Podcasts about roadtreking

We all rely on our cellphones when we're traveling by RV but sometimes, we're in remote areas where a cellphone signal is marginal at best. That's where cellphone boosters come in. They make it possible to turn a weak signal into a strong one and this week, we'll learn from an expert just why every RVer can use a cell booster. He'll explain how they work, the different kinds available and how to choose the one best for you and your RV. The one we use and recommend is the Wilson weBoost 4G-X. Plus, lots of RV news this week that you need to know about, some RV resources that will help you save money, RV tips and answers to your questions about the RV Lifestyle. Click the player below to Listen Now or scroll down through the show note details. When you see a time code hyperlink, you can click it to jump directly to that segment of the podcast. [spp-player] Show Notes for Episode #194 May 30, 2018 of The RV Podcast: WHAT MIKE AND JENNIFER ARE UP TO THIS WEEK [spp-timestamp time="3:09"] So much for easing into summer. It was 95 in Michigan on Memorial Day. A friend in Minneapolis said the temperature actually hit 100 there for a couple hours. For a lot of RVers out for the long Memorial Day weekend on their first campouts of the season, you just know those air conditioners got a big workout. Talk about this heat reminds me of something our friend Laura Robinson recently posted on our Roadtreking Facebook Group. It's a warning about walking your dog across hot parking lots or sidewalks and how fast your pet's paws can be seriously burned. Listen to this: When the air temperature is 77 degrees, asphalt can heat up to 125 degrees. When the air temperature is 86, it can reach 136 degrees. And when the air temperature is 87 degrees, the asphalt can be 143 degrees. Since the experts say skin destruction can occur with just 60 seconds exposure to 125 degrees, the warning is very clear: Your pet's paws will be burned if you insist on walking them across hot asphalt. Always check the asphalt prior to walking your pet. If it is painful to your hand, it will hurt your pet. We'll put a little graphic of that up with the shownotes for this episode. You can find it at Roadtreking.com/194. But that is very good advice. And it applies to hot sand and hot concrete, or hot rocks and granite as well. Our pets will follow us anywhere so its up to us to be responsible. We're getting ready to begin a very full summer season of travel. Mike had the tires rotated and balanced on our RV last week. This week, we're doing an oil change, fluid and belt checks and a lot of preparation inside the RV. Mike has some new camera gear he'll be taking on our travels this year and I'm doing a thorough cleaning. Once we take off next week for Montana, we'll be on the road pretty much all the way through until we take a little break at Christmas. One thing we and everyone else will notice is how much more expensive fuel is this year. After a few years of decline, prices are way up there again. Well over $3 a gallon for gas, about $3.25 for diesel. And the auto club is predicting that trend to continue for most of the summer. Just as a comparison, last year at this time, the average for gas in the US was about $2.37. Diesel was $2.65. So both are up a little over 60-cents a gallon. We just out a video up on our RV Lifestyle You Tube Channel on three apps we use in our smartphones that help us find stations with the best prices as we travel. See the video at: https://youtu.be/uIdADZHPJxA Here's something else we need to pass along relating to technology. The FBI and Homeland Security had a big announcement over the weekend about another hacking attack, this one directed at routers. The warning had to do with malware being injected in various routers, which many people have in their homes for their wifi setups. Let me quote from the release: “The FBI recommends any owner of small office and home office routers reboot the devices to temporarily disrupt the mal...

How would you like to make a difference in this world with your RV travels? To really help individuals and local communities, while still enjoying the RV Lifestyle and traveling to the destinations of your choice? In this episode, we're going to learn about an off shoot of Habitat for Humanity, in which RVers build homes with Habitat homeowners in the U.S. and Canada. Plus, we have lots of RV news, RV tips, tech ideas, an off the beaten path report and much more. Click the player below to Listen Now or scroll down through the show note details. When you see a time code hyperlink, you can click it to jump directly to that segment of the podcast. [spp-player] Show Notes for Episode #190 May 2, 2018 of Roadtreking - The RV Podcast: WHAT MIKE AND JENNIFER ARE UP TO THIS WEEK [spp-timestamp time="1:50"] We're back home in our Michigan sticks and bricks house for a few days. We emphasize few as we hit the road again next week. Will be heading to Canada next week, where we will be teaching a session at “Owners School” for owners of Roadtrek and Hymer RVs next week at the Cambridge, Ontario headquarters of the Erwin Hymer Group of North America. Yes, and we're staying at a local campground there and look forward to lots of visiting around a campfire with the students, who will be attending this gathering from all across North America. We'll take our video gear and see if we can find some interesting people to interview. It should be a lot of fun! This week, though, Mike will be doing a bit of recuperating. I have surgery scheduled this week to repair some damage done to my right elbow. I broke it back in January when I slipped on the ice up in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. It was during our Roadtreking gathering there and I was getting out of the RV to photograph a bunch of Roadtrekers crossing the Mackinac Bridge that separates Michigan's Upper and Lower Peninsulas. It should be minor surgery but It's time I get it tended to before we are tied up with our summer camping travels. Meantime, here's the RV news of the week… Highest fuel prices in three years greet RVers as they hit the road again Fuel prices are causing sticker shock across North America. Blame it on demand, caused by pent up desires to get outside and travel again. And more demand means you pay more at the pump. The federal Energy Information Administration's latest data indicates consumer gasoline demand is at 9.857 million barrels per day, which is at the highest level ever on record for the month of April and exceeds typical summer demand measurements, driving up prices at the pump all across the U.S, according to analysts at AAA. Five states reported double-digit increases and the national average went up a nickel to $2.76, AAA reported. Overall prices are at the highest level in three years. Gas is selling at $2.26 or more at every gas station in America. More so, 13% of stations have pump prices set at $3 or more Unlucky man survives bear, rattlesnake and shark bites in four years Did you remember hearing about the young man who woke last summer the crunching sound of a black bear biting him in the head? The young man was at a camp in Colorado, and while he was sleeping a bear bit him in the head and tried to drag him out of his tent. Other staff members scared the bear away and likely saved his life. The young man, now 20, was in the news again this week for surviving a shark bite. This time the Colorado man was on vacation in Hawaii when he was bit by a shark. He had been in the ocean on a board when a shark bit his leg. And four years ago he was bitten by a rattlesnake! Talk about bad luck. Yellowstone's Steamboat Geyser erupts for third time in six weeks  Steamboat geyser is the largest of Yellowstone's many thermal features and something is up with it. After being dormant for years, it has erupted three times now in six weeks, the latest this past Friday. When it blows, it goes as high as 400 feet, compared to 150 feet for Old Faithful.

This week we dig into the 2018 North American Camping Report, an exhaustive study done each year by researchers into every aspect of camping and RV use. Our guest is Toby O'Rourke, president of Kampgrounds of America, which underwrites the study, and she will help unpack this report which is followed by the RV industry as the Bible of where camping is headed and what needs to be done. Plus we have lots more for you this week, including a bunch of RV news, listener questions and comments, traveling technology tips and a wonderful off-the-beaten-path report. Click the player below to Listen Now or scroll down through the show note details. When you see a time code hyperlink, you can click it to jump directly to that segment of the podcast. [spp-player] WHAT MIKE AND JENNIFER ARE UP TO THIS WEEK [spp-timestamp time="2:00"] We've been on the road to western Michigan these past several days, taking advantage of the first really nice spring weather and the reopening of state and RV parks. This early in the season, we've had our pick of really great sites along the awe-inspiring shoreline of Lake Michigan. Some of these parks we stayed at are so in demand that to get in during peak season, you need to make reservations months and months in advance. We started out at a Yogi Bear Camp Jellystone RV resort on Grand Rapids, MI. Yup. You heard that right. Now usually, it's just me and Mike and Bo so those family parks with all those kid activities are something usually bypass. But this time, we were there because our son, Jeff, and his wife, Aimee, just bought a new travel trailer and this was their very first outing in it. So we invited ourselves to come along and had an absolute ball watching our grandchildren, Jovie, 3, and Jax, 8 months. We had a ball We'll have a video in a few days about the experience and Jeff will give us a tour of their new bunk house trailer. After Jeff, Aimee and the kids headed back for to their home Sunday and a new work week, we decided that RVing was our work so we started exploring the coastline towns of South Haven, Holland, Saugatuck, Grand Haven, Muskegon and Silver lake. You can follow our adventures on our blog at Roadtreking.com, where we shared lots of photos. Lake Michigan is part of what is called the Third Coast. Now sometimes, those along the Gulf Coast argue for that title but considering its Great Lakes coasts, Michigan has more miles of shoreline than does any other of the lower 48 states and more fresh water shoreline than any other state. In fact, a couple years ago, we decided to drive and camo our way across the US shoreline of all five Great Lakes. The mileage totaled 3,000-plus miles! In case you are interested, just click the link to the Great Lakes shoreline videos we did on that trip. Meanwhile, here's what's making RV news this week: Too many tourists using drones to illegally take video at Oregon's Crater Lake National Park As prices drop, and technology continually improves, drone use is becoming an increasing problem at some national parks, such as Oregon's Crater Lake National Park. While drone use at all national parks has been outlawed since 2014, some may find getting an aerial view at some of America's most breath-taking scenarios too hard to resist. According to a story published last week, flying the unmanned aircraft has been an increasing problem at Crater Lake National Park, with some of the illegal camera activity showing up in places like You Tube. Drones can bother wildlife and visitors seeking a pristine natural environment. To read more, click here. New York wants more residents to go camping, so is providing it for free  New York's first time camper program was so popular last year, the state has decided to do it again. New York's Department of Environmental Conservation and Office of Parks and Recreation is taking applications for 65 families to try out camping at various state campgrounds. Winners will have all their camping gear provided,

There are a lot of RVs out there. And there are a lot of reasons people buy them. So the RV Lifestyle takes many different forms. In this episode, we will introduce you to a wonderful group of people we spent time with this past weekend at an informal meet-up in Waco Texas. I think you'll find it very interesting how the RV lifestyle can fulfill so many dreams and be used in so many different ways. Plus, coming up, your RV questions, RV tips, traveling tech suggestions and a great off the beaten path report. Click the player below to Listen Now or scroll down through the show note details. When you see a time code hyperlink, you can click it to jump directly to that segment of the podcast. [spp-player] Show Notes for Episode #184 March 21, 2018 of Roadtreking - The RV Podcast: WHAT MIKE AND JENNIFER ARE UP TO THIS WEEK [spp-timestamp time="2:04"] We are doing this podcast from the beautiful Texas Hill Country, specifically at the Canyon of the Eagles Nature Park on the shores of Lake Buchanan. It's called the Canyon of the Eagles because lots of bald eagles winter here each year, fishing the warm waters of the lake. We are in a beautiful campground overlooking the lake. It's just us and one other RV in the entire campground and but is so quiet and peaceful we keep extending our stay. What was to be a quick visit to the area is now on its fourth day! We posted lots of photos on the blog already and we'll talk more about this place in an off the beaten path report a little later in the podcast. But we've had a great week of traveling and have so enjoyed Texas. We spent the past weekend in Waco, Texas, a place well known to fans of the HGTV television show Fixer Upper as the home of Chip and Joanna Gaines, the stars of the show. It is unbelievable how the popularity of the show and Chip and Joanna's Magnolia branded businesses have transformed Waco.  They have a bakery, they renovated two old grain Silos and turned it into a design boutique and they just opened a restaurant… that has a 2 ½ hour wait to get in. 20,000 tourists a week come to Waco… Waco is the 2nd most searched zip code on realtor.com… David Ridley, who owned ne of the homes Chip and Joanna fixed up, runs a tour bus company. This was a really, really busy weekend in Waco. Chip and Joann had their Spring celebration and they say as many as 150,000 people came from all over the country. Every hotel and RV park was supposedly booked up for 80 miles around. We also had our expert tour guide… and we want to give a big shout to David Hunt, one of our Roadtreking followers. David lives in Waco and generously gave us a our past many of the homes featured over six seasons if the TV show. Besides that, we toured the Dr. Pepper Museum and the Texas Rangers Hall of Fame. And we had an informal meet-up on Saturday with a bunch of folks who fo0llow us who live in Texas. You'll hear from some of them in a few minutes in our interview if the week segment on the podcast. We love hearing from our listeners. In fact, if you heard last week's episode, Dan Izzard, who lives in Georgetown, Texas, called in with a suggested route we travel to see bluebonnets. And That led us to the beautiful spot we are now in and will soon be talking about in our off the beaten path report. Here are some stories in the news this week of interest to RVers… National Parks considering per person charge, Interior Secretary tells Congress Too many people get into the national parks for free, U.S. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke said before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee last week. The National Parks Services offers free or discounted entrance to active military service members, disabled people, seniors and fourth graders. Zinke said that is too many discounts, and the cost per vehicle needs to go up or instead of charging per carload, parks need to charge per person to help bring in revenue. Family says they were locked inside a Camping World RV lot in Arizona

RV rallies and gatherings are wonderful ways to connect with other RVers, to become a part of the RV community and to sharpen your RV skills, develop more practical, on-the-road and camping knowledge and to truly enhance your RV Lifestyle. Every RVer is really missing out if they don't take advantage of these special gatherings and in this episode, Jennifer and I are going to offer a guide to finding an RV rally or gathering this year that is just right for you. Plus lots of listener questions, RV tips and much more. Click the player below to Listen Now or scroll down through the show note details. When you see a time code hyperlink, you can click it to jump directly to that segment of the podcast. [spp-player] Show Notes for Episode #183 3/14/18 of Roadtreking - The RV Podcast: WHAT MIKE AND JENNIFER ARE UP TO THIS WEEK [spp-timestamp time="2:08"] We're on the road in Texas this week, enjoying all this great state has to offer. Headed to Waco this weekend and will be planning an impromptu meet-up Saturday afternoon, March 17 in Waco. We'll be at the I-35 RV Park and Resort in Elm Mott, Texas, which is just off I-35 at Exit 346, a few miles north of Waco. We'll share more details on the Roadtreking Facebook Group but let's plan from 3-6PM Saturday. Bring a chair, some food or refreshments and we'll all hang out. And yes, for his fans…. Bo will be with us. Not Getting Enough Sleep? Go Camping As much of the country deals with the after effects of daylight savings time this week, I got to thinking of a study on sleep I saw last year. Do you know that camping outdoors has actually been found to be good for you sleep-wise? Turning off the artificial lights, getting outdoors and rising and sleeping with the sun actually improves your  health, the study showed. So if you're groggy this week from springing forward, get outside! And to learn more of the study click here or here. Congress proposes ways to solve $12 billion national parks deferred maintenance costs Congress is beginning to discuss the nation's rapidly growing need for maintenance in the national parks system, but like much in Congress, disagreement on how to proceed dominates. Currently there are at least three different bills  proposing ways to fund the $12 billion and growing backlog, including one that proposes gas and oil drilling on federal land. To read an overview, click here. This portion of the Podcast is brought to you by Campers Inn, the RVer's trusted resource for over 50 years, the nation's largest family-operated RV dealership with 19 locations and growing  JENNIFER'S TIP OF THE WEEK [spp-timestamp time="11:35"] Jennifer shares a great tip from Tom Burkett about making a photo memory book on your next RV trip. Tom Burkett shows us one of the Photobooks he has made of his RV journeys Here are the services Tom uses to make his photobooks: Shutterfly - https://www.shutterfly.com Photo Book America - http://www.photobookamerica.com/ Meanwhile,  be sure to send me your tips and suggestions for the RV lifestyle. You can use the “Leave Voicemail” link at Roadtreking.com. Just click it and then use the built-in microphone on your computer or mobile devise to record a message to me. You can do it over as many times as you want, until you are satisfied. And then you just click a button and it comes right to my email inbox. I love hearing from you! Jennifer's tip of the week is brought to you by RadPower Bikes ,an electric bike manufacturer offering direct to consumer pricing on powerful premium electric bikes. Now with free shipping  To see our Rad Power Bikes in action, just click here. LISTENER QUESTIONS OF THE WEEK [spp-timestamp time="17:39"] Sarah is considering an RV and has some questions about boondocking and traveling with a dog. John asks about the Hollywood brand rack we have on the back of our 2017 Roadtrek CS Adventurous XL 4X4 to hold our two Rad Power Bikes ebikes. He wants to know about opening the rear doors.

Are women more adventurous than men when it comes to the RV lifestyle? Some estimates put the number of female RVers traveling alone as much as 30 percent. That may be a bit high, but not by much, because it's been our experience that solo women travelers do indeed make up a huge segment of the RVing community. In this episode of the podcast, Jennifer will introduce you to three such solo travelers who will share their traveling expertise on everything from staying safe to the RV adventures they have on the road. Plus your questions, RV news and Tips and much more. [spp-player] Show Notes for Episode #179  Feb. 14 2018 of Roadtreking - The RV Podcast: WHAT MIKE AND JENNIFER ARE UP TO THIS WEEK [spp-timestamp time="2:25"] This episode is coming to you from Manatee Springs State Park in Chiefland, Florida, near the famed Suwanee River. The Suwannee River is a federally designated wild river. Mike and Jennifer recording this episode from the picnic table at their camping site at We were at the Jacksonville RV show over the weekend. A shoutout to Ron and Sharri Chafin who were the first to meet us. They brought a very nice birthday gift for Jennifer! We are camping on the Suwanee River, which is the only major waterway in the southeastern United States that is still unspoiled. The Suwanee flows from the Okefenokee Swamp in southern Georgia to the Gulf of Mexico in Florida. It winds for almost 266 miles through swamps, high limestone banks, hammocks of hardwood, and salt marshes. It also has fifty-five springs along the way. But besides that, it's particularly famous because of Stephen Foster. He became America's first professional songwriter in the 1800s. He wrote more than 200 songs with tunes and lyrics that captured the heart and spirit of the nation. While writing “Old Folks at Home,” Foster had difficulty finding the right words to complete a verse joining his image of a beautiful river and longings for family and home. According to legend, his brother suggested the Suwannee River after consulting a world atlas. The words fit, and “Way down upon the Suwannee River” was on its way to making the Suwannee River famous around the world. Foster never visited Florida and he never saw the Suwannee River. Nevertheless, since 1935, it has also been Florida's state song. In the 1950s, land was acquired on the Suwannee River at White Springs. The land was developed into the Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park. Shortly thereafter, the Florida Folk Festival was established to highlight the state's cultural history and traditions. This portion of the Podcast is brought to you by Campers Inn, the RVer's trusted resource for over 50 years, the nation's largest family-operated RV dealership with 19 locations and growing  JENNIFER'S TIP OF THE WEEK [spp-timestamp time="13:11"] It can be hard to pack enough clothes for RV trips sometimes, especially if you are on the road for protracted periods of time. Doing laundry can be a challenge, too, as often the washers and dryers at campgrounds are all being used. At one of our recent Roadtreking gatherings, one of our fellow campers shared how they handle dirty laundry while traveling. Steve uses “Wash and Go” services at local laundrymat., And be sure to send me your tips and suggestions for the RV lifestyle. You can use the “Leave Voicemail” link at Roadtreking.com. Just click it and then use the built-in microphone on your computer or mobile devise to record a message to me. You can do it over as many times as you want, until you are satisfied. And then you just click a button and it comes right to my email inbox. I love hearing from you! Jennifer's tip of the week is brought to you by RadPower Bikes ,an electric bike manufacturer offering direct to consumer pricing on powerful premium electric bikes. Now with free shipping Mike and Jennifers' Rad Power Bikes at the Manatee Springs State Park campsite in Florida LISTENER QUESTIONS OF THE WEEK [spp-timestamp time...

