America’s Original RV Newsletter. Since 2001
Issue 1271
Today’s thought
“Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant.” —Robert Louis Stevenson
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Wine and Cheese Day!
On this day in history: 1897 – American author Jack London embarks on a sailing trip to take part in the Klondike Gold Rush, from which he wrote his first successful stories.
Featured news
Roundup of the recent developments in National Parks
Here are some highlights of developments at national parks and other National Park Service-administered sites for the last two weeks.
AI is creating fake RV dealerships. Here’s how to spot one
Fake RV dealerships are becoming harder to spot. A polished website. Professional photos. Rows of gleaming RVs priced just low enough to make you wonder if you’ve found a bargain. The problem? Increasingly, that may not be enough to prove the dealership even exists. The Better Business Bureau is warning that scammers are now using artificial intelligence to create convincing fake RV dealer websites and Facebook ads. Continue reading.
More states are using speed limiters
If you tow or drive an RV across state lines, you may soon hear more about court-ordered speed limiters. Several states now allow judges to require the technology for certain repeat dangerous speeders. The laws don’t affect ordinary RV travelers, but they point to a growing trend: using technology—not just tickets—to reduce dangerous speeding. Learn more.
Starlink’s next upgrade may solve the one thing RVers still complain about
Starlink Mini has become a favorite with many RVers. It’s small, easy to carry, and doesn’t use much power. But ask owners what they still don’t like, and you’ll often hear the same complaint: all the extra gear that goes with it. Now there are signs SpaceX may be working on a fix.
New Azdel roof system replaces wood with composite
An RV roof is one of the biggest sources of anxiety. Why? Water intrusion, soft spots, damaged decking, and expensive roof repairs have plagued RVs for decades. That’s why Azdel’s newly announced upgraded composite roof deck has generated so much attention across the industry.
Ford recalls nearly 400,000 SUVs
If your tow vehicle or daily driver is a Ford SUV, it’s time to check for another safety recall. Ford has announced a new recall covering nearly 388,000 SUVs in the United States.
RV GPS navigation: Your GPS could be leading you into trouble
A recent highway closure involving a commercial truck that apparently followed GPS directions onto an unsuitable route is another reminder that navigation apps are remarkably helpful—but they aren’t perfect.
A camper left food and trash outside, and a black bear paid the price
Wildlife officials in Montana euthanized a black bear after it repeatedly raided campgrounds near Red Lodge. One of its last stops was an unattended campsite where food, cooking grease, dog food, and garbage had reportedly been left outside, even though a bear-resistant storage box was available. Here’s the (sad) story.
Wash your dishes without any water
These pre-moistened, food-safe Dish Wipes make it easy to clean plates, pots, pans, and utensils without soap or water—perfect for boondocking, overnight stops, or conserving your fresh water. Plus, they’re 100% biodegradable. Learn more or order.
RV review
The new 2027 Airstream Atlas 25RT: A Class B with rear twin beds
The 2027 Airstream Atlas 25RT brings a rear twin-bed layout to Airstream’s compact luxury Class B motorhome lineup. Its slide-free floor plan, large lithium battery bank, and Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 4500 chassis give two travelers a self-contained coach without the bulk of a larger Class C. Check it out.
Beyond the headlines with Tony Barthel
The dangers of hiking, propane explosions, another new RV and a new TPMS
In this week’s news recap, we’re looking at the most dangerous places to hike, propane safety, a new RV company, and a tire pressure monitoring system that doesn’t need yet another screen. Oh, and we’re doing a bit of Breaking Bad. All that and more in this week’s news recap with the best of the best (that’s Tony!).
News briefs
The national average for a gallon of regular gasoline jumped 15 cents from last week to $4.09. Most states are now averaging $4 per gallon or higher. Rising crude oil prices are behind the spike at the pump. Volatility along the Strait of Hormuz and instability in the region have pushed crude oil prices into the $90 per barrel range and could continue driving up costs.
Big egg recall! About 19 million eggs have been recalled over potential salmonella contamination, according to the FDA. The recall includes white and brown cage-free eggs produced in Texas with sell-by or best-by dates from July 20 through Aug. 17, 2026. The eggs were sold at Kroger stores in Texas and Louisiana, Brookshire Grocery stores across six states, and other smaller retailers. Official recall info here.
In case you missed it last week… Have you ever come across someone charging an EV in a campground? If you’re like most of the RVers Tony Barthel knows, this is rather infuriating. And it turns out that campgrounds are starting to take a second look at electrical usage in general.
More than 200 outdoor recreation businesses and trade associations are urging Congress to pass the bipartisan America the Beautiful Act before the August recess, saying it would invest in trails, campgrounds, marinas, and other public lands infrastructure. The coalition says the measure would support the nation’s $1.3 trillion outdoor recreation economy and millions of jobs.
Small gateway towns near national parks are most at risk of being overwhelmed by summer visitors, according to a Canada Sports Betting study ranking 50 U.S. destinations. West Yellowstone, Montana, ranked first. The town of 1,300 residents serves Yellowstone National Park’s 4.86 million annual visitors, creating a peak of 1,944 tourists per resident. Gatlinburg, Tennessee, gateway to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, ranked second with 1,510 tourists per resident.
