Issue 1224
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Today’s thought
“Everything good is on the highway.” —Ralph Waldo Emerson
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Toasted Marshmallow Day! (And that’s something all RVers can celebrate!)
On this day in history: A day after Hurricane Katrina hit, floods covered 80 percent of New Orleans. Rescuers in helicopters and boats picked up hundreds of stranded people.
Featured news
If you buy, service, or trade an RV, you likely assume the dealership’s back office handles money and records professionally. Most do. But a recent arrest tied to General RV Center in Wixom, Michigan, is a reminder that fraud can happen even at established businesses. Susan O’Hara, 56, was arraigned Aug. 21 on eight felony counts for allegedly embezzling more than $2 million.
BIG RECALL: Ford is recalling certain 2025-2026 F-550 SD, F-450 SD, F-350 SD, F-250 SD, and 2025 F-150 vehicles. The instrument panel cluster may fail at startup. An instrument panel display that does not show critical information, such as warning lights or vehicle speed, increases the risk of a crash. 355,656 vehicles are affected by this recall. Learn more.
Cracker Barrel changes its mind
The ongoing Cracker Barrel drama made an abrupt about-face recently. After announcing its text-only logo along with news of a broader restaurant refresh, it seems now that folksy “Uncle Herschel” will remain in his seat beside the barrel. The restaurant’s old, much-loved logo, it turns out, isn’t going anywhere.
RELATED POLL: We asked readers: Have you ever stayed the night in your RV in a Cracker Barrel parking lot? Learn how more than 2,200 readers responded.
YOU CAN BE FAMOUS! Guinness World Records is celebrating its 70th anniversary by highlighting unclaimed titles people might want to attempt. Many current records are ripe for challenge, some from RVers, maybe even you! For example, care to beat Simon Robins’ RV speed record of 141.3 mph? What about beating the longest RV journey? Maybe you could break a record? Read on.
A recent refinery issue has caused gas prices to surge ahead of Labor Day weekend. The national average for a gallon of regular went up more than 7 cents this past week to $3.21, mainly due to flooding at the BP Whiting Refinery in Indiana. As a result, prices in the Great Lakes region surged. Overall, gas prices are steady and should trend downward as fall begins.
Here’s better fuel news… Diesel driver? Listen up and start your engines—your wallet might get a little break soon. According to the latest U.S. Energy Information Administration short-term energy outlook, diesel prices are expected to slide through 2025 and 2026.
July RV shipments might be down, but they’re up slightly for the year. Results for the RV Industry Association’s July 2025 survey of manufacturers revealed that total RV shipments ended the month with 22,633 units, a 6.1 percent decrease from the 24,116 units shipped in July 2024. To date, RV shipments for 2025 are up 5.2 percent with 213,338 units. Here’s a breakdown.
RVers traveling through Arizona this week got a front-row seat to the kind of monsoon weather that can turn an ordinary drive into a serious challenge. On Monday, a fierce dust storm, known as a haboob, swept across the Phoenix metropolitan area, leaving dark skies and widespread power outages in its path. Yikes!
ODD NEWS:
HELP FOR MOTORISTS WHO NEED TO PEE REAL BAD!
We all know the pain, don’t we? We’re on the road, and maybe a half-hour earlier we stopped at Starbucks (or Denny’s), and now we’ve got to relieve ourselves so bad we’re about to pop. Talk about panic (not to mention pain)! But there’s encouraging news out of Japan that may offer relief for those who are on the road and need a bathroom, and fast.
Happy 109th Birthday, National Park Service! August 25 marked the National Park Service’s birthday, celebrating its 1916 creation when President Woodrow Wilson signed the Organic Act to preserve America’s parks and historic places for future generations.
PEOPLE’S PARK POOPING IS PROBLEM! Grand Teton National Park is known for towering peaks, pristine lakes, and sweeping meadows. But lately, it’s been battling something far less scenic: human poop. While RVers won’t generally find this a problem in any of the six RV-friendly campgrounds, stepping into the backcountry could mean “stepping in it.” Yes, there’s a national park poop problem, and Grand Teton is doing something about it.
… Speaking of Grand Teton… Did you know that in French, Grand Teton means “big breast?” Yup, true.