There is a certain etiquette and behavior standard that RV owners are expected to adhere to. The problem is, many of the key tenants of that etiquette are learned through experience. Many are unwritten and usually learned through trial and error. We're going to help you avoid the errors by sharing 10 of those unwritten rules of the road and how to camp. Plus we have lots of listener questions, some great tips, a traveling tech report and an off the beaten path restaurant destination that believes if a little food is good, a lot of food is even better. Click the player below to Listen Now or scroll down through the show note details. When you see a time code hyperlink, you can click it to jump directly to that segment of the podcast. [spp-player] Show Notes for Episode #178 Feb. 7, 2018 of Roadtreking - The RV Podcast: WHAT MIKE AND JENNIFER ARE UP TO THIS WEEK [spp-timestamp time="2:00"] Mike and Jennifer We come to you this week from sunny Okaloosa Island, on Florida's Emerald Coast, where we'll be spending the next couple of months, except for the long list of side trips we plan up and down the Florida peninsula and across the Gulf Coast. We both celebrate our birthdays in the week ahead. Mike's is Thursday Feb 8, Jennifer's Monday Feb. 12. One of those sidetrips will be this coming weekend. Sunday, Feb. 11, we will be at the Jacksonville RV Show in Jacksonville, FL. The show is being held at the Jacksonville Equestrian Center at 13611 Normandy Boulevard in Jacksonville. We'll be hanging out with the folks at Sunshine State RVs and we're planning to do a Facebook Live report from the show Sunday afternoon. Another sidetrip starts February, 12. We'll be at Manatee Springs State Park in Chiefland, FL for a Roadtreking gathering with lots of other RVers. We'll be kayaking and snorkeling with the manatees, as well as taking boat tours of the area. We'll have live reports from there next week but this gathering sold out within two ours after we announced it last summer. This portion of the Podcast is brought to you by Campers Inn, the RVer's trusted resource for over 50 years, the nation's largest family-operated RV dealership with 19 locations and growing  JENNIFER'S TIP OF THE WEEK [spp-timestamp time="14:26"] We love sitting around a campfire. But, like a lot of people, we are not big fans of the smoke and mess that comes with a traditional campfire. That smoky smell permeates or clothes and even our hair and it can be quite unpleasant. Mark Fawcett (left) and friends gathered around his portable propane firepit at our annual winter campout in Michigan's Upper Peninsula On a recent campout in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, we spent some time around Mark Fawcett's campfire. Mark is from the Minneapolis area and he was using a portable firepit that uses propane and did an excellent job in keeping us warm while providing all the ambiance of a traditional campfire. The name of the firepit Mark has is the Outland Firebowl Model 870 Premium Portable Propane Gas Fire Pit. It comes with a Cover & Carry Kit and measures 19-Inches in Diameter , making it easy to store in the back of an RV. And we can attest to how warm and pleasant it is to sit around. To see it yourself, here is the direct Amazon link - amzn.to/2BZqWa8 And be sure to send me your tips and suggestions for the RV lifestyle. You can use the “Leave Voicemail” link at Roadtreking.com. Just click it and then use the built-in microphone on your computer or mobile devise to record a message to me. You can do it over as many times as you want, until you are satisfied. And then you just click a button and it comes right to my email inbox. I love hearing from you! Jennifer's tip of the week is brought to you by RadPower Bikes ,an electric bike manufacturer offering direct to consumer pricing on powerful premium electric bikes. Now with free shipping LISTENER QUESTIONS OF THE WEEK [spp-timestamp time="20:15"] Alexios just bought a used Class C motorhome and...

Would you like to do more RV traveling this year but can't afford it? Then consider workamping, or working for relatively short periods of time in exchange for a place to park your RV and often even for pay. We'll talk about that I this episode and get great advice from an experienced workamping couple. We'll also have lots of workamping resources for you to check out. Plus your questions, comments, RV news and much more. Click the player below to Listen Now or scroll down through the show note details. When you see a time code hyperlink, you can click it to jump directly to that segment of the podcast. [spp-player] Show Notes for Episode #176 1/24/18 of Roadtreking - The RV Podcast: WHAT MIKE AND JENNIFER ARE UP TO THIS WEEK [spp-timestamp time="1:45"] Mike and Jennifer were snug and warm inside their RV as they recorded this episode in the middle of a blizzard in Michigan's Upper Peninsula Mike and Jen are quite literally snowbound as they recorded this episode of the RV podcast, coming to you from the snowy woods of Michigan's Upper Peninsula where a Lake Superior winter storm has them hunkered down in their Roadtrek until the roads get plowed. You may be surprised to know they're delighted with the situation! So is Bo, who was made for the snow. They share their love of winter camping, but admittedly are looking forward to thawing out as they head to Florida in a couple of weeks for some personal appearances at RV shows and a Roadtreking gathering at the Manatee Springs State Park. This portion of the Podcast is brought to you by Campers Inn, the RVer's trusted resource for over 50 years, the nation's largest family-operated RV dealership with 19 locations and growing  JENNIFER'S TIP OF THE WEEK [spp-timestamp time="9:48"] We, like many RVers, love to travel with our dog. And our dogs sure love exploring new The Link AKC dog collar with GPS and a temperature sensor That's why the tip we received from a listener named Sue is so appreciated. Sue has a way to have peace of mind that if your pet does takes off, you will be able to easily located hime. Sue suggests aproduct called Link AKC. It sells for $99 and comes in two sizes, one for small dogs, one for large. It's a GPS system for your pet. We'll put a link to them on Amazon on the show notes for this episode at Roadtreking-dot-cm-slash-176. And be sure to send me your tips and suggestions for the RV lifestyle. You can use the “Leave Voicemail” link at Roadtreking.com. Just click it and then use the built-in microphone on your computer or mobile devise to record a message to me. You can do it over as many times as you want, until you are satisfied. And then you just click a button and it comes right to my email inbox. I love hearing from you! For a complete list of all the products, gear and apps mentioned by Mike and Jennifer on their podcast, YouTube RV Lifestyle Channel and here on the blog, go to https://rvlifestyle.com/gear Jennifer's tip of the week is brought to you by RadPower Bikes ,an electric bike manufacturer offering direct to consumer pricing on powerful premium electric bikes. Now with free shipping LISTENER QUESTIONS OF THE WEEK [spp-timestamp time="14:18"] Monica asks: Please talk about how you keep the flooring clean in your Roadtrek. Thanks. Jennifer uses Clorox wipes to keep ours clean- Howard e-mails: In your video about using the Reflectix on the window for insulation, can it be used for the windshield, driver and passenger window as well? Mike thinks it would be hard to attach there. We instead use a Sunshield, which is about the same thing and has Hook and loop fasteners to attach to the outside edges. You can get at any camping store or on Amazon at amzn.to/2DyDPgT  Barry writes: We have one of the three-way refrigerators that we use almost exclusively on propane. As you probably know they are not always reliable. We would like to be alerted when the temperature in the refrigerator or the freeze strays outside a g...

Among a host of topics, today's episode features a “For Women Only” advice section from Jennifer for RV wives. Now I think husbands will also benefit to this but what she's done is address a bunch of concerns that RV women have raised with her as she has met them in our travels across North America. She alleviates most of these concerns with some very practical advice. That's coming up in our interview of the week time. But also this week. Your RV questions and comments, RV tips, a great off the beaten path destination to put on your bucket list, and more RV shows this coming weekend than you can shake a stick at. This is the heart of the RV show season and do we have a long list for you to consider! Click the player below to Listen Now or scroll down through the show note details. When you see a time code hyperlink, you can click it to jump directly to that segment of the podcast. [spp-player] Show Notes for Episode #175 Jan. 17, 2017 of Roadtreking - The RV Podcast WHAT MIKE AND JENNIFER ARE UP TO THIS WEEK [spp-timestamp time="2:24"] We're getting ready to head to the Great White North of Michigan's Upper Peninsula and, specifically Tahquamenon Falls State Park where there is nearly three feet of snow on the ground. We'll be joined by dozens of their RVers, who've made their way to our annual Winter Campout. We'll have a Facebook Live report sometime mid-Friday afternoon on our Facebook Page at http://facebook.com/roadtreking.  If you click like on the page you should get a notice when the report will go live but I'm shooting for about 3PM eastern January 19. After that, we'll be heading south, to much warmer climates.  We'll be at the Jacksonville Florida RV Show the afternoon of Fed. 11… and then Feb 12-16 we'll be at another Roadtreking Gathering, this one at the Manatee Springs State Park in Florida. For a full list of all the gatherings we have on tap for this year, go to https://rvlifestyle.com/2018-calendar/ This portion of the Podcast is brought to you by Campers Inn, the RVer's trusted resource for over 50 years, the nation's largest family-operated RV dealership with 19 locations and growing  JENNIFER'S TIP OF THE WEEK [spp-timestamp time="8:54] One topic RVers love to talk and learn about is cooking and eating. Finding good and easy to prepare meals on the road can be quite challenging.     Episode 175: Straight Talk for RV Wives Only One method that has been getting a lot of attention on our Roadtreking Facebook Group lately is called Sous-Vide … for “under vacuum.” Essentially it means cooking food in sealed plastic bags immersed in hot water for long periods of time. Depending on the cut, type, and thickness of the meat or the type of food in question, cooking Sous-Vide for several hours is not out of the ordinary. The key is managing the temperature of the water so it stays hot enough to cook the food thoroughly and evenly, and long enough to kill any food-borne pathogens that may be in the bag along with the food. Cooking in sealed bags (usually vacuum sealed) at lower temperatures also results in juicier food, since there's no significant transfer of moisture from the food in the way there is with others cooking method like grilling or broiling, and the cooking temperatures don't get so high that the food starts to dry out. Now there are devices and kits you can get to make this process easy. We'll do a tip on that sometime soon. But in today's tip, a husband and wife team of listeners to this podcast sent us this tip on how the Sous-Vide cooking method made a winter camping trip very tasty… and easy. Like I said, we'll talk more about Sous-Vide cooking in a future episode. Meantime, be sure to send me YOUR tips and suggestions for the RV lifestyle. You can use the “Leave Voicemail” link at Roadtreking.com. Just click it and then use the built-in microphone on your computer or mobile devise to record a message to me. You can do it over as many times as you want,

What happens if you get sick while out on the road in your RV? What happens if you need a doctor and you are far from home in another state? In this episode, we will tell you about a terrific plan that I think every RVer should consider. There's a new organization that provides on-call doctors for RVers in every state, doctors who can talk to you on the phone or via video, prescribe most drugs you'll need for any sudden illness, even help you find a local specialist. Plus… this episode is chock full of RV tips, questioned and answers about the RV lifestyle, RV news, the full RV show schedule for the coming weekend and some wonderful off the beaten path advice. Click the player below to Listen Now or scroll down through the shownote details. When you see a time code hyperlink, you can click it to jump directly to that segment of the podcast. [spp-player] WHAT MIKE AND JENNIFER ARE UP TO THIS WEEK [spp-timestamp time="2:14"] We're coming to you this week from the Wisconsin Dells… We outline our travel plans for the next few weeks, share yet another reason why we believe RVing is a better way to travel than flying and we update listeners about what's been happening with our RV Lifestyle as we get excited by all that lies ahead in 2018. We also shares something that really stinks about our sticks and bricks home back in Michigan. This portion of the Podcast is brought to you by Campers Inn, the RVer's trusted resource for over 50 years, the nation's largest family-operated RV dealership with 19 locations and growing  JENNIFER'S TIP OF THE WEEK [spp-timestamp time="12:20"] Our dog Bo loves the winter. And he really loves snow. But sometimes, the snow and ice can build up on his paws and cause him some pain. So we use a product called Musher's Secret. We learned about this product while covering dog sled races for the blog and it goes on his paws whenever we take him out for extended play in the snow. Musher's Secret is a dense, barrier wax that forms a breathable bond with your dog's paws. Developed in Canada for use with sledding dogs, it provides tenacious protection even in the most extreme conditions. Just spread a light coating of Musher's Secret on the pads and rub in. It protects the paws and still allows perspiration to escape through the toes. The neat thing about this product is that it is not just for ice and snow and salt protection in the wintertime. It also protects your dog in sand and from hot pavement during those summertime hikes. It can be used weekly or as needed to prevent abrasions, burning, drying and cracking. Think of it as an invisible boot. It's $19 on Amazon and at pet stores everywhere. And be sure to send me your tips and suggestions for the RV lifestyle. You can use the “Leave Voicemail” link at Roadtreking.com. Just click it and then use the built-in microphone on your computer or mobile devise to record a message to me. You can do it over as many times as you want, until you are satisfied. And then you just click a button and it comes right to my email inbox. I love hearing from you! Jennifer's tip of the week is brought to you by RadPower Bikes ,an electric bike manufacturer offering direct to consumer pricing on powerful premium electric bikes. Now with free shipping LISTENER QUESTIONS OF THE WEEK [spp-timestamp time="16:02"] Stephanie saw our report on the need for RV service technicians and wonders where to find help. We referred her to the educational programs offered by the RecreatIon Vehicle Industry Association - http://www.rvia.org/?ESID=educational and its many in person and eleaning programs. Also the RV Maintenance Tech Course offered online and through hands on programs at https://rvtechcourse.com/ Listener Pat asks about a recent development that makes the very po;ular and helpful AllStays app now unavailable for Android users. We explain and tell her those Android users who have the app will find it still works, there just wot be updates.

On this abbreviated last episode of 2017, we asked out audience to call in and share their RV bucket list plans for 2018. Listen up! Maybe you'll get some ideas! [spp-player] Here's the 2018 Calendar for our Roadtreking gathering - https://rvlifestyle.com/2018-calendar/ And here are the 2018 apps mentioned by Steve VanDinter in his Traveling Technology segment: As we get ready for the calendar to flip to 2018, it's a great time for all of us to reflect on the things that went well this year, and opportunities for improvement in the coming year. Many will set goals to work out more, get plenty of rest or eat better. And to make these goals stick, experts say you need to start small. First up...we'll need some motivation. And that's where the Fitbit Ionic can help. Fitbit's newest wearable will automatically track your activities (even swimming), along with your heart rate so you know how hard you worked out. It'll also make sure you're getting enough good quality rest. Lastly, it can act as your personal coach motivating you to move even when the weather outside is cold and dreary. If you're going to the gym, consider protecting your phone and lightening your load at the same time with the Under Armour Stash Case.  Not only will your phone be spared from drops of up to 10 feet, but the secret compartment in the back allows you to store your credit cards, ID, or some cash so you can leave your wallet at home. And if you'd like to make sure your form is solid, the Under Armour Magnetic Mount is a great companion to your Stash Case. With this mount you can stick your phone to any metal object and record your form, watch videos or just keep your phone off the sweaty floor. Since there's an app for pretty much everything today, I wanted to provide a couple for your listeners to check out. First, an app called Mindfulness Daily. Just carve out a few minutes a day to walk through some mindfulness lessons and you'll be on your way to feeling more centered throughout your life. And last but not least...the Fabulous: Motivate Me! app.  Built in Duke University's Behavioral Economics Lab, this app is designed to help rewire your brain with good habits. Here's to a happy and healthy new year!

It's the week before Christmas, a time when most RVers are staying put, hunkered down to be with family and friends for the holiday. We thought this would be the perfect week to settle some nagging RV questions that have been surfacing all year around. Chief among them has to do with biodiesel fuel, and in particular, the Sprinter RV. What happens when an RVer is in a state that only sells high percentage bio diesel fuel, like B20 or more? Is it OK to use occasionally? Or are you putting your Sprinter engine in jeopardy by using high percentage biodiesel fuel? We'll try to sort that out in this week's podcast and answer your questions. Plus we have lots of RV news and tips and a great off the beaten path report. Click the player below to Listen Now or scroll down through the shownote details. When you see a time code hyperlink, you can click it to jump directly to that segment of the podcast. [spp-player] Show Notes for Episode #171 Dec. 20, 2017 of Roadtreking - The RV Podcast: WHAT MIKE AND JENNIFER ARE UP TO THIS WEEK [spp-timestamp time="2:58"] Christmas Week… we're at our Michigan home, celebrating with family We just released a really fun video on dog parks, offering tips and lots of photos from our dog park visits around the country. Our dog Bo travels with us in our RV and dog parks give him and us the exercise we so badly need after a long day's drive. You can see it on our RV Lifestyle Channel on You Tube at http://rvlifestylechannel.com Just a warning. Out in Oregon, an RV caught fire after the family dog oknocked over a portable propane-fueled heater that was being used inside the RV. No one was hurt and the local fire department kept it from spreading to nearly vehicles. Fire experts say you should only use electric heaters inside confined spaces.. This portion of the Podcast is brought to you by Campers Inn, the RVer's trusted resource for over 50 years, the nation's largest family-operated RV dealership with 19 locations and growing JENNIFER'S TIP OF THE WEEK [spp-timestamp time="13:38"] We get lots of ideas and tips sent in by our audience. Some are too short for a full-length report, but still useful. We've saved all the tips you have sent us this year and by combining a bunch of them together, we've got a great report. So listen up… here are 8 RV tips that will make your life on the road and at camp a little easier. 1) Wrap a wet paper towel around a bottle and out it into the freezer. In 15 minutes, it will be almost completely ice cold. 2) Use Doritos as a fire starter. Really. They burn better than crumbled up newspaper. 3) Freeze green grapes to chill a class of white wine down without watering it down. 4) Put a small glass of water in the microwave when you warm up pizza to keep it from getting chewy 5) Save your empty Chapstick containers for an emergency cash stash.  Take our the little plunger push up thing and you can store some rolled up bills in it for an emergency  stash you leave in the RV. 6) If your RV has a slide out, use cut a length-long slice of a swimming pool noodle and put that over the sharp edges so you won't hurt yourself if you accidentally bump into it at camp. 7) Get a small dry erase board and use it to write down the name of the campground, the phone number of the campground, the address and your campsite spot number. In case you need t call emergency help, this will save you lots of time in talking with police of emergency dispatchers. 8) Rub an onion on your barbeque grill to keep things from sticking on it. So there you go. Hope those tips come in handy! Meanwhile, be sure to send me your tips and suggestions for the RV lifestyle. You can use the “Leave Voicemail” link at Roadtreking.com. Just click it and then use the built-in microphone on your computer or mobile device to record a message to me. You can do it over as many times as you want, until you are satisfied. And then you just click a button and it comes right to my email inbox.