Just six months after California Highway 1 fully reopened through Big Sur, residents say the iconic California coast is being overwhelmed by weekend traffic jams, illegal camping, litter, campfires, unsafe stops at scenic overlooks like Bixby Bridge, and lengthy employee commutes that are straining the region.
A survey by Talker Research for the Tennessee Department of Tourism Development revealed that only 5% of American travelers can consistently identify real destination photos over AI-generated ones, although 74% rely on photos when booking trips. The survey highlights the growing use of AI in travel scams, with 70% of respondents encountering destinations that look different from online images, and 80% suspecting AI manipulation.
Your dog might not be as old as you think. If you’ve ever told someone that your 10-year-old Labrador is “70 in human years,” it turns out you’ve been using an inaccurate calculation. Sure, multiplying your dog’s age by seven is easy, but according to new research, it turns out it’s also surprisingly inaccurate.
Residents of a Colorado neighborhood thought a rude neighbor was honking a car horn all night, but they awoke to discover the culprit was a bear trapped inside an SUV. Patrick Sullivan shared cellphone camera footage of the scene that greeted Gold Hill residents when they investigated the source of the honking Sunday morning.
Badlands National Park has officially been certified as an International Dark Sky Park by Dark Sky International after nearly a decade of work by park staff and partners to preserve the area’s nocturnal environment.
Pickles (yep, pickles) shut down an Ohio highway on Wednesday. The Ohio Department of Transportation Columbus shared a video of the truck crash on state Route 316 in Pickaway County that showed boxes and jars of pickled cucumbers strewn about, along with a heavily damaged semi. No one was reported injured in the crash, but ODOT said: “The pickles, however, are speared.”
Like to quilt? Listen up! If you live in California or have an attachment to any of its state parks, then maybe this is for you. Help celebrate 100 years since the legislature established the California State Park System by contributing to a one-of-a-kind commemorative quilt.
The Rhode Island Department of Health, Brown Health Dermatology, and partners statewide are conducting free skin cancer screenings at some Rhode Island beaches. Dates and locations: Today (July 25) and August 14 at Scarborough State Park and August 22 at Lincoln Woods State Park. Info here.
Now this is just nuts! This week, Gail Marsh spotted a news article that left her feeling less than optimistic about the future. The headline read: Russia marries the first humanoid couple. Translation? Two robots were “married.” A pair of humanoid robots named Robert and Matilda recently participated in what organizers called Russia’s first robot wedding. Yes, it’s true.
Cool air and bright light anywhere, plus good to have for emergencies
This compact LED lantern features a built-in fan, making it perfect for warm summer camping nights. It collapses for easy storage, provides bright light for up to 37 hours, and the whisper-quiet fan helps keep your RV or picnic table comfortable. Plus, this is good to have for any emergencies. Learn more or order.
Tanner Toons
With Tanner Woods
QUICK TIP: Always pack one empty tote or bin. It always ends up being the most useful thing you brought.
Extreme weather
- 🔥 Hottest this weekend: Death Valley is expected to be America’s furnace once again, with temperatures reaching 124°F on Sunday. Phoenix, Palm Springs, Yuma, and Las Vegas won’t be far behind as dangerous heat grips the Desert Southwest under an Extreme Heat Warning.
- 🥶 Coldest this weekend: Head for Washington’s Pacific Coast or the higher elevations of the North Cascades, where cloudy skies, ocean air and mountain breezes will keep afternoon temperatures mostly in the low to mid-60s.
Reader poll
Do you wish your RV were five feet longer or five feet shorter?
Upcoming RV shows & seminars. Click here.
Trivia
The Kangaroo Rat lives its entire life in the American Southwest deserts without ever taking a sip of liquid water. It extracts every drop of moisture it needs strictly from digesting dry seeds. Its kidneys are so efficient that its urine is five times more concentrated than human urine, meaning it wastes almost zero water.
? MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY ?
Wouldn’t it be nice if you could keep track of every time you were right, but nobody listened? Well, now you can. And ha! Yes, you were right!
Laugh of the week
Top scams RVers should watch for right now
Summer travel is in full swing, and scammers are targeting people who are booking trips, driving long distances, and spending time outdoors. In addition, watch out for a Medicare scam. Here are three scams to watch for this week:
- Fake parking ticket and traffic violation texts: Drivers across the U.S. are receiving texts claiming they owe a parking ticket or traffic fine. Many include a QR code or payment link and threaten late fees or legal action if you don’t pay immediately.
- Fake campground and cabin rental listings: Fraudsters continue to steal photos from legitimate campground and vacation rental websites, then advertise the sites on Facebook Marketplace and social media. They ask for a deposit through Zelle, Cash App, Venmo, or another payment app—then disappear.
- Package delivery “address verification” texts: Travelers expecting camping gear or Amazon deliveries are being targeted with fake USPS, UPS, and FedEx messages claiming a package can’t be delivered until you verify your address or pay a small fee. The links are designed to steal your payment information and login credentials.
Miss The Perfect Scam? Listen to the most recent episode here.
Today in history
Today’s weather forecast across the nation
THIS MAP UPDATES TWICE A DAY
• Current National Radar Weather Map
• National Interagency Fire Center (national wildfire activity)
• InciWeb (major fire information)
• AirNow (smoke and air quality)
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RVtravel.com All Star Staff
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Or you could’ve said “Pickleway” County LOL