Issue 1197
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The latest news for RVers
Court confirms Camping World unlawful practices. RV buyers to get big refunds
If you’ve purchased a new RV from Camping World since 2017, there could be a refund waiting for you. A big one! A recent court ruling in Oregon has uncovered unlawful practices, potentially putting thousands—or even tens of thousands—of dollars back in the pockets of RV owners. This development is a major win for consumers and could spark refunds nationwide. Are you eligible? Watch the video or read more for a quick overview of the issue.
Canadian RV dealers threaten to cancel orders from U.S.
Last year was a tough year for the RV industry. With both wholesale and retail sales of new RVs down, particularly among motorhomes, there is pain all around. Now Canadian RV dealers, fed up with the thought of being forced to pay tariffs on U.S.-built RVs, are beginning to cancel orders, a big blow to U.S. manufacturers.
Trump administration backs down on cutting National Parks jobs
After threatening to cut thousands of jobs at National Parks, and then dealing with widespread objections, the Trump Administration has backed off. “I make just over $40,000 a year; scrape sh*t off toilets with a putty knife nearly every day,” Yosemite maintenance man Ilek Chmura told the L.A. Times. “Somehow, I’m the target.” Read more.
If you’ve been frustrated by empty reserved campsites, there’s good news—campground no-shows are on the decline. A new survey by The Dyrt reveals that more campers are following through with their reservations, with a 16.7% drop in cancellations and no-shows in 2024. Experts say growing awareness and new state policies may be driving the change. Click to see the full breakdown and what it means.
A Coos Bay, OR, motorist was cited Tuesday morning for towing a fifth wheel RV with its slide-outs extended, forcing a sheriff’s deputy to take evasive action to avoid a crash. The deputy encountered the pickup towing the extended RV on Seven Devils Road. The slide-outs extended into his lane, requiring a quick maneuver to avoid a collision. Just a reminder: Don’t be this RVer!
If you’ve ever piloted your RV over Interstate 10 near Palm Springs, California, you’ve seen the huge landscape of commercial wind turbines. The San Gorgonio Pass Wind Farm had a peak of 4,200 turbines in 1987. As of last May, the number was down to 666 turbines. It begs the question, what is done with wind turbine blades when the machines are “decommissioned”? Researchers say the road to the future could be paved with turbine blades. Literally.
RVers staying at Kentucky’s Paducah RV Park & Campground woke up to a nightmare early on Monday, Feb. 17, as rising floodwaters trapped them inside their rigs. With vehicles submerged and no way out, emergency crews, including a Swift Water rescue team, sprang into action. In the end, 14 RVers—and their four-legged companions—were safely ferried to dry ground. Click to see the dramatic rescue.
A Michigan judge is taking a creative approach to shoplifting—sentencing offenders to wash cars in a Walmart parking lot instead of jail time. The “Walmart Wash” aims to teach accountability while giving back to the community. Here’s more about this unique punishment.
One woman says she’s fortunate to have been away when her mom and dog had an unexpected visit. A huge pine tree split a fifth wheel in two, trapping the RVer and her dog inside. Grass Valley, California, was already under a flood watch when the strong wind blasted the tree into the RV. Here’s how it went down… literally.
If you’re planning on staying in your RV in Yosemite National Park, your plans may be on hold. The Park Service, which normally would be accepting camping reservations for mid-June to mid-July stays, says it’s delaying the process. Campground reservations from June 15 to July 14 are not being accepted for these Yosemite campgrounds.
The latest round in the Camping World versus Greenville, North Carolina, flag controversy continues. Last month the city called out Camping World for installing a huge flag pole and U.S. flag at its Greenville site in violation of local ordinances and a building permit it had been granted. Now the city zoning commission has put itself at odds with the city council. This saga is far from over.
Wyoming’s Green River Tunnel on Interstate 80 was the site of a horrific vehicle crash Friday, February 14. The stack-up involved 26 vehicles and resulted in an inferno that will continue to have a major impact on freeway traffic. The freeway at Green River is presently closed for an unknown time. Were there any RVs involved in the Green River tunnel fire tragedy?
INSIDER TIP: RV maker Living Vehicle will debut its 2026 lineup next month which will include Next-Gen Atmospheric Water Generation, a new system that extracts up to 13 gallons of water per day directly from the air, pushing the limits of off-grid living.
25 vehicles damaged after another Circle K fuel mix-up. A few weeks ago, we reported on a fuel delivery mix-up at a Circle K station in Avon, Ohio. Drivers of 14 vehicles who received diesel from a gas dispenser, or gas from a diesel dispenser, were left with damaged vehicles. Now, Phoenix, Arizona, wears the “dunce cap” as a Circle K “cross-drop” error has stalled out at least 25 vehicles. This is worrisome because, according to industry sources, fuel cross-drops [when the wrong fuel is accidentally pumped into a station’s storage tank] happen all too often. Learn more.