In this episode, we talk about Walmart parking lots, one of the favorite overnight camping spots used by RVers when they need a quick place to spend the night.  Over the past couple of years, Walmart parking lots have been linked to story after story about crimes committed there. Many RVers, in fact, now are worried, or simlpy stay away from them as overnight spots. Is the anxiety justified? We'll answer a call from a worried listener and do our best to clarify the concerns and let you know our thoughts abut this. Plus more of your questions, a great off the beaten path report, tips on saving money this shopping season and an interview with Mary Jane Curry on the top gadgets you need in your RV kitchen. Click the player below to Listen Now or scroll down through the show note details. When you see a time code hyperlink, you can click it to jump directly to that segment of the podcast. [spp-player] Show Notes for Episode #170 December 13, 2017 of Roadtreking - The RV Podcast: WHAT MIKE AND JENNIFER ARE UP TO THIS WEEK [spp-timestamp time="2:22"] Mike and Jennifer are both recovering from severe head colds. But the show must go on… We discuss a major change in direction for the Family Motorcoach Association - FMCA votes to allow owners of all self-contained RVs in  This portion of the Podcast is brought to you by Campers Inn, the RVer's trusted resource for over 50 years, the nation's largest family-operated RV dealership with 19 locations and growing  JENNIFER'S TIP OF THE WEEK [spp-timestamp time="9:20"] RVers love their pets!  In fact, surveys show that one of the main reasons people buy an RV is so they can travel with their pets. At a recent RV show in Louisville, we ran into our friends Mark and Dawn Polk, of RV Education 101. They travel with not one, not two but three dogs. How do they do it? We whipped out the recorder and asked Dawn for some tips… Good advice from the Polks! And be sure to send me your tips and suggestions about any aspect of the RV lifestyle. You can use the “Leave Voicemail” link at Roadtreking.com. Just click it and then use the built-in microphone on your computer or mobile devise to record a message to me. You can do it over as many times as you want, until you are satisfied. And then you just click a button and it comes right to my email inbox. I love hearing from you! Jennifer's tip of the week is brought to you by RadPower Bikes ,an electric bike manufacturer offering direct to consumer pricing on powerful premium electric bikes. Now with free shipping LISTENER QUESTIONS OF THE WEEK [spp-timestamp time="14:17"] Hal is a new Pleasureway owner. He shares his travel plans. He likes the blog post we had some time back from Campskunk on staying in 70 degree weather and moving with the season all year. Peggy has a 2004 Chevy 190 from Roadtrek and needs to replace some of her old plumbing. She also asks for input on a composting toilet. And despite some distortion on the call, Teri has a problem with swaying with her Serenity RV from Leisure Travel Vans. She's looking for advice. And a caller questioned a recent guest's worry about crime in Walmart parking lots. Walmart has traditionally been very welcoming to RVers and, in municipalities that allow it, generally allow RVs to park there overnight. Our caller is looking for advice on straying there when needed. [spp-timestamp time="27:36"] Here are some recent headlines a quick Google search returns from over the last year or so: From Bloomberg - Walmart's Out-of-Control Crime Problem Is Driving Police Crazy From NPR - Wal-Mart's Crime Problem Overwhelms Police Across  From JR Security - Wal-Mart Parking Lots Are Virtual Magnet For Crime  From the publication This Week - Why criminals flock to Walmart From the NY Daily News - Violent crimes at Walmart top 200 this year as cops slam retailer  Let me read this from a 2016 story in Time Magazine: “Across the U.S., Walmarts have become a regular stop for law enforcement res...

This week, we meet the Russos, Joe and Kait, a California couple in heir early thirties who quit their corporate jobs for a life of fulltime travel in an RV. We'll hear their story, how it applies to you and the pros and cons of living in a van. Plus, lots of questions this week. Tech tips and a must-visit National Park that needs to be on your bucket list. Click the player below to Listen Now or scroll down through the show note details. When you see a time code hyperlink, you can click it to jump directly to that segment of the podcast. [spp-player] Show Notes for Episode #169 Dec. 6, 2017 of Roadtreking - The RV Podcast: WHAT MIKE AND JENNIFER ARE UP TO THIS WEEK  [spp-timestamp time="1:43"] Mike and Jennifer We're back home from Louisville and the big National RV Trade Show. We still have a couple of videos to do of interesting things we came across at the show. They'll be up on our RV Lifestyle Channel on YouTube soon. We discussed two items in the news this week of strong interest to RVers: Canada will make admission for kids at National Parks free in 2018 Trump shrinks two National Monuments in Utah, drawing praise and criticism   This portion of the Podcast is brought to you by Campers Inn, the RVer's trusted resource for over 50 years, the nation's largest family-operated RV dealership with 19 locations and growing JENNIFER'S TIP OF THE WEEK Janine Pettit and Jennifer Wendland We met lots of interesting people at the RV Industry Trade Show last week in Louisville. One of our new friends is Janine Pettit, who has become an ambassador for what is called the Girl Camping Movement. Janine was a recent guest on Episode 165 and talked with Mike at length about solo women campers. But in Louisville, Janine and I got to talk about something that affects all of us. Unloading and cleaning our RVs after a trip. We recorded the conversation and you get to listen in at [spp-timestamp time="13:00 "] And be sure to send me your tips and suggestions for the RV lifestyle. You can use the “Leave Voicemail” link at Roadtreking.com. Just click it and then use the built-in microphone on your computer or mobile devise to record a message to me. You can do it over as many times as you want, until you are satisfied. And then you just click a button and it comes right to my email inbox. I love hearing from you! Jennifer's tip of the week is brought to you by RadPower Bikes ,an electric bike manufacturer offering direct to consumer pricing on powerful premium electric bikes. Now with free shipping LISTENER QUESTIONS OF THE WEEK [spp-timestamp time="18:18"] A listener named Darrell heard our podcast last week from Louisville where we talked about the lack of campground spaces caused by the booming RV sales. He raises a related and equally serious issue: The shameful state of disrepair that characterizes some campground. Listener Cheryl gave us some kind feedback about our recent video on our RV Lifestyle Channel on You Tube about our Top Ten Holiday Gift Suggestions for RVers. Carl from Pennsylvania is worried about fire safety and RV refrigerators David has a question about RVs and who does the repair on the various components of an RV Jean is a new RVer who want to know about using an RV bathroom in the winter after the RV has been winterized with antifreeze Sponsoring this part of the podcast is Van City RV  Bringing You the largest Inventory of class B' RVs with locations St. Louis, Missouri; Las Vegas, Nevada; Kalispell, Montana and now… Colorado Springs, Colorado.. INTERVIEW OF THE WEEK [spp-timestamp time="36:05"] The Russos Joe and Kait Russo are travel writers and videographers who live, along with their dog Leo, full-time in a Class B RV - but it didn't used to be that way. For years the Russos, originally from California, worked in demanding jobs with a desire for adventure and travel but little vacation time to do it. In 2015 all that changed, when Joe and Kait dramatically downsized,

This episode of the podcast is coming to you direct from the 2017 RV Industry Trade Show in Louisville, KY. Taking questions and comments received over the past week from our Roadtreking.com blog readers, out Roadtreking Facebook Group and Roadtreking Facebook Page and our RV lifestyle Channel on YouTube, we've interviewed top leaders in the RV industry and identified the three biggest issues this booming industry needs to address as 2018 approaches. You'll hear their responses in this podcast, plus much more. Click the player below to Listen Now or scroll down through the show note details. When you see a time code hyperlink, you can click it to jump directly to that segment of the podcast. [spp-player] Show Notes for Episode #168 Nov. 29, 2017 of Roadtreking - The RV Podcast: WHAT MIKE AND JENNIFER ARE UP TO THIS WEEK [spp-timestamp time="2:07"] Mike and Jenifer podcasting live from the floor at the 2017 National RV Trade Show in Louisville, KY Jennifer and I have been in Louisville all week and we are actually doing this episode right from the show floor. This show is not open to the public, just RV manufacturers, RV dealers, service techs and parts suppliers. Plus the RV media, of course 2 million square feet of exhibitor space Hundreds of new RVs for 2018 Seminars, accessory dealers, parts dealers and the elite of the industry. We are moving from our standard podcast format to instead identify the three major issues and bring on industry experts to help shed their insights on what it means. The three issues are: With a million new RVers this year, and another million expected in 2018, where will they take their RVs? Campground development is not keeping space with RV sales. What can RVers do? We'll try to put it into perspective Our audience identifies RV service as another channeling issue. RV repairs are often hard to get done. Sometime, it takes weeks to get an appointment and when you're out of town and need help, what can an RV owner do? What's the industry's effort to add more service personnel. RV quality is the third issue our audience raised. With manufacturers rolling our new RVs as fast as they can, many of our readers and viewers think quality has taken a backseat. What is the industry doing to insure the quality of the new RVs they are building in record numbers? We'll talk about these, in depth. This portion of the Podcast is brought to you by Campers Inn, the RVer's trusted resource for over 50 years, the nation's largest family-operated RV dealership with 19 locations and growing ISSUE #1 – With so many RVers on the road, where will they stay? [spp-timestamp time="12:30"] We discuss this with industry leaders Bill Sheffer, executive director . [spp-timestamp time="14:30"], Michigan Association Recreational Vehicles and Campgrounds Kevin Broom,  [spp-timestamp time="20:46"] Recreation Vehicle Industry Association This part of the podcast is brought to you by RadPower Bikes ,an electric bike manufacturer offering direct to consumer pricing on powerful premium electric bikes. Now with free shipping Issue #2 – The need for more service techs to repair and maintain RVs [spp-timestamp time="27:32"] We discuss this with industry leaders: Marl Polk runs rveducation101.com , a website devoted to teaching RVers how to do it themselves. He shares his thoughts. [spp-timestamp time="28:07"] Bob Zagami is executive director of the New England RV Dealers Association. He says the problem is a serious problem and has helped pioneer some innovate ways for the industry to solve it. [spp-timestamp time="34:56"] Sponsoring this part of the podcast is Van City RV  Bringing You the largest Inventory of class B' RVs with locations St. Louis, Missouri; Las Vegas, Nevada; Kalispell, Montana and now… Colorado Springs, Colorado.. Issue #3: RV quality [spp-timestamp time="43:38"] Talking about this issue is: Walter Cannon is a well-respected leader in the RV industry,

Before you start making your RV travel plans for the next camping season, you'll want to listen to this week's interview about a great resource for finding the perfect spot in public campgrounds. From state parks and out of the way municipal spots to outstanding boondocking campsites in state and national forests or other wilderness areas, our guest Ted Houghton of ultimatecampgrounds.com  has a resource that will truly help you find the ultimate camping spot in 2018. That's coming up in our interview of the week in this episode. Also this week, great RV tips, travel ideas, news affecting RVs and, of course, your comments and questions. [spp-player] Show Notes for Episode #167 Nov. 22, 2017 of Roadtreking - The RV Podcast: WHAT MIKE AND JENNIFER ARE UP TO THIS WEEK [spp-timestamp time="2:10"] Mike and Jennifer Wendland We share our Thanksgiving plans and talk about what parts of the RV Lifestyle we live that we are most thankful for over the past year. There are free entry days on Black Friday in state parks in several states.  Indiana, Minnesota, Oregon, New York, Arizona, Washington, California, Missouri, Michigan… here's a link to the ones we've heard about https://gearjunkie.com/get-outside-black-friday-freebies-state-parks We update Bo's progress after six weeks of obedience training. So far…so good! We talk about the big Recreation Vehicle Industry Association Trade Show coming up next week in Louisville and our plans to ask the questions and find the info our readers, listeners and YouTube viewers want us to dig out for them from the show. This portion of the Podcast is brought to you by Campers Inn, the RVer's trusted resource for over 50 years, the nation's largest family-operated RV dealership with 19 locations and growing  JENNIFER'S TIP OF THE WEEK [spp-timestamp time="13:22"] We received a great tip from a listener named Anne who emailed us two tips this week. The tension rod The first tip has to do with wet towels and where to hang them. What Anne did was to purchase one of those tension bars that people use for closet organizers or even sometimes bathroom shower curtains. Ann set hers up across the back of the bathroom in the RV. She says she set it about an inch from the wall and that it is perfect for hanging those wet towels. They dry perfectly, she says…and out of the way. A second tip involves something available in various places like Bed, Bath and Beyond, Walmart and even some of those dollar stores. What she did was buy sock dividers. They're normally used to keep socks neat in a drawer. But Ann uses them in her RV kitchen cabinet to keep drinking and wine glasses from falling over. Now, she says, everything arrives intact. Thanks Anne for sharing those great tips Sock organizers hold glasses And be sure to send me your tips and suggestions for the RV lifestyle. You can use the “Leave Voicemail” link at Roadtreking.com. Just click it and then use the built-in microphone on your computer or mobile devise to record a message to me. You can do it over as many times as you want, until you are satisfied. And then you just click a button and it comes right to my email inbox. I love hearing from you! Jennifer's tip of the week is brought to you by RadPower Bikes ,an electric bike manufacturer offering direct to consumer pricing on powerful premium electric bikes. Now with free shipping LISTENER QUESTIONS OF THE WEEK [spp-timestamp time="17:33"] Sue has a comment on how hard to is to find a service tech for an RV and wants to know what can be done about it. We comment. Sandra wants to know about where to find resources about boondocking in Canada. We refer her to boondockerswelcome.com, which has nearly 300 spots listed on their handy membership site. Also ultimatecampgrounds.com. We interview the man behind that site in a few minutes but he lists more than 4,000 great spots to camp in Canada, many of them perfect for boondockers. He even has an app devoted just to Canadian public camp...

We have a jam-packed show for you this week. First off, we'll tackle the dirty little secret of the RV industry. Yes, they are indeed selling lots and lots of new RVs. Setting sales records seemingly every month. But what they don't tell you is that you're going to have a very difficult time finding a place to camp in that RV because we're not building campgrounds fast enough to keep up with all those new RVers. We'll tackle this issue in our question of the week segment coming up in a couple of minutes. Also… We RVers love our dogs. Many in fact, cite traveling with a dog as one of the chief reasons they even have an RV! But here's the deal: Dogs are….well, dogs. Not people. And too many of us do a disservice to our pets by treating them as if they were human.  In this week's podcast, we get some great advice from a professional dog trainer about traveling with our dogs and making the experience enjoyable for our pets as well as ourselves. Plus lots of audience comments, questions, tips and more all coming up in this episode of The RV Podcast. Click the player below to Listen Now or scroll down through the show note details. When you see a time code hyperlink, you can click it to jump directly to that segment of the podcast. [spp-player] Show Notes for Episode #166 Nov. 15, 2017 of Roadtreking - The RV Podcast: WHAT MIKE AND JENNIFER ARE UP TO THIS WEEK [spp-timestamp time="2:15"] Mike and Jennifer Bo is back – You can see the reunion at https://youtu.be/mCEuuy71E28  We share how his training went and what it's like having a Smart Dog. We are at our sticks and bricks home in Michigan for the next couple weeks. We'll spend Thanksgiving here and then hit the road again, traveling to Louisville for the annual Recreation Vehicle Industry Association annual Trade Show. Our 2018 Travel Schedule is slowly coming together. Many of or destinations will be anchored around one of the many Roadtreking gatherings we will be attending across the country. You can see a full list of those gatherings at https://rvlifestyle.com/2018-calendar/ This portion of the Podcast is brought to you by Campers Inn, the RVer's trusted resource for over 50 years, the nation's largest family-operated RV dealership with 19 locations and growing  JENNIFER'S TIP OF THE WEEK - Stopping those weird noises from your RV heater [spp-timestamp time="21:28"] There are a lot of moving parts in our RVs. And we're not talking just about the engine We're talking about the appliances and the RV accessories that we use on every trip…. Things like the heater. Sure, there's usually a manual that comes with the gadget. But owner's manuals don't necessarily cover everything. We got a great tip this week from a listener named Bob whose,  Roadtrek CS Adventurous XL uses the Alde heating system. Bob's heater made some weird noises and he shares with us how he fixed it in this week's Tip of the Week. The video Bob saw that explained where to change the setting on his Alde heater was at https://youtu.be/f5btXOrw1p4 And be sure to send me your tips and suggestions for the RV lifestyle. You can use the “Leave Voicemail” link at Roadtreking.com. Just click it and then use the built-in microphone on your computer or mobile devise to record a message to me. You can do it over as many times as you want, until you are satisfied. And then you just click a button and it comes right to my email inbox. I love hearing from you! Jennifer's tip of the week is brought to you by RadPower Bikes ,an electric bike manufacturer offering direct to consumer pricing on powerful premium electric bikes. Now with free shipping LISTENER QUESTIONS OF THE WEEK [spp-timestamp time="21:28"] Listener John noticed the big boom in RV sales but is worried that with all those new campers out there, where will they go? Finding an open campsite without making a reservation long in advance grows more difficult each day. He asks for Mike and Jennifer's thoughts on the issue.

Episode #165: The Girl Camping Movement No, I'm not being politically incorrect. There really is a Girl Camping Movement and it is one of the fastest growing segments of the recreational vehicle movement.  Women old and young are following their dreams, buying an RV and traveling the highways and byways of North America. In this week's episode, we talk to the leading ambassador foe the Girl Camping Movement, who has a lot to teach us all about the joys of traveling with an RV. Plus, we have RV news, Tips and travel ideas…all coming up in this episode of the RV Podcast. Click the player below to Listen Now or scroll down through the show note details. When you see a time code hyperlink, you can click it to jump directly to that segment of the podcast. [spp-player] Show Notes for Episode #165  Nov.8, 2017 of Roadtreking - The RV Podcast: WHAT MIKE AND JENNIFER ARE UP TO THIS WEEK [spp-timestamp time="2:00"] Mike and Jennifer We're back home in Michigan after pretty much two months on the road. We'll be here through Thanksgiving, then we head to Louisville for the annual trade show by the Recreational Vehicle Industry Association. We get to be reunited with our dog Bo tomorrow. Bo has been in special advance off-leash training while we've been traveling. We'll shoot some video and show you how he's done. Speaking of dogs, we had lots of reaction to last week's topic in episode 164 about the scandal of fake service dogs. It's become a national disgrace and we're sorry to say, a lot of RVers are involved, registering their dogs as service animals when, in fact, they have had no real service dog training and the registration is just a sham so they can take their pets with them wherever they want. We had lots of calls, comments and emails about this but we want to play one of them that illustrates why these fake service dogs create so many issues. [spp-timestamp time="7:57"] We played a voice message from Kathy who owns a real therapy dog and is being penalized because there are so many fake service dogs out there. Therapy dogs provide a real service. They are registered and trained and visit hospitals, special needs centers, hospices schools, nursing homes, and other facilities. They are owned by caring volunteers who are willing to share their special canines to bring smiles and joy to people, young and old alike. This portion of the Podcast is brought to you by Campers Inn, the RVer's trusted resource for over 50 years, the nation's largest family-operated RV dealership with 16 locations and growing  JENNIFER'S TIP OF THE WEEK [spp-timestamp time="12:23"] OK…this week's tip comes directly from Jennifer's School of Hard Knocks. Yes, I learned this tip the hard way. And it happened this past week as we were packing for a long 1,000-mile trip from Florida to Michigan Jennifer cleaning the mess After we started loading up the RV last Friday, we went through our usual routine of bringing in all the clothing, the food items and the related things we needed for the trip home. When I went to the lower storage cabinet next to our refrigerator, I noticed a smell. Not a dirty smell… a clean one! A very clean one. You guessed it, my dish soap had spilled… all over the bottom of the cabinet. It was a mess. Dish soap t had even leaked out f the cabinet onto the floor of the RV. It took pretty much a whole roll of paper towels and 15 minutes on my hands and knees sopping up the mess. And then we had to wait another hour to resume packing for everything to completely dry. The lesson? Store your cleaning supplies in a container, were they can't tip over. I should have known better. But now you do. Hope my hard luck lesson will spare you the extra and needless work I went through. And be sure to send me your tips and suggestions for the RV lifestyle. You can use the “Leave Voicemail” link at Roadtreking.com. Just click it and then use the built-in microphone on your computer or mobile devise to record a message to me.

