Issue 1189
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The latest news for RVers
Federal authorities are investigating the Grand Design frame flex concerns. Type “Grand Design frame flex” into your Google search. Or input the same words on YouTube. What comes back is a seemingly endless stream of complaints, concerns, and “explanations” of a phenomenon plaguing some Grand Design owners. Everybody’s talking about it—and now the feds are investigating it. Grand Design got a detailed order from the Department of Transportation asking for all manner of information. Consider this a “tip of the iceberg,” with plenty more to come. Continue reading.
Last February, we warned: “Photographing or videotaping a funny animal in Yellowstone and posting it online may be illegal without a permit.” One RVing couple learned this the hard way. After posting a monetized YouTube video shot on park land, they were fined $1,000 and banned from future filming there. A permit is required for photography in national parks if it could generate income, but this may change if President Biden signs a new bill allowing permit-free filming in national parks. Here’s the story.
November didn’t prove to be a bang-up month for RV manufacturers. While Black Friday may be the salvation of retailers, wholesale RV shipments were dismal across the board. The RVIA (RV Industry Association) reports manufacturers’ shipments of new units to dealers were down more than 6% across the board—while motorhome demand continues in serious decline. Here are the details of the November RV wholesale shipment report.
If you need an overnight stop and don’t want to spend a fortune, Love’s Travel Centers with RV hookups may be your ticket. A new Missouri Love’s says, “If your travels take you to Missouri and you need an overnight stop to rest, ‘Come on down!’” The chain has expanded its Missouri network with additional RV hookup facilities.
As travelers turn their attention to off-season adventures, Roadtrippers, a popular road trip planning app, inspires journeys with its latest feature: Trending Spots. This real-time feature reveals how many fellow adventurers are exploring popular destinations while planning their trips. Check it out, along with their other new feature about off-season destinations.
Campground crowding, comments & concerns
RVers on hanging up the keys: “It’s just not worth it anymore”
This week Nanci Dixon relates more of your concerns regarding the increasing costs of RVing, including campsites. There are more comparisons between RVing and staying at hotels, and a couple of RVers are hanging up the RV keys due to higher prices. One RVer lost his seasonal site due to complaints about his motorhome from “a group that brought 15 grand golf carts to whiz around the campground to get ‘closer to nature’.” Read more.
More RVing news
Take a hike! No, really, take a hike! As the New Year approaches, many RVers seek fresh ways to begin 2025 on a positive note. A wonderful tradition to consider is participating in a First Day Hike. First Day Hikes are guided walks held annually on January 1st in state parks across the United States. Learn more.
Pet food companies warn those with feline family members of a pet food recall after an Oregon family lost their cat to H5N1 bird flu after eating raw frozen pet food. Pet food and bird flu are the latest concern and now there’s a nationwide recall on a popular food brand.
Starting in 2025, New Mexico residents can enjoy free day-use access to state parks during the offseason by showing a valid New Mexico ID or vehicle license plate. This benefit applies from October 1 to April 30. Walk-in and bicycle access will remain free year-round. Starting January 1, 2025, New Mexico State Parks will be implementing changes to its fees. Here’s more info.
The Hoh Rain Forest area of Olympic National Park will temporarily close until it can be confirmed that the Upper Hoh Road is safe for travel. The road is maintained by Jefferson County and connects Highway 101 to the Olympic National Park boundary. The County determined the road is in danger of imminent failure.
Baa Baa Christmas goat… Every year, between 25 and 30 million Christmas trees are sold in the United States, according to the National Christmas Tree Association. That’s great news for Christmas tree farmers, but just how do America’s trash collectors feel around New Year’s? Is there a better way in the world of Christmas tree disposal? Yes, and it involves goats!
Saturday giveaway
How would you like to win this book: RV Hacks: 400+ Ways to Make Life on the Road Easier, Safer, and More Fun!?
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
What’s stopping you from boondocking?
?? MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY ??
This is GREAT! It’s fantastic, it’s wonderful, it’s warm and it’s cozy and it’s just probably everything you’ve ever wanted. Buy yourself this as a present. You deserve it!
Latest fuel prices
The latest U.S. average prices per gallon of gasoline and diesel fuel as of December 23, 2024:
Regular unleaded gasoline: $3.02
Change from week before: Up <1 cent; Change from year before: Down 9 cents.
Diesel: $3.48
Change from week before: Down 2 cents; Change from year before: Down 44 cents.
For fuel prices for specific regions, states, and cities, go to U.S. Energy Information Administration.
Join us on Facebook! Did you know we have dozens of Facebook groups for you, our readers, and other RVers? Meet other RVers, get inspired, or get answers to any questions you may have. Check out our list of groups here.
Recipes of the day
Make your kitchen feel like a fancy restaurant with these New Year’s Eve recipes
Staying in next week on New Year’s Eve? You won’t feel like it if you make one of these delicious, fancy New Year’s Eve recipes. You’ll feel like you’re in a five-star restaurant, for sure. We’ve got a few steaks here, a yummy salmon, a delicious chicken recipe, and even scallops. Check these out and plan a romantic night in.
Trivia
Candy canes were originally invented to keep kids quiet during church services! In 1670, a German choirmaster gave sugar sticks to children, shaping them like a shepherd’s crook to tie in with the Nativity story. The red stripes and peppermint flavor came much later.
The perfect scam
No new episode this week because of the holidays. They’ll be back next week.
Laugh of the week
Today in history
Today’s weather forecast across the nation
Visit Current National Radar Weather Map
Headed on an unfamiliar highway? Learn if it has low bridges you might not fit under.
RVtravel.com All Star Team
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The Laugh of the Week sign should be posted on I88 from Binghamton to Albany. That road is one of the worst I’ve ever been on. Constant dips and rises about every 200 feet..
I believe that there are many roads like that across the world that have been experienced and commented about at sometime.