Campground crowding, comments & concerns
Why one RVer says permanent RV sites lead to “a far richer life”
In this week’s column, Nanci Davis relates more of your stories regarding having to cut back on RVing due to increasing costs. There’s a comment from a regular snowbird from Canada who regretfully will travel to another country besides the U.S. this year. And one RVer cites many advantages to leaving their RV parked at one site year-round, with a smaller RV to travel with. He adds, “RVing can and does have multiple purposes.” Do you agree? Let us know.
More RVing news
Somebody at Ford evidently feels that hitching and unhitching your trailer could lead to a big thirst. If you need a brewski after hefting that stinger [slang for the part of a trailer hitch that slides into a hitch receiver] into your hitch receiver, what can you do? You may see just what you need on future Ford trucks: a Ford bottle opener built right onto your trailer hitch. Check this out.
Suppose someone could promise you that your RV will never catch fire. Would you still keep batteries in your smoke detector? A strange case from Okanagan Falls, British Columbia, underscores just how important a working smoke detector is. In this case, an RV smoke detector saved the day after a neighboring RV caught fire. Here’s the story.
RV and RV-related recalls
Thor recalls motorhomes: Solar panel may detach
Thor Motor Coach (TMC) is recalling certain 2023 Gemini and Compass motorhomes with solar panels that can detach and become a road hazard. More.
From earlier this month: Nearly 22,000 Grand Design RVs recalled for risk posed by faulty steps
From last month: Travel trailer owners: Recall of 145,000 hitch receiver locks may involve you
Saturday giveaway
How would you like to win this heated back and neck massager?
Because you deserve a massage!
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
Did you pay to have your current RV professionally inspected before buying it?
?? MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY ??
We bet this is a fun fact you didn’t know: Cabbage can keep you dry in the rain. We are not lying! See this as proof!
PAY ATTENTION: Know the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning: headache, dizziness, weakness, nausea, vomiting, sleepiness, and confusion. If you suspect CO poisoning, get outside to fresh air immediately, and then call 911.
Latest fuel prices
The latest U.S. average prices per gallon of gasoline and diesel fuel as of February 17, 2025:
Regular unleaded gasoline: $3.15
Change from week before: Up 2 cents; Change from year before: Down 12 cents.
Diesel: $3.68
Change from week before: Up 1 cent; Change from year before: Down 43 cents.
For fuel prices for specific regions, states, and cities, go to U.S. Energy Information Administration. Here’s the link for propane prices around the U.S.
Upcoming RV shows & seminars
- Indianapolis Boat, Sport & Travel Show (with RVs), February 19-23, Indianapolis, IN
- Maryland RV Show, February 21-23, Timonium, MD
- Northern Colorado RV & Outdoor Show, February 20-22, Loveland, CO
- Pennsylvania RV Supershow, February 20-23, Harrisburg, PA
**Seminars by RVtravel.com’s Dave Solberg - West Palm Beach RV Show, February 20-23, West Palm Beach, FL
- Rhode Island RV Show, February 21-23, Providence, RI
- Virginia RV Expo, February 21-23, Hampton, VA
For more upcoming RV shows and seminars, click here.
Recipes of the day
It’s National Sweet Potato Day, which means one thing: Make a sweet potato recipe!
We love sweet potatoes, but we love them even more on the day they’re meant to be celebrated! These sweet potato recipes are gooooood. There are sweet potato chili cheese fries, sweet potato biscuits, apricot-glazed sweet potatoes, and more right here. Enjoy!
Trivia
An estimated 1 million dogs in the U.S. have been named primary beneficiaries in their owners’ wills.
The perfect scam
Woman’s inheritance wiped out in crypto-dating scam
After 25-year-old Niki Hutchinson loses her mother, she uses some of her inheritance to start fresh in California. Not knowing anyone, she does what many people do today and joins a dating app to make connections. She develops a friendship with a man named Hao and, in time, he offers to teach her how to invest in cryptocurrency. With some small successes and lots of encouragement from Hao, she dives in and invests her inheritance, plus some of her dad’s money, as well. That’s when her friend becomes less helpful.
Laugh of the week
You will laugh so hard at this! Poor guy! Make sure to click the full-screen icon (little square next to YouTube) in the bottom right corner to make it bigger. (And be grateful you don’t live with any teenagers who make you do TikTok games with them!)
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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Remind me never to play any TikTok games.
Water bottle challenge…gave me a good laugh!
We did not name our adopted dog a beneficiary, but did allot a sizeable donation to the the shelter where we got him.
Hopefully it will help them keep up the good work.