In this episode of the RV Podcast we'll talk to an expert on how to fulltime RV on $1,500 a month, even less if you follow some of the tips you'll hear on our interview of the week segment…coming up. Also in this episode, lots of practical, how-to RV tips and advice, your questions and our answers, RV news of the week and an off the beaten path report for your RV travels. Click the player below to Listen Now or scroll down through the show note details. When you see a time code hyperlink, you can click it to jump directly to that segment of the podcast. [spp-player] Show Notes for Episode #162 October 18.2017 of Roadtreking - The RV Podcast: WHAT MIKE AND JENNIFER ARE UP TO THIS WEEK [spp-timestamp time="1:45"] Mike and Jennifer Wendland We're still down on the beautiful Emerald Coast of Florida's panhandle and because we've heard from a number of you who would like to meet us, we're going to try something – a meet and greet afternoon next Sunday, October 22. We're going to meet on Navarre Beach, at the entrance of the Gulf Islands National Seashore. Now because of the recent Hurricane Nate, the national seashore drive is closed just west of Navarre Beach. But the meet spot we picked is just to the left, or east of the bridge leading from Highway 98 and the mainland to Navarre Beach. Jennifer and I will be there from 2PM on and whoever shows up, shows up. Bring some beach chairs and refreshments and we'll hang out for the afternoon on one of the most beautiful beaches in the country. Just look for our 2017 Roadtrek CS Adventurous XL 4X4 and come by and say hello. If there are any updates it, we'll post a notice on our Roadtreking Facebook Group and Our Roadtreking Facebook Page so check there for the latest. We're excited to see fuel prices dropping once again…especially east of the Mississippi. A new survey from AAA says that the national gas price average has dropped two cents on the week to $2.47, states east of the Mississippi are paying as much as eight cents less at the start of this week. While gas prices are more expensive than a year ago, the past five weeks of sustained weekly declines indicate that demand may be leveling out alongside refineries and pipelines returning to pre-hurricane operations. In September, Hurricane Harvey drove gas prices to the highest price of the year – $2.67. That was a 32-cent increase inside of 12 days. Now nearly seven weeks post hurricane, gas prices have shown steady decline dropping a total of 20 cents since September 11, 2017 We're really excited about the phenomenal growth of our YouTube RV Lifestyle Channel. We are now getting almost 1 million video views EACH month. We continue to put two videos up each week, as well as regular live reports, and we thank you for subscribing to the channel. This portion of the Podcast is brought to you by Campers Inn, the RVer's trusted resource for over 50 years, the nation's largest family-operated RV dealership with 16 locations and growing  JENNIFER'S TIP OF THE WEEK [spp-timestamp time="11:45"] One of the reasons we so enjoy doing meet and greets like the one we're planning for Florida this week, or attending RV gatherings and rallies around the country is the opportunity it presents to pick up valuable suggestions and tips from other RVers. In North Carolina a couple of weeks ago, we met the Emby family, who shared with us how they pack and organize for RV trips using Ikea bags. Thanks Embry family! We will definitely pick up some of those Ikea bags. And for all of you listening today, be sure to send me your tips and suggestions for the RV lifestyle. You can use the “Leave Voicemail” link at Roadtreking.com. Just click it and then use the built-in microphone on your computer or mobile devise to record a message to me. You can do it over as many times as you want, until you are satisfied. And then you just click a button and it comes right to my email inbox. I love hearing from you!

There are RV Clubs and then there are the Escapees. Ever heard of them before? If you're an active RVer, if you dream of working from the road, or retiring to an RVing life of adventure, or packing the most fun you can into your weekend camping tips, you need to know about the Escapees. This week, in our interview segment, you'll meet the young couple who are leading the Escapees community and discover just why this club may be the perfect fit for you. Also this week, lots of listener questions and answers, plenty of tips, RV news and an off-the-beaten path report about two great Georgia state parks that Jennifer and I visited last week. Click the player below to Listen Now or scroll down through the show note details. When you see a time code hyperlink, you can click it to jump directly to that segment of the podcast. [spp-player] Show Notes for Episode #161 October 11, 2017 of Roadtreking - The RV Podcast: WHAT MIKE AND JENNIFER ARE UP TO THIS WEEK[spp-timestamp time="3:10"] We're coming to you from Florida's beautiful Emerald Coast after a very eventful trip down here, in which we were brushed by Hurricane Nate. You can see a video on that adventure at https://youtu.be/TXsAG7_aOKk This portion of the Podcast is brought to you by Campers Inn, the RVer's trusted resource for over 50 years, the nation's largest family-operated RV dealership with 16 locations and growing  JENNIFER'S TIP OF THE WEEK [spp-timestamp time="12:48"] Two weeks ago back in Episode 159, Mike interviewed veteran automobile sales consultant Gary Tilkin, who shared his expertise about the RV buying experience. Gary gave a lot of very helpful tips and if you are shopping for an RV, I urge you to go back and listen to episode 159. But we just heard back from Gary, who wanted us to know that he has just signed the bottom line to buy a new motorcoach. And Gary put into personal practice many of the tips he offered here in the RV Podcast. Gary called in with a follow up tip on buying an RV from a dealer located far away. Thanks, Gary. We are delighted to hear back from you. Congratulations on that new motorhome. And Mike and I look forward to taking you up on that kind invitation for a visit while we are here on the Florida Emerald Coast. And for all of you listening this week, please be sure to send me your tips and suggestions for the RV lifestyle. You can use the “Leave Voicemail” link at Roadtreking.com. Just click it and then use the built-in microphone on your computer or mobile devise to record a message to me. You can do it over as many times as you want, until you are satisfied. And then you just click a button and it comes right to my email inbox. I love hearing from you! Jennifer's tip of the week is brought to you by RadPower Bikes ,an electric bike manufacturer offering direct to consumer pricing on powerful premium electric bikes. Now with free shipping LISTENER QUESTIONS OF THE WEEK [spp-timestamp time="18:00"] Brian asks if 80 years old is too old for he and his wife to start a life of RVing in a small motorhome – the Roadtrek Agile SS. Lisa asks Mike and Jennifer about the varying amounts of solar panels they have had in previous RVs they've owned. She wants to know the ideal setup. A caller with an older RV is frustrated that when he puts in gas, the pump keeps shutting off, unless he holds the handle down a tiny bit so the gas going through the nozzle flows out very slow. And a caller wants to know if she still needs to winterize the hot water heater even though it didn't work last year. Sponsoring this part of the podcast is Van City RV in St. Louis, and their Partner Dealerships Creston RV in Kalispell, Montana, and Wagon Trail RV in Las Vegas. Bringing You the largest Inventory of class B's from three locations. INTERVIEW OF THE WEEK [spp-timestamp time="33:47"] The Escapees RV Club has been around since 1978 and is a community that perhaps is more in tune with today's RVer than any other organization out th...

Probably the top question motorhome owners are asked is “what do you get for mileage?” Although gas prices are dropping again, the big spike they had after the hurricanes this summer reminds all of us that one of the biggest expenses our RV lifestyle has to deal with is fuel prices. So, how can we lower those costs and get the best mileage possible? To help us with that our interview of the week features our friend Mark Polk of RVEducation101 who will share some very practical tips that are all but guaranteed to increase your mileage and save you money. Also this week, lots of your email questions, RV news, tips and an off the beaten path report. Click the player below to Listen Now or scroll down through the show note details. When you see a time code hyperlink, you can click it to jump directly to that segment of the podcast. [spp-player] Show Notes for Episode #160 Oct 3, 2017 of Roadtreking - The RV Podcast: WHAT MIKE AND JENNIFER ARE UP TO THIS WEEK [spp-timestamp time="2:47"] Mike and Jennifer on the Vanderbilt House roof This episode is recorded from our camping spot in the Blue Ridge Mountains, on the edge of the Great Smoky Mountains in North Carolina after a great four days attending the Overland East Expo held on the grounds of the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC. We shared what we learned there, explaining what overlanding is and how it relates to boondocking. We also share the results of our first real world test of the Kymeta satellite Internet system we are testing out. Mike photographing a gargoyle We also talked about our tours of the Biltmore Estate and the Vanderbilt house, including a rooftop tour to look at the gargoyles. And we talk about what a great month October is for RVers. This portion of the Podcast is brought to you by Campers Inn, the RVer's trusted resource for over 50 years, the nation's largest family-operated RV dealership with 16 locations and growing  JENNIFER'S TIP OF THE WEEK [spp-timestamp time="14:19"] One of the things many of us do when we're stopped for the night is spin the front passenger's seat around so that instead of facing forward, it faces the back part of the coach, making for a way to relax, to create a conversation area or to use the front table if we decide to set that up. Pam Bowen with her feet on the yoga block But for some of us, the way that seat is angled makes sitting there a bit uncomfortable. At the Overland East gathering this past weekend, we met Pam Bowen. Pam knew we would be there was on the alert to share her tip about dealing with the seat. It is so simple. What Pam does is use a Yoga Block – one of those foam square shaped little blocks that you find yoga practitioners use – as a foot rest. Presto! Instant comfort. You can find the Yoga blocks everywhere. Pam got hers at Walmart. You can also find it in on the master list of products and handy services that we talk about on the podcast at roadtreking.com/gear Since we just added it, you'll need to scroll down to the end of the list to find it. Meanwhile,  be sure to send me your tips and suggestions for the RV lifestyle. You can use the “Leave Voicemail” link at Roadtreking.com. Just click it and then use the built-in microphone on your computer or mobile devise to record a message to me. You can do it over as many times as you want, until you are satisfied. And then you just click a button and it comes right to my email inbox. I love hearing from you! Jennifer's tip of the week is brought to you by RadPower Bikes ,an electric bike manufacturer offering direct to consumer pricing on powerful premium electric bikes. Now with free shipping LISTENER QUESTIONS OF THE WEEK [spp-timestamp time="18:46"] We just bought a Roadtrek Zion SRT. Its small with very little counter space in the bathroom & kitchen. What do you use for hand wash & dispensers & how do you store them when you're rolling? Leslie What is the name of the reflective bubble wrap you talked about? Terry

Don't buy an RV without listening to this episode and our interview of the week with renowned automotive expert Gary Tilkin,  a national sought after speaker, trainer, motivator and consultant for automobile dealerships and sales personel. When Gary started shopping to buy an RV and he and his wife, he was shocked to find an industry far removed from the consumer friendly auto dealerships he has worked with. In this interview, he reveals insider info from his years of experience in the automobile industry on how the consumer can insure they pick the right RV, the right dealership and get the right - or best - deal possible. Plus your RVquestions, Jennifer's tip of the week, RV news, a Traveling with Technology report, and an off the beaten path update from fire ravaged Waterton National Park in Alberta, Canada. Click the player below to Listen Now or scroll down through the show note details. When you see a time code hyperlink, you can click it to jump directly to that segment of the podcast. [spp-player] Show Notes for Episode #159 Sept. 27, 2017 of Roadtreking - The RV Podcast: WHAT MIKE AND JENNIFER ARE UP TO THIS WEEK  [spp-timestamp time="3:16"] Mike and Jennifer Wendland We're hitting the road as soon as this podcast is recorded, heading first to Asheville, NC where we will be attending the Overland East Expo,  Sept. 29-October 1 on the grounds of the beautiful Biltmore Estate.  This is the premier overlanding event in the world—no other event offers the scope of classes taught by the world's leading experts, alongside a professional-level trade show that brings together in one place all the camping and vehicle equipment and services of interest to extreme RVers…overlanders, off the beaten path explorers who love rough terrain and rugged wilderness. We'll have a Facebook Live report Saturday afternoon from the event. Bo is not going to be with us! He's attending a six week off leash boarding school that will make him a very Smart Dog. We'll be following his progress with photos posted on the training school's Facebook Page at https://www.facebook.com/Smartdogllc/ This portion of the Podcast is brought to you by Campers Inn, the RVer's trusted resource for over 50 years, the nation's largest family-operated RV dealership with 16 locations and growing  JENNIFER'S TIP OF THE WEEK [spp-timestamp time="11:08"] In Montana this summer, we spent some delightful time with Marilyn Daniel, who showed us the best screens we have ever seen in an RV. Marilyn made them herself and they cover the driver and passenger windows of their Roadtrek Popular 210. Mike also shot a video of Marilyn's do-it-yourself screens. See it at https://youtu.be/nNZZH1rSDQM And be sure to send me your tips and suggestions for the RV lifestyle. You can use the “Leave Voicemail” link at Roadtreking.com. Just click it and then use the built-in microphone on your computer or mobile devise to record a message to me. You can do it over as many times as you want, until you are satisfied. And then you just click a button and it comes right to my email inbox. I love hearing from you! Jennifer's tip of the week is brought to you by RadPower Bikes ,an electric bike manufacturer offering direct to consumer pricing on powerful premium electric bikes. Now with free shipping LISTENER QUESTIONS OF THE WEEK [spp-timestamp time="18:42"] Gerhard from Washington State called with information for the Florida caller least week who wanted to be able to use the generator in her RV to power her home refrigerator if they ever lose power again like they recently did with Hurricane Irma. Kathy wants a hands-free device for her cellphone so she can have access in the car. We like the kind that attach to the air vents. Here's a link to a whole page of various mounts and cradles that will let you go hands free with your smartphone in your car http://amzn.to/2xsp8Z7  We like the Kenu Airframes - http://amzn.to/2ypDjuX Lynn wants to travel in her motorhome to Florida ...

Location Independence is a phrase you hear a lot about these days in the RV industry as more and more people take to a life on the road in their RV and do their work from anywhere, as long as they have a connection to the Internet. That connection is now a whole lot more reliable thanks to a company called Kymeta that has come up with a revolutionary satellite solution that provides broadband-speed Internet where it's never been before. And this week in our interview section coming up, you'll learn how this works and what it can mean to you. And I'm also excited to tell you that I am testing that solution right now in my RV. [spp-player] Show Notes for Episode #158 Sept. 20, 2017 of Roadtreking - The RV Podcast: WHAT MIKE AND JENNIFER ARE UP TO THIS WEEK We're back from Canada and the opening of the Erwin Hymer Group of North America's brand new 250,000 square foot manufacturing facility – see https://youtu.be/CyLm5_3LrA8 We're testing out that new Kymeta system we'll be talking about in our interview section but we've also added the WiFi Ranger system to the RV, plus our Wilson WeBoost cell phone booster and a new VHF/UHF amateur radio transceiver that utilizes some cool new technology. We also have tested a new cargo box for the RV. We did a review on it and you can see why we won't be recommending it for others by watching the video review we did. We'll link to it in the shownotes for this episode at roadtreking,com/158 Our YouTube RV Lifestyle Channel is rockin and rollin! One of our videos, a tour of our 2017 Roadtrek CS Adventurous XL RV, just reached a very huge milestone! It has been watched over 1 million times! We love doing RV videos and have been putting out two and sometimes three a week. You can subscribe by going to rvlifestylechannel.com and clicking the little red subscribe button. There's also an option to be notified of when new videos go online. After subscribing, just click that little bell icon you at the top right of the channel page. This portion of the Podcast is brought to you by Campers Inn, the RVer's trusted resource for over 50 years, the nation's largest family-operated RV dealership with 16 locations and growing  JENNIFER'S TIP OF THE WEEK With fall now upon us, the nights are getting colder and for those with forced air heaters, the air inside your RV can get mighty dry. We met fellow RVer Jan Mathews at a campground a while back and she had this suggestion for us. Get a small portable humidifier/moisturizer. Janet's Fresh Aire moisturizer Jan says these little humidifiers are available everywhere. We found them on Amazon. In fact, we found a whole page of them, some of them even offering aroma therapy as well. We even found one that works off the USB connectors in your RV. Here's a link to the Amazon offerings - http://amzn.to/2w5jCHY And be sure to send me your tips and suggestions for the RV lifestyle. You can use the “Leave Voicemail” link at Roadtreking.com. Just click it and then use the built-in microphone on your computer or mobile devise to record a message to me. You can do it over as many times as you want, until you are satisfied. And then you just click a button and it comes right to my email inbox. I love hearing from you! Jennifer's tip of the week is brought to you by RadPower Bikes ,an electric bike manufacturer offering direct to consumer pricing on powerful premium electric bikes. Now with free shipping For a complete list of all the products, gear and apps mentioned by Mike and Jennifer on their podcast, YouTube RV Lifestyle Channel and here on the blog, go to https://rvlifestyle.com/gear LISTENER QUESTIONS OF THE WEEK Lynn is from Florida and recently lost power at her home as a result of Hurricane Irma. She wonders about the generator in her 17 year old Roadtrek Popular 200 RV is strong enough to power her house refrigerator of it happens again. The generators that Roadtrek uses are made by Cummins/Onan and the gas generator model that is installed w...

Boondocking just may be the biggest trend affecting the RV Lifestyle these days. For one thing, with so many new RVers coming on the scene, it's getting more difficult each day to find an open site at a campground. But for another, new technology like solar power, engine generators and lithium batteries are making it much easier to camp in the wilderness, with no hookups, off the grid. So how do you find that perfect boondocking spot? In our interview segment coming up, we'll hear from an expert – Nina Fussing, a fulltime RVer and the author of the popular WheelingIT  RV blog.  Nina, with husband Paul accompanied by a small a menagerie of pets, are boondocking experts and this week, she'll share how to find the perfect boondocking spot. Plus we'll answer your questions, share a bunch of travel and technology tips and some great off the beaten path RV stops in the American heartland. [spp-player] Show Notes for Episode #157 Sept. 13, 2018 of Roadtreking - The RV Podcast: WHAT MIKE AND JENNIFER ARE UP TO THIS WEEK  We're in Cambridge, Ontario, Canada today, as this episode is being released, covering the Grand Opening of a new manufacturing facility for the Erwin Hymer Group of North America. It's in the next town over from Kitchener, Ontario, where Hymer has its factory to manufacture Roadtrek motorhomes. This new building will be used to assemble Hymer's new line of towable trailers. It will also have a couple of dedicated bays for warranty work for all their products. We'll be doing a live video from the new factory and you'll be able to see it on our You Tube RV Lifestyle Channel. We've heard from lots of friends from Florida who are in their RVs after evacuating their homes in the path or Hurricane Irma. With 5 million households out of power throughout the Sunshine State, having a self-contained RV has been a great convenience for so many. Hats off to the many state and local campgrounds in adjoining states that have welcomed the evacuees, many waiving their camping fees for the duration. We're getting ready to head to northern Michigan over the next week or so to take advantage of the beautiful fall weather and the early color we're seeing on the trees. It's been spectacular so far this month, with lows in the 40's for good sleeping at night and highs in the upper 60's or low 70's. This portion of the Podcast is brought to you by Campers Inn, the RVer's trusted resource for over 50 years, the nation's largest family-operated RV dealership with 16 locations and growing  JENNIFER'S TIP OF THE WEEK Last week, a listener named Bill shared how he uses cleaning vinegar mixed 50-50 with water in a spray bottle to wash the dishes in his RV, thus saving use of fresh water when out boondocking. Mike and I were a little skeptical about the idea and Len, or “Vinegar Len” as he now calls himself, sent us in this follow up Tip. He swears there's no after taste and…best of all… he says the vinegar cleaner is a great way to clean your dishes on winter camping trips! Thanks, Bill! You won us over with your suggestion on how cleaning vinegar will help during winter campouts, especially the one we have coming up in January at Michigan's Tahquamenon Falls in the Upper Peninsula. In winter camping, you don't have running water. So we promise, we'll try your idea and use cleaning vinegar – to clean the dishes we dirty during that event. We appreciate your tip! And for the rest of you, be sure to send me your tips and suggestions for the RV lifestyle. You can use the “Leave Voicemail” link at Roadtreking.com. Just click it and then use the built-in microphone on your computer or mobile devise to record a message to me. You can do it over as many times as you want, until you are satisfied. And then you just click a button and it comes right to my email inbox. I love hearing from you! For a complete list of all the products, gear and apps mentioned by Mike and Jennifer on their podcast,