AW, SHUCKS! A Colorado county is distributing free ears of corn to local residents after a semi truck loaded up with the vegetables overturned on the highway and spilled its load. The Custer County Sheriff’s Office said the crash happened early Thursday on Highway 69, and while many ears scattered along the road, the undamaged corn was collected and taken to the Wet Mountain Fire Protection District for residents to pick up for free. Speaking of corn, see today’s trivia below.
VIEW CAMPSITES just like you were driving through the campground using Google Street View. See one you like? Learn instantly if it’s available and reserve it on the spot at Campground Views. “Try it, you’ll like it!,” says Mikey.
Campground crowding, comments & concerns
The best side of camp hosting… and the worst
This week Nanci Dixon explains what she and her husband love about camp hosting and why they keep going back to it every year. But one reader expressed just the opposite and explains why he will never camp host again. A couple of readers explain why they’re not happy RVing anymore, while a couple more are the opposite and say, nothing’s perfect so quit complaining and value what you have. Read more.
RV review
Jayco’s 2026 Jay Feather 28RB trailer has lots of storage space and a big bathroom
Tour the new 2026 Jayco Jay Feather 28RB in this fast-paced video from Smith RV in Casper, Wyoming. After watching it, you may conclude, as we did, that this modest-sized rig has a lot more storage space than the average travel trailer. And check out that big bathroom! Here is a quick recap of the video tour, which does a far better job of showcasing the RV than we can with words. So after you read, make sure you watch the video.
News briefs
The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management and Rhode Island Department of Health have confirmed more West Nile Virus in the state. The virus was found in Johnston, East Providence and Cranston. Rhode Island’s risk level for the virus, the main mosquito-borne disease in the U.S., is now high statewide.
The project to rehabilitate the Scenic Drive at Utah’s Capitol Reef National Park and expand several parking lots has been completed and the road is fully open to Capitol Gorge.
A 79-year-old Iowa woman hiking in Glacier National Park tripped while hiking and tumbled 450 feet Wednesday to her death from the Highline Trail. (Be careful!)
Utah’s Arches National Park’s fourth timed entry pilot program—paused during peak summer heat—resumed on Thursday. Visitors will need to reserve a ticket in advance to enter the park between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. daily through October 31.
DON’T DO… WELL… ALL THESE THINGS! A gray minivan was stopped near Merritt, B.C., after its driver was clocked at 85 mph in a 60 mph zone. The van, built for eight people, was carrying nine. The 36-year-old man told police he was speeding because he was almost out of gas. Sure enough, the van ran dry at the roadside, and officers had to refuel it with a jerry can. Guess how much his ticket will cost him.
A 34-year-old hiker in Glacier National Park was injured when a bear with two cubs charged her near Lake Janet, but her partner’s quick use of bear spray drove the animal away within seconds. Park officials said the woman suffered wounds to her shoulder and arm, and reminded visitors that bear spray is the most effective defense in encounters like this.
… But oddly enough, in Yosemite National Park, with its hundreds of bears, carrying bear spray is outlawed because it is considered a weapon. Ditto for Sequoia, Kings Canyon and Lassen National Parks, too. Go figure.
The South Rim Road at Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park has reopened to the public as of Friday, August 29. Visitors are now able to drive the full 7.3-mile (11.7 km) route, stop at all 12 scenic overlooks, and explore the visitor center and park store. Other areas along the route remain closed for safety reasons.
The Checotah/Lake Eufaula West KOA Holiday park in Oklahoma has been acquired by Investorade, a Dallas-based real estate investment firm. Meanwhile, the Mena/Ouachita National Forest KOA Journey in Arkansas has rejoined the KOA network after independent operation. And New York’s Lake Placid/Whiteface Mountain KOA Holiday has added a new riverside section with 59 RV sites.
Elk mating season is underway in Colorado, and Rocky Mountain National Park has closures through October 31 to protect the animals. Off-trail travel and fishing in certain areas are restricted, as hundreds of elk gather in Estes Park’s meadows for the fall rut.
Stage II Fire Restrictions have been lifted at Bryce Canyon National Park. Campfires are now allowed in established fire rings or grills in the campgrounds and propane fire pits can be used.
Love’s Travel Stops added a new travel stop to its network in Tulia, Texas, at 2851 W TX-86 off Exit 74. It includes 4 full-hookup RV sites and a dog park. Love’s now has about 400 dog parks across the country.
