kansas River and will likely keep them closed through the balance of the year. More details here.
New York’s Beaver Lake Nature Center recently opened its newest hiking trail. The Hidden Hills Primitive Trail marks the first trail addition to the central New York nature park in more than 35 years. Hidden Hills opens just in time for leaf peeping. It offers outdoor enthusiasts a new way to explore the scenic beauty of the region while providing a peaceful, immersive experience in nature. It sure sounds beautiful!
Saturday giveaway
How would you like to win this new LifeStraw water filter drinking straw?
The famous and life-saving LifeStraw is better than ever! This small straw filters water as you drink it. No bacteria or microplastics will get through.
How to win
We’ll select a winner at random out of all entries we receive today by 7 p.m. Pacific time. You can only enter once and after we notify you by email that you won, you have 24 hours to respond.
Click here to enter or see last week’s winner!
Reader poll
Would you sell your RV right now for a good price?
?? MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY ??
If your current boyfriend isn’t checking off all the boxes, maybe it’s time for a new one. And if your husband is a little, well, boring these days, maybe having one of these around will whip him into shape.
Latest fuel prices
The latest U.S. average prices per gallon of gasoline and diesel fuel as of September 9, 2024:
Regular unleaded gasoline: $3.24
Change from week before: Down 5 cents; Change from year before: Down 59 cents.
Diesel: $3.56
Change from week before: Down 7 cents; Change from year before: Down 99 cents.
For fuel prices for specific regions, states, and cities, go to U.S. Energy Information Administration.
Recipes of the day
State fair classics: Recipes that bring the fair to your kitchen
If you can’t make it to the state fair this year don’t worry, you can still eat fair food! These recipes bring the fair straight to your kitchen. We’ve got corn dogs, German pretzels, funnel cakes, and pretzel dogs. Get hungry because these look gooooood.
Trivia
Speaking of state fairs… The Iowa State Fair hosts a life-sized butter sculpture of a cow every year! The tradition began in 1911, and over the years, artists have expanded their creations to include other butter sculptures including tributes to famous people, movies, and even the space shuttle. It takes around 600 pounds of butter to create these sculptures, which are displayed in a refrigerated glass case for fairgoers to admire.
The perfect scam
Sweepstakes scam empties woman’s savings
The Publishers Clearing House Sweepstakes is famous for showing up at winners’ homes with a big check. So when Kathy receives a call from someone claiming to be from Publishers Clearing House saying she’s the next lucky winner she begins dreaming of all the good she can do for her friends and family. However, after several months of empty promises and tens of thousands of dollars in “taxes” that she must pay upfront, a concerned neighbor convinces Kathy to contact the police.
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Laugh of the week
Today in history
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RVtravel.com All Star Team
Click here for information about our staff and how to contact us.
I tried Tankblaster in my two grey water tanks. Repeated the process twice. Both empty tanks still show as one third full. It clearly is not as effective as the ad purports it to be.
Between a tropical storm off the Carolinas and Hurricane Francine it is going to be a nice storm coming. Everyone can use the rain.
Surprise is the name of a town home to two spring training teams. https://www.reddit.com/r/funny/comments/5yz88a/i_wonder_what_the_surprise_is/