In this week's podcast we catch up with our friend Campskunk, who shipped his RV to Europe and has been touring as many different countries as possible. He tells us what RVing is like over there, the differences he's encountering and the surprises – both good and bad. If you've ever thought about RVing in Europe, his is a must listen. Also, if you want to see a video version of the interview, we'll post that on our YouTube RV Lifestyle Channel. Plus we have lots of listener questions to answer this week, RV news, RV tips and a great RV off the beaten path report… all coming up in Episode 156 of the RV Podcast [spp-player] Show Notes for Episode #156 Sept. 6, 2017 of Roadtreking - The RV Podcast: WHAT MIKE AND JENNIFER ARE UP TO THIS WEEK Mike and Jennifer First off, a new way to hear this podcast, especially for those of you who have the Amazon Echo or Alexa sysetm in your house. Besides, iTunes, the Google Play Store, Sticher and other streaming services, the RV Podcast is now available through Tune In, the service used by Amazon Echo and Alexa and a bunch of other devices. You can just tell your device to play the RV Podcast and it will start doing so with the most recent episode. Our direct link on Tune In is https://tunein.com/radio/The-RV-Podcast-p1026701/ Tune in also has an app you can download to your smartphone, like the Apple Podcast app, so you can listen anywhere. We're back in Michigan for a few days. Keeping an anxious eye like many others on Hurricane Irma, which, as we speak, seems to be taking a direct bead on Florida sometime over the coming weekend. We just left the Emerald Isle area on the panhandle where we have a beachfront condo. So we're a little apprehensive. To all of you in Florida and along the eastern seaboard, pay attention to the warnings. This is not a storm to take lightly. This portion of the Podcast is brought to you by Campers Inn, the RVer's trusted resource for over 50 years, the nation's largest family-operated RV dealership with 16 locations and growing  JENNIFER'S TIP OF THE WEEK Jennifer One of the things RVers need to conserve is the water they use. About the only time you don't have to be concerned about water usage is when hooked up to city water and sewer in a big campground. But when boondocking or traveling, especially in a Class B or C motorhome, you can only carry so much in your fresh water tanks. And those grey tanks are also limited in how much dish or shower water. So how do you conserve? There are lots of ideas. We've talked about many of them here in the podcast over the years. But this week, a listener named Bill called in with a way to really cut back on water usage when washing dishes. Bill's suggestion is to use cleaning vinegar, put in a spray bottle, mixed 50-50 with water. They spray it on the dishes and use a paper towel. Bill gives the details in an audio report. Thanks, Bill. And be sure to send me your tips and suggestions for the RV lifestyle. You can use the “Leave Voicemail” link at Roadtreking.com. Just click it and then use the built-in microphone on your computer or mobile devise to record a message to me. You can do it over as many times as you want, until you are satisfied. And then you just click a button and it comes right to my email inbox. Jennifer's tip of the week is brought to you by RadPower Bikes ,an electric bike manufacturer offering direct to consumer pricing on powerful premium electric bikes. Now with free shipping LISTENER QUESTIONS OF THE WEEK Listener John shares how he has started a entire new life through RVing! Lee Ann from Sacramento asks for an RV Inspector in the Las Vegas area. We refer her to the National RV Inspectors Association, which certifies professional recreational vehicle inspectors across North America. There is a search box on the site at https://nrvia.org/locate/ that lets you find the nearest inspectors. We didn't find any in Las Vegas. If you can't find an NRVIA inspector,

Have you ever dreamed about fulltiming in an RV? Quitting your job, moving from a sticks and bricks house to an RV, taking your family on the road and becoming location independent? It's happening every day. In fact, our guest in the interview segment this week estimates that 200,000 families are doing that across the country right now. Is this for you? What about school and the kids? What about earning a living? Stay tuned because in this episode, Kimberly Travaglino, author of the book How to Hit the Road, Making Your Family's Full-time RV Dreams a Reality, joins us to talk about how breaking free and hitting the road. Also, listener questions and answers, lots of RV tips, traveling technology you need to know about and the RV News of the week. [spp-player] Show Notes for Episode #155 August 30, 2017 of Roadtreking - The RV Podcast: WHAT MIKE AND JENNIFER ARE UP TO THIS WEEK The Labor Day weekend is almost here and this podcast comes to you from the heart of the Emerald Coast - Okaloosa Island, Florida where we're catching some R&R time before jumping into a busy full travel schedule. Our 2017 Roadtrek CS Adventurous XL 4X4 is not with us on this trip as its being outfitted with some experimental communications gear that we'll be talking about in a few weeks. We're working on Facebook and YouTube Live videos. We've been doing two and three new videos a week. Best way to know about them is to subscribe to our RV Lifestyle Channel on YouTube at Over on our YouTube RV Lifestyle Channel, someone wrote a comment about not understanding why anyone would spend $100K for a "depreciating asset" like our Roadtrek. I wrote a reply there that I want to share here: "It's much, much more than a "depreciating asset." In fact, it makes me APPRECIATE life more. It's a lifestyle. It's a freedom machine. It brings me joy every time I drive it, camp in it or look at it in the driveway. It reduces the stress in my life. It gives me wonderful vacations to look forward to and awesome memories to make me smile in remembrance of. It's taken me to places and introduced me to people I would never had seen or met. It's enlarged my circle of friends, helped me learn history and geography, shown me the magnificence of nature up close and enriched my life, my marriage and my faith by giving me new perspectives and sensitivities. Add all that up and it's a terrific bargain in my book. :-) . " This portion of the Podcast is brought to you by Campers Inn, the RVer's trusted resource for over 50 years, the nation's largest family-operated RV dealership with 16 locations and growing  JENNIFER'S TIP OF THE WEEK   Jennifer One of the realities of RV Travel is that things have to be put away and not left out. Otherwise, they'll slide off counters and tables. RVers are not the only ones who experience such problems. So do boaters. And this week, I received a tip from a listener named Melissa who is both an RVer and a boater and she shares a terrific suggestion on how to keep things in place…in our RV or boat. The product Melissa suggests is called coaster tacky. You can find it at the dollar store as she suggests. And Amazon has lots of coasters treated with that tacky surface that will keep it – and the things you place on it – from sliding around.  I'll put a link on the shownotes for this episode to an Amazon search page with several different types of coaster tacky you can look at. And be sure to send me your tips and suggestions for the RV lifestyle. You can use the “Leave Voicemail” link at Roadtreking.com. Just click it and then use the built-in microphone on your computer or mobile devise to record a message to me. You can do it over as many times as you want, until you are satisfied. And then you just click a button and it comes right to my email inbox. I love hearing from you! For a complete list of all the products, gear and apps mentioned by Mike and Jennifer on their podcast, YouTube RV Lifestyle Channel and here on the blog,

This week we are talking about THE outdoor and RV event of the year, and that is Monday's total solar eclipse. We'll tell you why this is so important, why it's perfect for RVers, how to view it safely, how to find a place to watch it and why, even if you have to skip work or school, this is the one event of the year just made to be experienced by RV. Plus, your RV questions, RV news of the week, traveling tech tips and Jennifer will tell you how to once and for all solve the pesky problem of RV light pollution from those inside switches and LED lights. [spp-player] WHAT MIKE AND JENNIFER ARE UP TO THIS WEEK…  We're in Albany, GA…on the road, visiting our son, Scott, and his family for a couple of weeks, and catching our grandson's Jacob and Matthew playing football. We also plan to watch the eclipse down here with them and then maybe head out for some exploring maybe down towards the Emerald Coast after Labor Day. In mid September, it's our Blues and BBQ gathering in Tupelo MS and in late September, we'll be heading to Ashevile NC to the Overland East Expo, a trade show for those go what's called overlanding in extreme, off the grid, 4X4  adventure-type vehicles. We met an interesting RVer this week, a nurse named Tiffany. She's a traveling nurse and apparently, part of a group of traveling medical professionals who journey around the country in an RV, taking on short and long term contract work. Tiffany, her husband and two young preschool children, are in a small RV at a RV park near here. We suspect this is more common that we realized. TIffany is on a 13 week contract with the hospital here in Albany. Last year, Mike met physician, a coronary surgeon, who did the same thing. He's from Orlando and travels throughout Florida and the Gulf States as far as New Orleans in a big new Tiffin Class A motorhome. This portion of the Podcast is brought to you by Campers Inn, the RVer's trusted resource for over 50 years, the nation's largest family-operated RV dealership with 16 locations and growing  JENNIFER'S TIP OF THE WEEK It's been an ongoing discussion here on the RV Podcast for the past several months about how to dim or block out all that bright LED light from the electronics and switches in our RVs so we're able to sleep in the dark. Listen up… this tip from and RVer we met named Ken is probably that last idea you'll need on How to finally solve the The Great LED Light issue. This IS the ultimate solution! Once again, the product Ken said is called LED Light Dims and we have built in direct links to them on our special site at kit-dot.com/rvlifestyle. There you will find a master list of every product we talk about on the podcast and the Light Dims are there. Amazon sells two types, one which dims the LED by about 50%, and another kind that dims by 100% - or completely blocking all light. They cost about $8 for a package that will let you cover up just about any offending light in your RV or your home. And be sure to send me your tips and suggestions for the RV lifestyle. You can use the “Leave Voicemail” link at Roadtreking.com. Just click it and then use the built-in microphone on your computer or mobile devise to record a message to me. You can do it over as many times as you want, until you are satisfied. And then you just click a button and it comes right to my email inbox. I love hearing from you! Jennifer's tip of the week is brought to you by RadPower Bikes ,an electric bike manufacturer offering direct to consumer pricing on powerful premium electric bikes. Now with free shipping LISTENER QUESTIONS OF THE WEEK Elaine is in a Class B Winnebago and she's suffering with vertigo while fulltiming. They are missionaries and wants to find a solution to better ride Rich from California is upgrading to a Sprinter Based 2017 Roadtrek CS Adventurous XL and is concerned about using 20% diesel bio He asks are take. Susan from Pennsylvania wants to know if a good quick grip solution for fresh water hose...

One activity every RVer loves to take part in is hiking. Whether it's a long day trip, a short hour long loop or a half-day picnic hike, exploring the wilderness by foot is one of the joys of camping and our mobile lifestyle. But staying safe needs to be a top priority on any hike and in this week's podcast, we'll hear important advice from an expert hiker… coming up in our interview of the week. But we also have your questions, comments, RV News and lots of RV tips. Plus a great off the beaten path report. [spp-player] Show Notes for Episode #152 Aug.9 2017 of Roadtreking - The RV Podcast: WHAT MIKE AND JENNIFER ARE UP TO: ­We discuss the latest long range weather forecast, which predicts unseasonably chilly August temperatures for the eastern two-thirds of the US with 60F lows lasting up to TWO WEEKS. Experts say a southward dip in the jet stream is causing the cooling effect. This pattern will continue into the second week of August with below-average temperatures affecting much of the East Coast, Midwest, and some of the South. The Weather Channel reported that Sunday morning saw record breaking lows in Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee and Indiana. School has begun across many parts of the country this week… the south… also far west. That means less crowded campgrounds and an ease in congestion around national parks. The August 21 total eclipse is coming fast. Listen to episode 132 of the podcast for detailed info. On August 21, 2017, millions of people across the United States will see nature's most wondrous spectacle — a total eclipse of the Sun. It is a scene of unimaginable beauty; the Moon completely blocks the Sun, daytime becomes a deep twilight, and the Sun's corona shimmers in the darkened sky. You'll be able to see stars! To learn where to see it best and how to safely view it, go to the Great American Eclipse website This portion of the Podcast is brought to you by Campers Inn, the RVer's trusted resource for over 50 years, the nation's largest family-operated RV dealership with 16 locations and growing  JENNIFER'S TIP OF THE WEEK Here's a dilemma every RVer has… what to do with wet towels? One of the nice things about traveling and meeting so many of our listeners on the road is seeing how they solve such everyday problems. So it was with our friend Jeff Curry, who showed us his creative solution to the wet towel issue. Jeff Curry's DIY Towel Rack Jeff took bungee cords, two S hooks and a piece of PVC pipe to make a portable towel rack. Be sure to send me your tips and suggestions for the RV lifestyle. You can use the “Leave Voicemail” link at Roadtreking.com. Just click it and then use the built-in microphone on your computer or mobile devise to record a message to me. You can do it over as many times as you want, until you are satisfied. And then you just click a button and it comes right to my email inbox. I love hearing from you! Jennifer's tip of the week is brought to you by RadPower Bikes ,an electric bike manufacturer offering direct to consumer pricing on powerful premium electric bikes. Now with free shipping LISTENER QUESTIONS OF THE WEEK Josh is about to become a fulltime RVer and has a suggestion on Kayaks from a company called Oru Kayak https://www.orukayak.com/– foldable kayaks that are perfect for storing in a small RV Chris talks about what to expect when traveling between Canada and the US in an RV And a listener named Virgil sent us an email asking us to talk about how we select a route for our RV trips. Sponsoring this part of the podcast is Van City RV in St. Louis, and their Partner Dealerships Creston RV in Kalispell, Montana, and Wagon Trail RV in Las Vegas. Bringing You the largest Inventory of class B's from three locations. INTERVIEW OF THE WEEK One activity every RVer loves to take part in is hiking. Whether it's a long day trip, a short hour long loop or a half-day picnic hike, exploring the wilderness by foot is one of the joys of camping and our mobi...

There's a new trend sweeping the RV industry: Downsizing. In involves trading in big Class A or Supersized Class C motorhomes for something smaller, most usually a Class B. Today we meet a couple who have done just that: Jim and Chris Guld, otherwise known as the Geeks on Tour as they've traveled the country teaching about technology tools to RVers at major shows and rallies. The Geeks share with us the factors that led to their downsizing and how they are adjusting to traveling the country in a smaller RV…. Plus we have lots of listener questions and feedback, RV tips, RV news and much more…all coming up in episode 151 of The RV Podcast. Click the player below to Listen Now or scroll down through the show note details. When you see a time code hyperlink, you can click it to jump directly to that segment of the podcast. [spp-player] Show Notes for Episode #151 Aug. 2, 2017 of Roadtreking - The RV Podcast: WHAT MIKE AND JENNIFER ARE UP TO THIS WEEK [spp-timestamp time="2:08"] Back from Grand Rapids and a fun day with Verizon showing traveling technology gadgets Waiting for grandchild #8 to be born Hoping to enjoy spectacular northern Michigan and the Great Lakes Catching the total eclipse on Aug. 21 Planning our next trip to Georgia for a grandson's football games, to the Emerald Coast of Florida once peak tourist time passes, to our Roadtreking Blues ‘and BBQ Gathering near Tupelo, MS Sept. 14-18 After that to Ashville, NC and the Overland East Expo, which is perhaps the world's most unique event for do-it-yourself adventure travel enthusiasts and their rugged, 4-wheel-drive vehicles, Sept. 29-Oct. 1 at the Biltmore Estate And making lots of new videos on our YouTube RV Lifestyle Channel This portion of the Podcast is brought to you by Campers Inn, the RVer's trusted resource for over 50 years, the nation's largest family-operated RV dealership with 16 locations and growing  JENNIFER'S TIP OF THE WEEK [spp-timestamp time="10:18"] Maximizing space inside an RV is Job #1 for every RVer. No matter what size RV we have, we can all use more room. So we look for ways to make that happen, especially in the kitchen. Many of you are familiar with Mary Jane Curry. Mary Jane is our RV Recipes writer for the Roadtreking.com blog. You know her from the wonderful recipes she posts on the blog each week. Recently, I got a chance to visit her and husband, Jeff, in their RV and was most impressed by a way Mary Jane had extended the working space in her kitchen, or galley area. She uses dish mats! Here's how the Currys extend their RV counter space with dish mats Want to learn more about these dish mats? We keep a master list of all the products, gadgets, apps and services that we mention on the podcast at http://kit.com/rvlifestyle And be sure to send me your tips and suggestions for the RV lifestyle. You can use the “Leave Voicemail” link at Roadtreking.com. Just click it and then use the built-in microphone on your computer or mobile devise to record a message to me. You can do it over as many times as you want, until you are satisfied. And then you just click a button and it comes right to my email inbox. I love hearing from you! Jennifer's tip of the week is brought to you by RadPower Bikes ,an electric bike manufacturer offering direct to consumer pricing on powerful premium electric bikes. Now with free shipping LISTENER QUESTIONS OF THE WEEK [spp-timestamp time="15:02"] Jim has a lot of questions about maintenance, DEF fluid and the use of CB radios in an RV Joan is looking for tips on buying a used RV out of state, registering and paying for it. Listener Valerie heard me struggling to pronounce some Hawaiian words on a recent podcast and called in with a pronounciation guide…. With a little twist at the end. Let me share it with you. Sponsoring this part of the podcast is Van City RV in St. Louis, and their Partner Dealerships Creston RV in Kalispell, Montana, and Wagon Trail RV in Las Vegas.

Snakes. They are out there. And RVers, campers and hikers are much more likely to encounter them than the average person, especially this time of the year, when warm weather has these cold blooded reptiles slithering around. And their territory is likely to be close to where you park your RV and do your exploring. How worried should you be about encountering venomous snakes? What's the best way to deal with a snake encounter? Our guest is an expert on snakes, especially the five types of venomous snakes found in North America. He is David A. Steen Ph.D., Assistant Research Professor, Auburn University Museum of Natural History, Alabama Natural Heritage Program. If you are wondering what those five species are and where you are most likely to stumble on them, you're going to want to hear the interview with Dr. Steen. Also this week, we have a lot of questions, tips and feedbacks from listeners, some great RV ideas and a fascinating off the beaten path report. And - in what soon may be a sign of the times - there is a proposal afoot to require reservations just to visit a national park. Click the player below to Listen Now or scroll down through the show note details. When you see a time code hyperlink, you can click it to jump directly to that segment of the podcast. [spp-player] Show Notes for Episode #150 July 26, 2017 of The RV Podcast WHAT MIKE AND JENNIFER ARE UP TO THIS WEEK: [spp-timestamp time="2:07"] If you are anywhere near Grand Rapids, MI, we invite you to come meet us at American RV there on Thursday, July 27. Jennifer and I (and Bo) will be joined by Steve VanDinter, our pal from Verizon Wireless, for a live, in-person demonstration of the traveling tech gear we talk about each week on the podcast. There will be free hot dogs, chips and refreshments. Don't worry, if you can't get there in person, we'll be doing a Live Report from there on our Facebook Group (http://facebook.com/roadtreking) This portion of the Podcast is brought to you by Campers Inn, the RVer's trusted resource for over 50 years, the nation's largest family-operated RV dealership with 16 locations and growing  JENNIFER'S TIP OF THE WEEK Jennifer We're always looking for great spots to overnight while we're traveling. This week, a listener from California named Sharon called in with a great tip about where to find free overnight parking spots in where you can boondock out on the west coast. [spp-timestamp time="11:15"] Sharon's specific info had to do with Sno-Parks, which are snow-cleared parking lots in California, Oregon and Idaho ski areas. From November 1 through May 30, you need a paid permit to use them but during the summer and fall months, when there is no snow, the permits are not required and overnight parking and sleeping in an RV is allowed, unless a sign notes it is specifically prohibited. God tip, Sharon! And be sure to send me your tips and suggestions for the RV lifestyle. You can use the “Leave Voicemail” link at Roadtreking.com. Just click it and then use the built-in microphone on your computer or mobile devise to record a message to me. You can do it over as many times as you want, until you are satisfied. And then you just click a button and it comes right to my email inbox. I love hearing from you! Jennifer's tip of the week is brought to you by RadPower Bikes ,an electric bike manufacturer offering direct to consumer pricing on powerful premium electric bikes. Now with free shipping LISTENER QUESTIONS OF THE WEEK Five comments and questions this week... A solo woman traveler has a new unit on order and wonders about electricity use while boondocking [spp-timestamp time="15:07"] A Pennsylvania man is considering buying a 20-year-old RV and wants to update it with a generator and a new refrigerator and wants to now if this is feasible and where it can be done. [spp-timestamp time="19:57"] A couple of listeners wonder about the music accompanying one of our RV Lifestyle videos on You Tube [spp-...