During the month of August, Massachusetts’ Winchendon Police Department has received two separate reports of stolen RVs. Similar thefts have occurred elsewhere in the state. In most cases the RVs were posted for sale on Facebook Marketplace. Police warn to be cautious of such listings there.
Select rivers and streams in Yellowstone National Park that had been previously closed to fishing due to high water temperatures and low flows have partially reopened due to cooler temperatures and rainfall. Check ahead for specific rules.
Rapid City, South Dakota, may one day get the state’s only large-scale amusement park. The planning process is underway for the 300-acre property dubbed Liberty Land. Besides the amusement park, the attraction would include an indoor water park, hotel, and 200-site RV resort.
Ford Charge, a new network that launched Thursday, will provide 1,200 Ford-branded fast chargers at more than 320 Ford dealerships nationwide. Each will offer reliable public charging for all compatible electric vehicles, regardless of make or model.
Weather is a mixed bag this holiday weekend: The National Weather Service predicts that a reinforcing cold front moving across the East Coast will set the stage for pleasant weather. The West Coast will begin to dry out from the wet monsoonal pattern and heat up in temperatures. But wet and stormy weather is expected from the Plains to the Gulf Coast with some potential flash flooding. Stay updated in the current weather forecast in each issue of the RV Travel and RV Daily Tips Newsletter.
RECALLS:
• Jayco is recalling certain 2024-2025 Jay Flight SLX travel trailers. The furnace exhaust vent may be missing from the exterior wall, allowing carbon monoxide to enter the vehicle. Unvented carbon monoxide increases the risk of injury or death from carbon monoxide poisoning. Learn more.
• Ford has issued a massive recall of 2025-2026 trucks for instrument panel failure. The Instrument Panel Cluster (IPC) may fail at startup. Learn more.
• Forest River is recalling certain 2024-2026 East to West Entrada motorhomes. Due to an incorrectly wired 7-way harness, the trailer brakes may lock up when the RV’s brakes are applied. The operator may feel aggressive braking in a towed trailer, with electric brakes, when braking. Learn more.
• Ford recalls Explorer and Aviator vehicles for a trailer towing problem. When towing a trailer, the tail lights on the trailer may fail to illuminate due to an improperly manufactured body control module. Learn more.
Reader poll
How would you rate Camping World’s service and repair department?
Polls from the past week:
- If you had to choose, would you explore the past or future in a time machine?
- Will you attend a county or state fair this summer/fall?
- What is your favorite way to eat eggs?
- How long has it been since you rode a bicycle?
? MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY ?
You ever make hot dogs? Burgers? BBQ chicken? Grilled veggies? Salmon? Shrimp skewers? Good, we do too. We love all those things! We all need this!
Upcoming RV shows & seminars. Click here.
Trivia
According to the Farmers’ Almanac, early American farmers used corncobs as toilet paper. “Dried corncobs were plentiful and quite efficient at cleaning. They were also softer on tender areas than you might think. Even after toilet paper became available, some people in Western states still preferred corncobs when using the outhouse.”
WISE THOUGHT: The problem with not having a dog around is that when you drop food on the floor, you need to bend down to pick it up.
Laugh of the week
Ah, the great, great, hilarious outdoors!
The perfect scam
Colorado Funeral Home Body Brokering Scheme, Part 1
Planning a loved one’s burial or cremation is difficult under the best of circumstances. When Diana’s stepfather, Cactus, gets sick and sees a billboard for $695 cremations, he asks his family to cremate him to save money. But when he dies and his cremains mysteriously go missing, it ignites a lengthy investigation that rocks a small community and exposes the dark, unregulated side of the body trade industry.
Today in history
Today’s weather forecast across the nation
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“A recent refinery issue has caused gas prices to surge ahead for the Labor Day weekend”. Really? Is this your first holiday weekend in America? It’s pretty much a tradition for summer holidays. Hot dogs, buns, chips and pop go on sale. Gas goes up. It’s the American way.
Yep…We always refer to it as the “Holiday Screwin'” Expect it…fill up before it hits, if possible.
Bear spray not allowed in CA parks. Go figure. Can’t fix stupid out there. Another reason to stay away from there.