Up in Kitchener Ontario at the factory where the Erwin Hymer Group of North America builds Roadtrek Motorhomes, they just celebrated a momentous event – the building of the 30,000th Roadtrek since the company's founding more than 40 years ago. We were there, met the buyer and talked to officials who shared some what's ahead for Roadtrek and the booming Class B RV market. All that is coming up in our interview section. Also this week, listener questions, some great TV tips, traveling tech and RV new and an off the beaten path report about an enchanted highway. Click the player below to Listen Now or scroll down through the show note details. When you see a time code hyperlink, you can click it to jump directly to that segment of the podcast. [spp-player] Show Notes for Episode #148 July 10, 2017 of Roadtreking - The RV Podcast: Mike and Jennifer's activities this week: [spp-timestamp time="2:12"] To Kitchener and Cambridge, Ontario to meet and tour Erwin Hymer facilities in Ontario Then to Indianapolis and the Family Motorcoach Association annual summer reunion rally… Mike and Jennifer will be doing seminars Wednesday and Thursday at the FMCA rally Mike confides he is coping with another case of Shingles. His second in two months. Doctors say he overdid it after his emergency gallbladder surgery, doing too much hiking and traveling on a whirlwind trip to three U.S. National parks and two Canadian National Parks immediately on his release from the hospital. Stress is a suspected cause of shingles outbreaks and Mike tells everyone the key to treatment is starting on a drug regimen within 72 hours after the outbreak. He missed that deadline and is now waiting for it to go away. He was keeping this all quiet but those who see him in Indianapolis will still see the sores, so he decided to come clean. The last time was on his left arm. this time its the left side of his neck. Building a master list of all the resources, products, gadgets and RV travel apps we use and talk about on the podcast, the Roadtreking blog and out RV Lifestyle Youtube Channel. You can access it all, organized by categories, at http://kit.com/rvlifestyle This portion of the Podcast is brought to you by Campers Inn, the RVer's trusted resource for over 50 years, the nation's largest family-operated RV dealership with 16 locations and growing JENNIFER'S TIP OF THE WEEK When we travel, we often wonder what mail we're getting back home, and if there is something important that we need to attend to. [spp-timestamp time="11:17"] Well, listener Tom called in this great tip about a new service from the United States Postal Service - USPS Informed Delivery . Once there, you first enter in your zip code to see if it's available in your area. Most of the country is included. Mike and I just signed up thanks to Tom's tip. The service allows customers to track incoming mail through an online dashboard and/or a daily email. Enrolled customers are able to see scanned images of the outside of their letters the morning before they are delivered to their physical mailbox. Again, while the Informed Delivery product is available for most addresses, it is not available for all. A few of you may need to be patient a bit as the program is rolled out. Meantime, be sure to send me your tips and suggestions for the RV lifestyle. You can use the “Leave Voicemail” link at Roadtreking.com. Just click it and then use the built-in microphone on your computer or mobile devise to record a message to me. You can do it over as many times as you want, until you are satisfied. And then you just click a button and it comes right to my email inbox. I love hearing from you! Jennifer's tip of the week is brought to you by RadPower Bikes ,an electric bike manufacturer offering direct to consumer pricing on powerful premium electric bikes. Now with free shipping LISTENER QUESTIONS OF THE WEEK Sue and Bud want some help in cleaning their screens,

This week we meet “the RV guy.” That's the nickname Jason Kimbrell has as the head of LaMesa RV, a chain of RV dealerships in Florida, New Mexico, Arizona and California. But Jason didn't always live up to that name. In fact, he wasn't even sure he wanted to continue in the family business. So he walked away from it for a while and went off to explore the west in an RV. In the process, he became the RV Guy. I think you'll enjoy his story on how that happened, and his suggestions of the places across the Southwest that belong on your RVing bucket list. Jason is our interview guest of the week. Plus we have lots of listener questions this week, some great tips, RV News and an off the beaten path report… all in Episode 147 of the Podcast. Click the player below to Listen Now or scroll down through the show note details. When you see a time code hyperlink, you can click it to jump directly to that segment of the podcast. [spp-player] Show Notes for Episode #147 July 5, 2017 of Roadtreking - The RV Podcast: Mike and Jennifer begin the show by discussing: [spp-timestamp time="2:16"] Their recent travel…. A long month on the road… 5,500 miles in nine states… and one Canadian Province…from Michigan to Montana to Alberta… three U.S. National Parks (Theodore Roosevelt, Glacier and Yellowstone) and two Canadian National Parks (Waterton and Banff) Highlights of their “serendipity” style of traveling… the 1880's town in South Dakota, camping out on the Laura Ingalls Wilder family homestead as told on the Little House on the Prairie TV and book series, the Angel Museum in Wisconsin, Buffalo, WY and crossing Lake Michigan with their RV on the SS Badger. All the video stories they shot and are now editing which will soon be on Mike and Jennifer's RV Lifestyle Channel on YouTube Their visit next week - July 12-15,- to the Family Motorcoach Association's annual summer reunion in Indianapolis This portion of the Podcast is brought to you by Campers Inn, the RVer's trusted resource for over 50 years, the nation's largest family-operated RV dealership with 16 locations and growing  JENNIFER'S TIP OF THE WEEK One accessory every RVer has to have – no matter what kind of vehicle they have – is a hose to fill your unit with fresh, clean water. But unless you take a lot of time and attention winding them up, they can develop a lot of kinks and turn into a tangled mess. [spp-timestamp time="11:38"] At our recent Roadtreking gathering in Montana, we met Ken Yoho who showed us a particular type of hose that solves that problem. The hose Ken had is called the Zero-G RV and Marine Water Hose. That's the model you want. The company makes a lot of garden type hoses but for drinking water, you want to make sure it's labeled for RV and Marine or Fresh Water use. We could not find it at Amazon but if you search for it online by that NAME - Zero-G RV and Marine Water Hose – you will find several sources. Meanwhile, be sure to send me your tips and suggestions for the rv lifestyle. you can use the “leave voicemail” link at roadtreking.com. Just click it and then use the built-in microphone on your computer or mobile devise to record a message to me. you can do it over as many times as you want, until you are satisfied. And then you just click a button and it comes right to my email inbox. I love hearing from you! Jennifer's tip of the week is brought to you by RadPower Bikes ,an electric bike manufacturer offering direct to consumer pricing on powerful premium electric bikes. Now with free shipping LISTENER QUESTIONS OF THE WEEK Paul is dreaming about getting an RV and has a lot of questions. He asks for Mike and Jennifer's input about boondocking and air-conditioning and how much he will need it. He also wonders about how much battery capacity he needs. He has financing questions and questions about using an RV as a second vehicle. [spp-timestamp time="15:45"] Darlene is about to be a fulltime RVer and is looking for a place to f...

We talk a lot about the RV Lifestyle? But what is it? This week, we hear from a whole bunch of different RVers, from all across North America. I bet the answers we got when we posed this question to a group of RVers we met up near Glacier National Park in Montana will resonate with you, too. Also in this episode, listener questions and feedback, RV News of the Week, Tips and a great pff the beaten path report. Click the player below to Listen Now or scroll down through the show note details. When you see a time code hyperlink, you can click it to jump directly to that segment of the podcast. [spp-player] Show Notes for Episode #146 of Roadtreking - The RV Podcast: This episode was recorded in Buffalo, WY… where Longmire Days later this month will brimg some 14,000 fans of author Craig Johnson, whose series of books about a modern Wyoming Sheriff has been the basis of the popular A&E and Netflix series, Longmire. [spp-timestamp time="2:00"] Mike and Jennifer share their travels over recent weeks to Glacier National Park in Montana, Waterton National Park across the border in Canada, Banff National Park and Lake Louise in Alberta and Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. JENNIFER'S TIP OF THE WEEK One of the nice things about the RV Lifestyle is meeting other RVers, hearing their stories, getting to know them and learning from their experience. One such RVer we recently met gives us some RF basic training on an issue involving awnings. Bottom line: Put it away at night! Linda explains why at [spp-timestamp time="11:22"] Jennifer's tip of the week is brought to you by RadPower Bikes (www.RadPowerBikes.com_… an electric bike manufacturer offering direct to consumer pricing on powerful premium electric bikes. Now with free shipping! LISTENER QUESTIONS OF THE WEEK: Peggy asks a question about a 4 x 4 RV and whether she should order one. Mike and Jennifer share their perspective. [spp-timestamp time="15:27"] And Maureen gave a message of encouragement about the RV community [spp-timestamp time="22:12"] Sponsoring this part of the podcast is Van City RV in St. Louis, and their Partner Dealerships Creston RV in Kalispell, Montana, and Wagon Trail RV in Las Vegas. Bringing You the largest Inventory of class B's from three locations. PET TIP OF THE WEEK Last week, we talked about how most – if not all – U.S. National Parks are not very dog friendly. This week, we can report that Canada's National Parks ARE. [spp-timestamp time="26:08"] While there are a lot of restrictions that greatly limit where you can take your dog in the US National Parks, Canada welcomes dogs and only requires that they be on a six-foot leash. On our recent trip to Banff National Park in Alberta, we saw all sorts of people and their dogs enjoying all parts of the park and its many trails. Banff even had a fenced in off-leash area for you to let your dog run free ! We even saw one couple who were kayaking in Lake Louise…. With their poodle, no less! Mike took a photo of that kayaking pooch and will post it with the shownotes for this episode at Roadtreking-dot-com-slash-146. We noticed the same dog-friendliness last year at the Bruce Peninsula National Park near Tobermore, Ontario. Lots of people and lots of dogs. Everyone is happy. This year is a particularly good time to visit a Canadian National Park. As Canada celebrates its 150th anniversary, entry into al of the national parks there is free – for everyone. So head on up north. You and your dog will enjoy Canada's beautiful National Parks just as much as Mike and I – and Bo. This part of the podcast is brought to you by Dozers Dental Chews, an all natural and healthy treat your dog will love. Available direct through Amazon , Retailers and Pet Shops across the USA INTERVIEW OF THE WEEK What is the RV Lifestyle all about? Listen as a bunch of RVers share the things that they thunk characterize it the most. [spp-timestamp time="29:25"] This is part of the group of RVers we interviewed...

This week in our interview of the week, we meet Alicia Crabbe, a retired woman and solo traveler who is living her dream as a guide and naturalist, leading people on hikes and wilderness experiences for an organization known as Road Scholar, which is a not for profit group dedicated to providing educational travel. It offers 6,500 educational tours in all 50 states and 150 countries. And while Alicia, who everyone calls “Lish,” has a dream job of working much of the year at Yellowstone National Park, her story is one about the power of a dream. In her case, it was a dream that involved traveling the country by RV and experiencing nature in all its marvelous beauty. She began living it at retirement, after leaving a long professional career. Lish's story is one of inspiration and joy, all focused on the RV lifestyle. Plus Jennifer and I answer your RV questions, we have the RV news of the week, RV Tips and a great offf the beaten path report. Click the player below to Listen Now or scroll down through the show note details. When you see a time code hyperlink, you can click it to jump directly to that segment of the podcast. [spp-player] MONOLOGUE Mike and Jennifer share their current location, near Glacier National Park and how much they love this area of the country. [spp-timestamp time="2:35"] We're here on one of our Roadtreking gatherings, periodic get-togethers in awesome locations for photography and exploration. About 50 Roadtrekers in some 30 different RV's and towables are with us, staying at the Chewing Blackbones Campground and RV Resort on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation, right outside the park gates. JENNIFER'S TIP OF THE WEEK Jennifer The saga of making the interior of our RVs dark continues. Regular listeners know that we've been tossing around various ideas for covering up or reducing the light levels of the various LEDs, indicators and operational lights that shine from control panels while we are trying to sleep at night. We've talked about several solutions but a listener named Jan, who started the whole discussion a few weeks ago, has settled on a solution that works for her – and may very well also work for you. Liz explains how she uses small felt patches and sick-on Velcro to cover up the lights. [spp-timestamp time="7:00"] And for the rest of you out there in the audience, be sure to send me your tips and suggestions for the RV lifestyle. You can use the “Leave Voicemail” link at Roadtreking.com. Just click it and then use the built-in microphone on your computer or mobile devise to record a message to me. You can do it over as many times as you want, until you are satisfied. And then you just click a button and it comes right to my email inbox. I love hearing from you! Jennifer's tip of the week is brought to you by RadPower Bikes (www.RadPowerBikes.com_… an electric bike manufacturer offering direct to consumer pricing on powerful premium electric bikes. Now with free shipping! LISTENER QUESTIONS OF THE WEEK: Listener Dan knows Jennifer is an exercise nut and that finding a place for us (her especially) to work out is a very important part of our travel plans in any given day. So he asks for her advice in finding a solution to finding workout spots in different locations around the country. [spp-timestamp time="11:39"] Listener Tessa wants to know where to ride on a prairies schooner like the pioneers took out west Mike refers her to his post at https://rvlifestyle.com/rv-sidetrip-ride-covered-wagon-along-oregon-trail/ and a guy named Morris Carter in Casper, WY.  [spp-timestamp time="17:17"] Sponsoring this part of the podcast is Van City RV in St. Louis, and their Partner Dealerships Creston RV in Kalispell, Montana, and Wagon Trail RV in Las Vegas. Bringing You the largest Inventory of class B's from three locations. PET TIP OF THE WEEK Mike and Jennifer talk dogs talk about why most National Parks don't allow dogs in most areas and trails,

If you've ever looked up at the night sky while on a camping or RV trip and marveled at the beauty of the universe, you know how hard it is to find places where light pollution hasn't limited night sky visibility. This week, we learn about special places you can visit across North America that are designated as Dark Sky Preserves and Places. These are spots that belong on your bucket list. Also this week, listener questions, RV tips, news of the week and a great off the beaten path destination. Click the player below to Listen Now or scroll down through the show note details. When you see a time code hyperlink, you can click it to jump directly to that segment of the podcast. [spp-player] Show Notes for Episode #144 June 14, 2017 of Roadtreking - The RV Podcast: MONOLOGUE Mike and Jennifer update everyone on: Mike's emergency surgery that caused a detour in their current RV trip west - to the Mayo Clinic for gallbladder removal Mike's current health status How they are back on the road headed to Glacier National Park, following I-94 Lessons learned about times when RVers face unexpected health issues JENNIFER'S TIP OF THE WEEK Jennifer Some RVers are not able to keep their motorhomes at their home. So they need to have their vehicle left in a storage yard. That makes for a lot of work, having to take the things you can't or don't want to leave unattended. [spp-timestamp time="12:04"] You have to take it home when you put the RV away, and then bring it back when it's time for another RV adventure. A listener named Lynne has that dilemma… and she's come up with a nifty way to minimize the extra work. You can listen to Lynne at [spp-timestamp time="12:47"] And be sure to send me your tips and suggestions for the RV lifestyle. You can use the “Leave Voicemail” link at Roadtreking.com. Just click it and then use the built-in microphone on your computer or mobile devise to record a message to me. You can do it over as many times as you want, until you are satisfied. And then you just click a button and it comes right to my email inbox. I love hearing from you! Jennifer's tip of the week is brought to you by RadPower Bikes (www.RadPowerBikes.com_… an electric bike manufacturer offering direct to consumer pricing on powerful premium electric bikes. Now with free shipping! LISTENER QUESTIONS OF THE WEEK: Listener Jeffrey heard our report last week about RV technology and wondered if one of the innovations we featured would make it easy for thieves to steal an RV. The short and long answer is… no. You can hear the discussion and the opinion of an expert we consulted at [spp-timestamp time="16:14"] Sponsoring this part of the podcast is Van City RV in St. Louis, and their Partner Dealerships Creston RV in Kalispell, Montana, and Wagon Trail RV in Las Vegas. Bringing You the largest Inventory of class B's from three locations. PET TIP OF THE WEEK Lots of RVers like to take their pets with them while traveling, but that creates a lot of opportunity for our animals to get lost, one way or another. [spp-timestamp time="21:24"] That's a big deal. It can be like losing a member of our family. But there are steps we can take to prevent lost pets and find them if they do get separated from us. That's according to someone we interviewed not long ago for the RV Podcast back in Episode 117: Texas-based Pet Detective Cindy Gordon. Gordon is one of several dozen trained through an organization called the Missing Animal Response Group. She says there are two things every pet owner needs to do to make sure that if their pet runs off, they can be found. One…Microchip your pets, and immediately register the microchip with your personal information. A great tip is to keep all of the microchip information for each pet as a contact on your own phone. Keep the chip number, and the phone number for the chip company. Immediately report as lost if they escape, and call them and be sure the chip info is up to date.

Technology is changing the RV World and Lifestyle faster than any of us could imagine. Terms like electrical independence, Voltstart, Ecotrek and technologies like lithium ion batteries and solar power generation are revolutionizing the way we camp and experience the outdoors in our recreational vehicles. This week, we talk about the future of RV technical innovation with an RV engineer, our friend Yan Seiner from the Erwin Hymer Group of North America, the makers of Roadtrek motorhomes. Yan tells us how far technology has advanced and where it's headed. That's in our interview segment. But we have much more, including our regular RV tip segments, a traveling tech report, your questions and an off the beaten path destination… all coming up in this episode of the RV podcast. Click the player below to Listen Now or scroll down through the show note details. When you see a time code hyperlink, you can click it to jump directly to that segment of the podcast. [spp-player] Show Notes for Episode #143 June 7, 2017 of Roadtreking - The RV Podcast: MONOLOGUE Mike and Jennifer chat about their multi-trip west and how they intend to keep Mike's “330 Rule,” which is to stop for the day after traveling no more than 330 miles or by 3:30 PM local time, whichever is first.[spp-timestamp time="2:18"] To help keep their own rule, they need to be held accountable and the best way to do that is to be committed to keeping a live video report schedule. So, starting Thursday, June 8, they will go live on the Roadtreking Facebook Page at 4PM local time…which will be 5 or 6PM Eastern Time as they head through the various time zones. Also look for video report on Mike and Jennifer's RV Lifestyle Channel on YouTube. JENNIFER'S TIP OF THE WEEK Jennifer You know those maps we all like to use that show all the states and provinces we visit? A lot of RVers use them but there's one thing that many don't like: They can sometimes leave an ugly residue on the paint because of the adhesive used to stick them on the RV. [spp-timestamp time="9:57"] Well, a listener named Sharon found a way to solve that and she sent us in this tip! Sharon bought a magnetic sheet and affixes the stocker to it, instead of the RV body. The magnetic sheet attaches without glue and can easily be removed. You can find those sheets in differing sizes at craft stores, office supply stores and, of course, Amazon. Be sure to send me your tips and suggestions for the RV lifestyle. You can use the “Leave Voicemail” link at Roadtreking.com. Just click it and then use the built-in microphone on your computer or mobile devise to record a message to me. You can do it over as many times as you want, until you are satisfied. And then you just click a button and it comes right to my email inbox. I love hearing from you! Jennifer's tip of the week is brought to you by RadPower Bikes (www.RadPowerBikes.com_… an electric bike manufacturer offering direct to consumer pricing on powerful premium electric bikes. Now with free shipping! LISTENER QUESTIONS OF THE WEEK: Listener Jim noticed our new RV has the roof mounted air conditioner, rather than the undermount that we used to have. He also wonders about solar and fuel mileage. We explain that the unit we have was bought off the lot, and to have waited for an undermount would have meant a new build and these days, that takes months. Besides, our new unit is a 4 x 4 and we were not keen on hanging stuff under the chassis because we plan to do a lot of back road boondocking. [spp-timestamp time="14:00"] Kathy from Hamiliton, ON, Canada is picking up a new Leisure Travel Van Unity in the fall. She asks if she needs a Canadian plan and a US cellular plan if she is traveling in both countries.  [spp-timestamp time="25:40"]As with Sprint and Verizon in the US have plans for US people traveling to Canada, nearly all Canadian carriers have all-inclusive roaming plans for visiting the US. The benefits are obvious: you get to keep your phon...

As the demand for recreational vehicles continues to grow, the RV Park and Campground industry is working hard to add new camping sites, new pricing and new amenities. This week's guest is Paul Bambei, the President and CEO of the National Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds and he shares about how the campground industry plans to make your camping experience this year better than ever. Besides Paul we have lots of audience questions, feedback, RV news and tips, along with a great Off-the-Beaten-Path report. Click the player below to Listen Now or scroll down through the show note details. When you see a time code hyperlink, you can click it to jump directly to that segment of the podcast. [spp-player] Show Notes for Episode #142 May 31, 2017 of Roadtreking - The RV Podcast: JENNIFER'S TIP OF THE WEEK Jennifer There are so many hobbies and activities that fit so well with the RV Lifestyle. Some of those activities can help us stay fit, too. So we learn with a tip we received this week from listeners Jeff and Deb Spencer. [spp-timestamp time="11:42"] They share a great resource from those who like to run – a website called vacationraces.com   The group has info on boondocking, camping and RVing in beautiful wilderness areas where trail runs and races can be found. And be sure to send me your tips and suggestions for the RV lifestyle. You can use the “Leave Voicemail” link at Roadtreking.com. Just click it and then use the built-in microphone on your computer or mobile devise to record a message to me. You can do it over as many times as you want, until you are satisfied. And then you just click a button and it comes right to my email inbox. I love hearing from you! Jennifer's tip of the week is brought to you by RadPower Bikes (www.RadPowerBikes.com_… an electric bike manufacturer offering direct to consumer pricing on powerful premium electric bikes. Now with free shipping! LISTENER QUESTIONS OF THE WEEK: Listener Bill wonders whether he should rent or buy. He's new to RVing, thinks he wants to do it but asks our recommendations. We are big believers in renting. If he can't find one at a dealer to rent – they are in high demand and dealers have limited rental fleets – we suggest he try a website called RVShare  [spp-timestamp time="15:49"] And we received a nice voice mail this week from, a listener named John who understands that Roadtreking isn't about any specific brand…its all about the lifestyle w-no matter what size RV you have. [spp-timestamp time="22:00"] Sponsoring this part of the podcast is Van City RV in St. Louis, and their Partner Dealerships Creston RV in Kalispell, Montana, and Wagon Trail RV in Las Vegas. Bringing You the largest Inventory of class B's from three locations. PET TIP OF THE WEEK When we travel with our pets, there are things we need to bring with us, besides their food, bedding and some toys. Just like with humans, you should have a basic pet first-aid kit on hand. [spp-timestamp time="25:20"] Keep your pet's first-aid kit in your home and take it with you if you are traveling with your pet. One way to start your kit is to buy a first-aid kit designed for people and add pet-specific items to it. Or you can also purchase a pet first-aid kit from a pet-supply store or catalog. But you can easily assemble your own kit by gathering the items suggested by the Veterinary Medical Society. They have an special first aid for pets handout . But besides the first aid kit, make sure you also bring along the phone number of your veterinarian and health paperwork for your pet, including proof of rabies-vaccination status, copies of other immunization medical records and a current photo of your pet - in case he gets lost. This part of the podcast is brought to you by Dozers Dental Chews, an all natural and healthy treat your dog will love.  INTERVIEW OF THE WEEK – Paul Bambei, Campground Association   Paul Bambei, President and CEO of the National Association of RV arks and...

They say that up to 20% of all RVers are solo travelers, many of them single women who find fun, friends and great adventure out on the road. So it is for our interview guest this weekend, a woman named Lise, who, after three decades of marriage and a difficult divorce, suddenly found herself alone and uncertain of what life had in store for her. So, as she shares in our interview of the week, she bought an RV and took off, pushed out of her comfort zone and finding a new sense of empowerment. Also this week, listener questions, lots of RV tips, traveling tech advice and a great off-the-beaten-path report. Click the player below to Listen Now or scroll down through the show note details. When you see a time code hyperlink, you can click it to jump directly to that segment of the podcast. [spp-player] Show Notes for Episode #141 May 24, 2017 of Roadtreking - The RV Podcast: JENNIFER'S TIP OF THE WEEK Jennifer Like a lot of people, I like sleeping in darkness. And with all the technology in today's recreational vehicles, that can be challenging. That's because of all the glowing LED indicator lights that are shining to tell us various things are on and operating normally. [spp-timestamp time="5:15"] We've talked before about how to cover them up easily at night and a listener named Wade has about the simplest suggestion we have had yet! He suggests getting white electrical taps from a hardware store, using a hole punch to cut out a little circle, and then just sticking that little circle of white tape over the glowing LED. Problem solved Our listeners are the smartest people. Thanks Wade! And be sure to send me your tips and suggestions for the RV lifestyle. You can use the “Leave Voicemail” link at Roadtreking.com. Just click it and then use the built-in microphone on your computer or mobile devise to record a message to me. You can do it over as many times as you want, until you are satisfied. And then you just click a button and it comes right to my email inbox. I love hearing from you! Jennifer's tip of the week is brought to you by RadPower Bikes (www.RadPowerBikes.com_… an electric bike manufacturer offering direct to consumer pricing on powerful premium electric bikes. Now with free shipping! LISTENER QUESTIONS OF THE WEEK: Peggy is a new RV owner and wants to know about the wisdom of purchasing High End Motorsports Sunshades for all the windows. [spp-timestamp time="9:20"]  She asks if just the windshield shade is sufficient or should she get sunshades for all windows. Mike recommends their windshield and front side shades but then suggest she buy a roll of Reflectix and make her own for the other windows. The material keeps out the heat in the summer and keeps the heat in during the cold camping months. Here's a video we did on how to use Reflectix in your RV. By the way, to use Reflectix in the summer it should be placed on the outside of the windows so as not to bounce back the sunshine to the glass interior. Just add double stick Velcro to fasten around the outside windows when you have stopped. The windshield sunshade from High End Motorsports can be stuck up on the inside. Michelle writes: [spp-timestamp time="14:13"] We have been vacationing for 3 years of retirement all over the country. But we are finding the call of the Gulf Coast pretty difficult to resist. We have loved "camping" in the off-season. Usually heading south we do find ourselves overnighting somewhere mid-States: Kentucky, Tennessee area--Daniel Boone National Park a number of times. And our miseries seem to start there. You never see them--but about 2 days later the most unmerciful, unrelenting itching starts around the ankles and calves of your legs. I have to guess that they also get on the dogs, as they will also be itching and when you pet them my fingers will find little welts. It has taken me until now do diagnosis that this must be chigger bites. We come from Wisconsin--so we do have them somewhat in the summer in sand...

As millions of RVers are planning their summer adventures and making lists of what to bring to add to their fun, stocking first aid kits and doing some emergency preparation planning also needs to be on all our To-Do lists. This week, we talk to a top expert from the American Red Cross in emergency wilderness and camping first aid. This is a must-listen intervew so be sure and take the time to learn what you need to do to be ready for the unexpected. Also this week, lots of audience questions and comments, along with RV news, RV tips and a fascinating Off-the-Beaten-Path Report from the Burketts. Click the player below to Listen Now or scroll down through the show note details. When you see a time code hyperlink, you can click it to jump directly to that segment of the podcast. [spp-player] JENNIFER'S TIP OF THE WEEK Jennifer One of the things we like the most about doing this podcast is hearing from you and receiving your tips. Sometimes, it's about how to do things better while on the road, or maybe a helpful Do-It-Yourself Project. Or it could be a nifty product you came across that you want to share with the audience. [spp-timestamp time="7:06"] So it was today with a listener named Ed. Ed's product is a Bem Multi Function Lantern EXO-900, a 300 lumen lantern with three different power levels. It has a blue tooth speaker and can even be used to recharge cell phones. He found his for $30 at his local Sams Club. On Amazon, it is $48. And be sure to send me your tips and suggestions for the RV lifestyle. You can use the “Leave Voicemail” link at Roadtreking.com. Just click it and then use the built-in microphone on your computer or mobile devise to record a message to me. You can do it over as many times as you want, until you are satisfied. And then you just click a button and it comes right to my email inbox. I love hearing from you! Jennifer's tip of the week is brought to you by RadPower Bikes (www.RadPowerBikes.com_… an electric bike manufacturer offering direct to consumer pricing on powerful premium electric bikes. Now with free shipping! LISTENER QUESTIONS OF THE WEEK: Dan asks about parking a Class B RV in regular parking lots, noting how Mike uses his as a second vehicle to run errands around town. Dan seeks more elaboration on the ease of parking.[spp-timestamp time="12:21"] Jeff asks about using an electric can opener or a toaster in a Class B RV and wants to know if they are worth the space.[spp-timestamp time="16:44"] Steve is a soon to be fulltime RVer and solo traveler and he wonders whether he needs a Class A or a Class B to work in from the road. [spp-timestamp time="18:58"] Sue winders whether she should get a dedicated Mi-Fi data card for on the road connectivity or use her iPhone as a hot spot. [spp-timestamp time="22:54"] Sponsoring this part of the podcast is Van City RV in St. Louis, and their Partner Dealerships Creston RV in Kalispell, Montana, and Wagon Trail RV in Las Vegas. Bringing You the largest Inventory of class B's from three locations. PET TIP OF THE WEEK We had a nice voicemail from a listener named Ken, who heard our recent Traveling with Pets T about how Mike and I make a point to find off-leash dig parks for Bo while we're traveling. Ken knew we were in Florida this week and offered this tip about a dog park he likes.[spp-timestamp time="27:56"] Thanks Ken. Next time we travel through the Punta Gorda area of Florida, we'll be sure to check out the Hounds of Henry Park. But while I'm on the topic of dog parks, let's talk about problems that can happen at any park, namely, over-aggressive dogs. That happened to us last night at a park we visited. There are times when as a pet owner, you need to either cut your visit short or not go in at all. Last night, there was a German Shepherd and a Great Dane in the park, along with many other dogs. The shepherd was extremely possessive of its owner and became very aggressive whenever anther dog came near.

Would you like to leave your current job and fulltime in an RV? Or perhaps you're retired and would like to travel more in your recreational vehicle but need to have some income to offset the costs of living on the road. In this episode, we talk about making money while you're out there RVing. Yes, it is possible – and practical – to make enough money to live in an RV full-time, travel, and enjoy life! You may be surprised to know there are more jobs for RVers and work campers than there are RVers and campers willing to work. You can also earn a living running a business from your RV. Our guest today has been helping RVers find paying jobs for many years. Her name is Colleen and, with husband, Bob, she publishes a Workers on Wheels website that keeps track of temporary, seasonal, and mobile jobs that pay. Also, RV based business, online careers, work camper campground jobs, and volunteer workamper positions. You can do them all while traveling, camping, or living in a recreational vehicle – while being Workers On Wheels! Plus your questions, comments and tips. Click the player below to Listen Now or scroll down through the show note details. When you see a time code hyperlink, you can click it to jump directly to that segment of the podcast. [spp-player] Show Notes for Episode #139 May 10, 2017 of Roadtreking - The RV Podcast: JENNIFER'S TIP OF THE WEEK In an RV, storage space is at a premium. And one of the things that takes up a lot of that space is clothing.[spp-timestamp time="8:10"] Lise's shoe storage bag holds her clothng. She found this at Ikea We recently met a woman named Lise, who travels solo in her Class B RV. And Lise showed us how she's able to maximize her clothes storage with a great accessory. She uses a cloth shoe storage bag she bought at Ikea, rolling her clothes and keeping them in the shoe storage bins. See the photo at left. Meanwhile, be sure to send me your tips and suggestions for the RV lifestyle. You can use the “Leave Voicemail” link at Roadtreking.com. Just click it and then use the built-in microphone on your computer or mobile devise to record a message to me. You can do it over as many times as you want, until you are satisfied. And then you just click a button and it comes right to my email inbox. I love hearing from you! Jennifer's tip of the week is brought to you by RadPower Bikes (www.RadPowerBikes.com_… an electric bike manufacturer offering direct to consumer pricing on powerful premium electric bikes. Now with free shipping! LISTENER QUESTIONS OF THE WEEK: First this listener note about a recent tip we had on our YouTube RV Lifestyle Channel about removing bugs that get squished on our windshields.  You can find that tip on our RV Tips and How-To Playlist or by clicking here [spp-timestamp time="12:40"] Listener Julie is looking for an owner's manual for her Roadtrek RV. We refer her to the Roadtrek.com corporate site, Here's a link to the page that lets you download a manual for every model they have made. [spp-timestamp time="15:03"] Jon wants to know how long he has to wait for an RV that is propelled by electricity. Mike says a very long time as he knows of nothing like that in the works for RVers. [spp-timestamp time="16:28"] And listener Jeff has a suggestion to the person in episode 138 of the RV Podcast who wanted to use a crock pot to slow cook as they drive down the road in their RV. It's a non-electric Thermal Cooker. It comes with an inner pot that will go over the stove top to boil the food. Once the food is boiled, set into the outer, stainless steel vacuum insulated container to allow the food to cook thoroughly without fire or electricity while the outside body stays cool to touch. We found a whole page of them on Amazon starting at a little over $60. [spp-timestamp time="17:34"] Sponsoring this part of the podcast is Van City RV in St. Louis, and their Partner Dealerships Creston RV in Kalispell, Montana, and Wagon Trail RV in Las Vegas.

The RV industry is booming, no doubt about it. But it's also changing and facing new challenges and opportunities. In this week's interview, we sit down with Jim Hammill, the CEO of the Erwin Hymer Group of North America, the corporate owners of Roadtrek Motorhomes. Jim is a straight talking, shoot from the hip guy who tells it like it is and coming up in the interview segment of the podcast, you'll learn how the trends shaping the RV industry will impact your RV Lifestyle. Plus lots of reader questions, some great tips, traveling with technology and a fun off the beaten path report. Click the player below to Listen Now or scroll down through the show note details. When you see a time code hyperlink, you can click it to jump directly to that segment of the podcast. [spp-player] Show Notes for Episode #138 May 3, 2017 of Roadtreking - The RV Podcast: Mike and Jennifer share their whereabouts:[spp-timestamp time="3:00"] A recent visit to Arizona and an RV show devoted to nothing but small motorhomes Jennifer's mishap that left her with a broken hand Their current trip to the Gulf Coast and where they stay overnight while on long drive days JENNIFER'S TIP OF THE WEEK Jennifer One of the fun things about visiting RV shows like the Super B small RV show that Mike and I attended this past weekend in Glendale, AZ is visiting with other RVers and sharing tips and suggestions. [spp-timestamp time="8:11"] So it was with one of our listeners named Jim, who came out to meet us and offered a tip about using mobile RV repair services when local RV service centers can't squeeze you in for an appointment. And be sure to send me your tips and suggestions for the RV lifestyle. You can use the “Leave Voicemail” link at Roadtreking.com. Just click it and then use the built-in microphone on your computer or mobile devise to record a message to me. You can do it over as many times as you want, until you are satisfied. And then you just click a button and it comes right to my email inbox. I love hearing from you! Jennifer's tip of the week is brought to you by RadPower Bikes (www.RadPowerBikes.com_… an electric bike manufacturer offering direct to consumer pricing on powerful premium electric bikes. Now with free shipping! LISTENER QUESTIONS OF THE WEEK: Sharon has a question about using a crock pot with a small inverter of the type that can charge a laptop. She was specifically wondering if the Energizer Cup Inverter being offered by Verizon would work. A crock potis a slow-cooking vessel which uses a heating element. It has two settings, Low (223 watts) and High (312 watts). The Energizer inverter is only capable of a continuous power output of 180n watts, not nearly enough for a power hungry crock pot. Here's a guide to choosing the best one for you. [spp-timestamp time="12:34"] Ron and Jan share their excitement about being new RVers [spp-timestamp time="16:25"] Sponsoring this part of the podcast is Van City RV in St. Louis, and their Partner Dealerships Creston RV in Kalispell, Montana, and Wagon Trail RV in Las Vegas. Bringing You the largest Inventory of class B's from three locations. PET TIP OF THE WEEK Mike and I are big fans of off-leash dog parks. It keeps Bo happy, healthy and out of trouble. Not all dogs are good candidates for off leash parks. Before you take your pet to one, make sure it has been socialized well and gets along with other dogs, If so, visits to your local dog park can greatly enrich her life: [spp-timestamp time="20:45"] Bo and his K9 pals Sushi and Princess at an off-leash dog park in Fort Walton Beach, FL Here are three reasons why Pet MD says off leash parks are a wise choice for pet owners Physical and mental exercise for dogs- Your dog can zoom around off-leash to her heart's content, investigate new smells, wrestle with her dog buddies and fetch toys until she happily collapses. Many dogs are so mentally and physically exhausted by a trip to the dog park that they snooze for...

With the return spring and warm weather, many RVers are making their first trips to the great outdoors this time of year. And seeing wildlife in or adventures is always exciting, especially when we encounter newborn animal babies out in the wild. But what is the best way to behave when we come across these little critters? Too many people make too many mistakes when encountering wildlife babies and this week, in our interview section, we talk to an expert who sets us straight on how we can best protect those animal babies… and ourselves. Also this week, lots of RV news, Tips, a bucket list report and, as always, your comments and questions. [spp-player] Complete shownotes for Episode 137 of The RV Podcast by Mike and Jennifer Wendland WHAT MIKE AND JENNIFER ARE UP TO THESE DAYS: Join us this weekend at the huge: Super B RV Show [spp-timestamp time="2:22"] University of Phoenix Stadium Class B RV Show Dates: Thursday, April 27th to Sunday, April 30th. Time: 9am to 7pm Location:University of Phoenix Stadium (Inside) 1 Cardinals Dr. Glendale, AZ 85305 FREE PARKING & ADMISSION Here is your opportunity to compare Class B & C RVs side by side from these manufacturers: Roadtrek, Hymer, Leisure Travel Vans, Winnebago, Thor Motor Coach, Tiffin and Jayco! Plus, get a sneak peak of concept vehicles on display to see what may be coming in the future. Almost 100 different floorplans to consider in vehicles that are 26 feet in length and shorter. Attend a FREE seminar from Roadtrek. Learn about their EcoTrek system, VoltStart system and solar! Meet factory personnel including: Jim Hammill, President & CEO of Erwin Hymer Group North America Trent Tiffin of Tiffin Motorhomes Royer Allman of Mercedes Benz Mike and Jennifer Wendland, Roadtreking.com We'll be doing Facebook Live videos on Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 3PM Eastern time on our Roadtreking Facebook Page at The show is an indoor RV show, so you can leave the heat outside and shop comfortably indoors Also... Our YouTube Channel has been redesigned and reorganized, now offering hundreds of RV videos on just about every topic. It's called Mike and Jennifer's RV Lifestyle Channel and we put up new videos all the time. We invite you to subscribe! [spp-timestamp time="5:22"] JENNIFER'S TIP OF THE WEEK Jennifer The RV community is a very sharing group of people and one of the most enjoyable things for me as Mike and I travel about reporting on the RV lifestyle is hearing from members of our RV community who have great tips to pass along. [spp-timestamp time="9:18"] So it is today with one from Tom, from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada who has a suggestion about choosing a mattress to put on our bed. Specifically, Tom mentions the Therm-a-Rest type of mattress…. And he has five reasons why it may make sense for your RV. Like Tom said, you can find Therm-a-Rest air mattresses at most outdoor stores. There's also a bunch of them on Amazon. We'll put a link on the shownotes for this episode at Roadtreking-dot-com-slash-137 And be sure to send me your tips and suggestions for the RV lifestyle. You can use the “Leave Voicemail” link at Roadtreking.com. Just click it and then use the built-in microphone on your computer or mobile devise to record a message to me. You can do it over as many times as you want, until you are satisfied. And then you just click a button and it comes right to my email inbox. I love hearing from you! Jennifer's tip of the week is brought to you by RadPower Bikes (www.RadPowerBikes.com_… an electric bike manufacturer offering direct to consumer pricing on powerful premium electric bikes. Now with free shipping! LISTENER QUESTIONS OF THE WEEK: Wade has a great DIY solution for dimming the bright lights of various displays in the RV so as to be able to sleep in darkness. [spp-timestamp time="14:14"] Scott wants to know about the ProAir undermount AC and its availability [spp-timestamp time="18:07"]

In this episode we meet a couple who have been RVing for 40 years! They started in a popup and now have a Class B RV and they share how RVing has allowed them to enhance and enjoy other interests and hobbies, like discovering antiques, old cars, trains, planes and all things mechanical. Also this week, lots of reader comments and questions, traveling technology tips and a special off the beaten path report about an amazing natural phenomenon you need to see. Click the player below to Listen Now or scroll down through the show note details. When you see a time code hyperlink, you can click it to jump directly to that segment of the podcast. [spp-player] Show Notes for Episode #136 April 19,2017 of Roadtreking - The RV Podcast: What Mike and Jennifer are up to this week: [spp-timestamp time="2:04"] Mike is awaiting the arrival of the brand new Samsung Galaxy 8 Plus smartphone, coming this week. He's also been working on the RV Podcast and Blog You Tube channel – You can sign up at: https://www.youtube.com/user/roadtrekingmike Jennifer is working on a video on how to keep the cushions in the RV from sliding off while driving, turning corners, etc. Next week, we're heading to Arizona, Phoenix area for The Super B RV Show April 26-30 at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, AZ. Jennifer and Mike will be there! Come meet them, ask questions. Roadtrek will also be conducting seminars. And there will be representatives on hand form all of the major Class B motorhome manufacturers. JENNIFER'S TIP OF THE WEEK Kiki in her Onesie I get so many of my tips from friends we meet on the road, in campgrounds at our Roadtreking gatherings. So it was not long ago when we met our friend Kiki around a campfire. She was wearing a Onesie. You know what a Onesie is… its those one piece jumpsuit-like coveralls that we buy toddlers and infants to keep them all warm and cozy. Well, Kiki was indeed that, in an adult Onesie… perfect for hanging around a campfire. [spp-timestamp time="5:50"] Kiki got hers from a local store in northern Michigan. But you can also find a wide variety of them in all different sizes on Amazon. And be sure to send me your tips and suggestions for the RV lifestyle. You can use the “Leave Voicemail” link at Roadtreking.com. Just click it and then use the built-in microphone on your computer or mobile devise to record a message to me. You can do it over as many times as you want, until you are satisfied. And then you just click a button and it comes right to my email inbox. I love hearing from you! Jennifer's tip of the week is brought to you by RadPower Bikes (www.RadPowerBikes.com_… an electric bike manufacturer offering direct to consumer pricing on powerful premium electric bikes. Now with free shipping! LISTENER QUESTIONS OF THE WEEK: Jan is a new RVer and wonders why the monitors inside her RV are so bright and how they can be dimmed so the panel lights are not as jarring at night. [spp-timestamp time="10:41"] Arvid has an alternative to the Lynx Leveling blocks many of us use for our RVs. The curved device he suggests is the Anderson Hitches 3604 x 2 2 Pack Camper Leveler and chock set. I warn you, it's expensive. $82 on Amazon. A cheaper alternative for just $17 is the Camco Yellow Tri-Leveler. The Tri-Leveler features a gradient of three levels for simple, customizable leveling up to 3-7/8-inch. [spp-timestamp time="17:06"] Craig wants to know of a good exterior wax for his RV. We suggest Turtle Wax paste, available in most stores. Here's a handy article we found that recommends other waxes, all of which is fine - http://www.doityourselfrv.com/what-is-the-best-product-to-use-for-waxing-your-rv/[spp-timestamp time="20:20"] Laura was interested in Campskunk's planned RV trip to Europe, which we talked about in Episode 135 of the RV Podcast. She shared how years ago she and her husband took advantage of a unique way to buy a new RV in Europe from Volkswagon and then ship it back here as a ...

Our longtime boondocking buddy Campskunk has shared lots of information on the blog and podcast about traveling North America as a fulltime RVer. But he's now expanding his territory and is about to embark on a six month RV tour of Europe. His RV is now on a ship somewhere in the mid Atlantic. In a week or so, Campskunk and his wife, Sharon, and their cat, Fiona, will fly to Belgium and pick their RVup at the dock and begin the tour. In this episode of the RV Podcast, Campskunk shares what you need to do to take your RV to Europe. And he tells us the places he'll go, where he'll boondock and how much it will cost. Plus your RV questions, RV news and lots of tips and helpful RV information. [spp-player] Show Notes for Episode #135 April 12, 2017 of Roadtreking - The RV Lifestyle Podcast: JENNIFER'S TIP OF THE WEEK Jennifer One frustration many RVers have is not having enough room to take all the things they'd like in those small RV refrigerators. Our friends Tom Burkett and his wife, Patti, have found an innovate way to get more food in the RV freezer   The Burkett's freezer template Tom shares his idea with us at [spp-timestamp time="5:20"] And be sure to send me your tips and suggestions for the RV lifestyle. You can use the “Leave Voicemail” link at Roadtreking.com. Just click it and then use the built-in microphone on your computer or mobile devise to record a message to me. You can do it over as many times as you want, until you are satisfied. And then you just click a button and it comes right to my email inbox.I love hearing from you! Jennifer's tip of the week is brought to you by RadPower Bikes (www.RadPowerBikes.com_… an electric bike manufacturer offering direct to consumer pricing on powerful premium electric bikes. Now with free shipping! LISTENER QUESTIONS OF THE WEEK: Rosie asks for advice in cleaning the little fuzzies and stuff that accumulates on the window screens of her RV. We answer, noting that clean screens produce more efficient air flow through your windows and will make you breathe better. Normally, to meticulously clean your RV screens, you remove them and wash them off with soap and water. But if they are just dusty, a microfiber towel which you can buy at WalMart or in auto stores can do the trick even without water. You will be surprised how it can do wonders to your screen. A small battery operated vacuum like the Dirt Devil also helps. [spp-timestamp time="9:04"] Pam wants to remodel her older RV. One such place is focalwood.com in Indiana. They specialize in RV makeovers and amish-crafted RV furniture like tables, desk units, headboards, window treatments and much more. Another is RVMakeovers in Wheat Ridge, CO. They do all sorts of projects on RV kitchens, baths, flooring and more on Sprinters, campervans and lots of Class A, B and C motorhomes. [spp-timestamp time="12:08"] Sponsoring this part of the podcast is Van City RV in St. Louis, and their Partner Dealerships Creston RV in Kalispell, Montana, and Wagon Trail RV in Las Vegas. Bringing You the largest Inventory of class B's from three locations. PET TIP OF THE WEEK We've heard of jobs for volunteer campground hosts at RV parks. But here's one for you dog owners. You and your pet can become “Bark Rangers.” [spp-timestamp time="17:58"] Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore in Michigan is hosting an orientation meeting for anyone interested in volunteering to serve as a “Bark Ranger.” Bark Ranger volunteers and their canine companions serve as ambassadors on national lakeshore beaches to provide visitors information about the park, highlight pet policies, and pet safety. Bark Rangers will also help to protect the lakeshore's nesting shorebirds. You do not have to own a dog to become a Bark Ranger. Bark Rangers will receive training and Bark Ranger gear for their dog, if they choose to volunteer with their dog. “We started this program last year and it was very successful,

In Episode 134 of the RV Podcast, we talk about Blacktop Boondocking, free or very low cost self-contained overnight camping on blacktop, specifically parking lots at businesses and places that welcome RVer, like casinos, Walmarts, Cracker Barrel restaurants and many others. Unlike traditional boondocking in wild places that allow dispersed camping like national and state forests or Bureau of Land Management holdings out West, Blacktop Boondocking has its own distinctive rules. This week, we talk to an expert who sets us right on the benefits and etiquette of Blacktop Boondocking. Plus, as always, your tips, suggestions questions, as well as RV news, the RV calendar and a great off-the-beaten path report. Click the player below to Listen Now or scroll down through the show note details. When you see a time code hyperlink, you can click it to jump directly to that segment of the podcast. [spp-player] Show Notes for Episode #134 April 5, 2017 of The RV Podcast: JENNIFER'S TIP OF THE WEEK Jennifer Well, it's April and for most RVers who live in the Midwest, mountain and northern states, that means it's time to de-winterize their rigs, draining out all that sticky, sweet-smelling pink antifreeze, sanitizing and filling their fresh water tanks for a new RV season. For a lot of folks, one of the hardest things about dewinterizing is to make that water taste clean, without that bleach odor or aftertaste that seems to linger from the sanitizing process. A listener of the RV Podcast named Bob from the state of Arkansas has sent in a great tip about how to get rid of that chlorine or bleach taste. Bob suggests using one cup of white vinegar for every 15 gallons of fresh water. You can her him at [spp-timestamp time="6:37"] into the interview. We love to get your tips and suggestions for the RV lifestyle. You can use the “Leave Voicemail” link at Roadtreking.com. Just click it and then use the built-in microphone on your computer or mobile devise to record a message to me. You can do it over as many times as you want, until you are satisfied. And then you just click a button and it comes right to my email inbox. Jennifer's tip of the week is brought to you by RadPower Bikes (www.RadPowerBikes.com_… an electric bike manufacturer offering direct to consumer pricing on powerful premium electric bikes. Now with free shipping! LISTENER QUESTIONS OF THE WEEK: Yvonne is a new RVer and she hates laundromats but asks what we do about washing clothes on the road. [spp-timestamp time="10:31"] Trish asks what was the follow up to the break in we had a couple of years ago, as discussed in the RV Podcast Episode 36  [spp-timestamp time="13:57"] And a new RVer named Sharon is headed to Yellowstone National park with her husband on what will be their first big camping adventure. She asks for our recommendations. [spp-timestamp time="22:35"] Sponsoring this part of the podcast is Van City RV in St. Louis, and their Partner Dealerships Creston RV in Kalispell, Montana, and Wagon Trail RV in Las Vegas. Bringing You the largest Inventory of class B's from three locations. PET TIP OF THE WEEK If you are a regular listener, you've heard us talk a lot about our dog Bo and how much energy he has. Bo is 16 months old this week which, in dog years, makes him a very active teenager. We've shared before about finding places to exercise Bo as we travel. We love to find various off leash dog parks and have found it's also a great way to get to know the towns and places we're traveling through. [spp-timestamp time="29:20"] Bo and his K9 pals Sushi and Princess playing at an off-leash dog park in Fort Walton Beach, FL But this week, we want to stress just how important it is for your pets to get exercise. We know it's important for people. But with dogs, it is even more important. According to Vetstreet.com, exercise a necessity for maintaining optimal physical and mental well-being in your dog. As with people,

In this episode of the Roadtreking RV Lifestyle Podcast we answer one of the most asked questions we get – what are our sleeping arrangements in the RV? We talk about how we set up our RV bed, what we use for bedding and comfort and how and where we store it. This is a question we get in several variations a couple of times each week so in this episode, we go into great detail. And we'll share resources on the gear we use for our RV bed. Also this week, a very interesting interview with Charlie Adcock, the President of the Family Motorcoach Association. Charlie talks candidly about the future of this very influential organization and how to survive, the FMCA needs to reach out to other RVers, specifically those who have towables – travel trailers and fifth wheels. You'll also want to learn about the FMCA's Member Assist Program, which offers what I think is the most essential peace of mind an RVer can have if, while traveling, the worst happens – a heart attack, or death or being stranded on the road because of an incapacitating injury or illness. Also in this episode, as always, RV News, traveling, tech and pet tips and a great off-the-beaten-path report. [spp-player] Show Notes for Episode #133 March 29,2017 of Roadtreking - The RV Lifestyle Podcast: JENNIFER'S TIP OF THE WEEK Jennifer When you go on a long trip and leave your sticks and bricks home, one of the worries is that there will be a power outage while you are gone. The nation's electric grid and infrastructure is in decline and outages happen more and more. [spp-timestamp time="8:30"] So maybe you get home and see the clocks all blinking – a sure sign of an outage. What you don't know is how long there was no electricity. Maybe it's been just a few hours, but also there is a possibility it's been for days. In this case, the food in your refrigerator have been defrosted and spoiled. Now if you see that happened – that the frozen food is all squishy soft, the best thing to do is to throw it out right away. But even if it's frozen solid when you check, that doesn't mean you're in the clear. That's because food freezes again when electricity comes back. So you can't notice it was thawed. This can be a major threat to your health because the food may spread salmonella and other bacteria. The food can stay safe without power at least 4 hours, only if the fridge is left unopened. The door of the fridge should be closed as much as possible to keep the cold temperature. The food in the freezer can stay safe without power for 48 hours, but only if it is full. The food is safe in the freezer for 24 hours if it is half-full. But if it's re-frozen, how do you know? Here is a trick you can use to find out how long your freezer was without any power. This way you will discover if your food may be consumed or it spent too much time being warm. Pour some water into a cup and place it in the freezer. When there is only ice in the cup, place the coin on the top of the cup and put it back into the freezer. Next time you come back from a long trip, take a look at the coin. If the coin is still at the top or in the middle of the ice cubes in the cup, there was no electricity, but only for a short period, which is why the water was only partly melted. In addition, if the coin is at the bottom of the cup, it shows that there was no electricity for a long period, which caused the water to dissolve completely and thus the coin sank to the bottom. If this is the case for your freezer, do not consume the food that is in your freezer. That's this week's tip. Do you have an RV tip or suggestion for me? You can use the “Leave Voicemail” link at Roadtreking.com. Just click it and then use the built-in microphone on your computer or mobile devise to record a message to me. You can do it over as many times as you want, until you are satisfied. And then you just click a button and it comes right to my email inbox. I love hearing from you!

On August 21, 2017, millions of people across the United States will see nature's most wondrous spectacle — a total eclipse of the Sun. It is a scene of unimaginable beauty; the Moon completely blocks the Sun, daytime becomes a deep twilight, and the Sun's corona shimmers in the darkened sky. In this week's podcast, we offer a guide to understand, prepare for, and view this rare celestial event. We interview Michael Zeiler, the founder of the Great American Eclipse website, who tells us why RVers are in the best position to view this stupendous event. That interview is coming up in just a few minutes, along with audience Q&A, lots of RV News and tips and an off the beaten path report. Click the player below to Listen Now or scroll down through the show note details. When you see a time code hyperlink, you can click it to jump directly to that segment of the podcast. [spp-player] Show Notes for Episode #32 March 22, 2017 of Roadtreking - The RV Lifestyle Podcast: MONOLOGUE Here's the link to the post from our Facebook Group that Jennifer and Mike talked about, the story of the snakeskin in the RV: [spp-timestamp time="4:22"] https://www.facebook.com/groups/roadtreking/permalink/775652012593780/  JENNIFER'S TIP OF THE WEEK Jennifer Have you ever had trouble sleeping in your RV at night because it's too bright? Then listen to listener Nancy Richardson's tip on making your own black out curtains. [spp-timestamp time="9:29"] Great tip! Do you have one? Well consider this an invitation send me your tips and suggestions for the RV lifestyle. You can use the “Leave Voicemail” link at Roadtreking.com. Just click it and then use the built-in microphone on your computer or mobile devise to record a message to me. You can do it over as many times as you want, until you are satisfied. And then you just click a button and it comes right to my email inbox. I love hearing from you! Jennifer's tip of the week is brought to you by RadPower Bikes (www.RadPowerBikes.com_… an electric bike manufacturer offering direct to consumer pricing on powerful premium electric bikes. Now with free shipping! LISTENER QUESTIONS OF THE WEEK: Kevin asks about the Volcano Grill… Mike shares his thoughts about this $145 three-fuel portable camping grill. [spp-timestamp time="14:24"] Two email questions this week: From Neal: Just wondering if you have encountered any problems with using BioDiesel in your Roadtreck.  I have the same chassis with a Winnebago unit and I'm planning a cross country trip this Summer.  Did you encounter places where you could not find regular diesel and if so, were there any problems using BioDiesel? [spp-timestamp time="17:30"] From Anette: Greetings! I have recently found your website and can't stay long enough to hear enough! I am in the process of purchasing my first Roadtrek! It is a 2009 170 popular with 25,000 miles, one owner. Your podcasts have been soooo very helpful. I have wanted a Roadtrek for the last ten years and have been actively been look for 3 years. My question is do you have any recommendations for a company for extended warranties? You might talk about it on one of your shows, but I have a ton to listen to. Thank you very much for your helpful tips and information. [spp-timestamp time="21:25"] Sponsoring this part of the podcast is Van City RV in St. Louis, and their Partner Dealerships Creston RV in Kalispell, Montana, and Wagon Trail RV in Las Vegas. Bringing You the largest Inventory of class B's from three locations. PET TIP OF THE WEEK We all know that humans need skin protection from too much sun. But do you dogs do, too? No granted, dogs heavy fur cast minimize the risk over much of their bodies but one part of them is very susceptible to sun damage: Their nose. [spp-timestamp time="26:07"] A sunburned nose on your dog can be painful, and they can also increase your dog's risk of cancer. Search for sunscreens that are designed specifically for dogs,

Are you planning your 2017 RV travels? Be sure to include Canada this year. There's no better time to visit our neighbor to the north as the nation proudly celebrates its 150th birthday. And Canada's amazing National Parks are making it particularly attractive for RVers this year with a pass that allows free entrance all year long, no matter where you're from, Canada, the U.S. or anywhere else. We'll tell you how to get one and offer lots of suggestions on what to see and where to go in Canada this year….coming up in our interview segment of the podcast. Plus tips for you, your pets and your on the go technology, as well as audience questions, RV news of the week and the RV calendar… all this coming up in episode 131 of the Roadtreking RV Lifestyle podcast. Click the player below to Listen Now or scroll down through the show note details. When you see a time code hyperlink, you can click it to jump directly to that segment of the podcast. [spp-player] Complete Show Notes for Episode #131 March 15, 2017 of Roadtreking - The RV Lifestyle Podcast: Save the Date! Mark down April 27-29 if you are in the American Southwest within driving distance of Phoenix, AZ. Jennifer and I will be there that weekend making personal appearances, meeting and greeting folks at the big Class B RV show and expo sponsored by the good folks at La Mesa RV. [spp-timestamp time="8:29"] There's a free BBQ that Saturday, demos of the latest in Class B technology and displays featuring the latest models from Roadtrek and others. We'll have more to say about this but for now, if you can get there, put it on your calendar…April 27-29, 2017 in the Phoenix AZ area. JENNIFER'S TIP OF THE WEEK Jennifer Our Roadtreking friend Mary Z recently shared a fascinating article from Outdoor magazine that notes sixteen hundred people go missing from our public lands each year. They're on a hike or jogging or exploring, usually not from camp or a road and they are never seen again. We'll put a link to the article from the magazine on the Roadtreking-dot-com blog but Mary, who used to work for the Forest Service posted this on our Roadtreking Facebook Group that I think is worth passing along here on the podcast. [spp-timestamp time="10:55"] Says Mary: “I am retired Forest Service and I have seen this happen so many times people disappear without a trace. If you are solo make sure people know where you are headed. I witnessed people disappear on Forest Service roads, and no one had an inkling they where they were. We found several dead in unexpected locations. Let your family know your plans and if you hike solo, as I do, take less risk and sign in to those trail head logs, your life may depend on it.” Mary's post brought some good responses and even more tips: Said Rick: “Always carry a little, but loud, whistle. I include one in my first aid kit, camera bag and glove compartment” Another Facebook reader noted: “My husband always lets me know which trail he is taking and what time he should be back by.” And Connie added: “Be very cautious following your GPS. More than once we have been directed to forest service or Township roads totally unsuitable for a vehicle, especially a Roadtrek. Keep road maps up front (along with common sense). “ Good tips all! And be sure to send me your tips and suggestions for the RV lifestyle. You can use the “Leave Voicemail” link at Roadtreking.com. Just click it and then use the built-in microphone on your computer or mobile devise to record a message to me. You can do it over as many times as you want, until you are satisfied. And then you just click a button and it comes right to my email inbox. I love hearing from you! Jennifer's tip of the week is brought to you by RadPower Bikes (www.RadPowerBikes.com_… an electric bike manufacturer offering direct to consumer pricing on powerful premium electric bikes. Now with free shipping! LISTENER QUESTIONS OF THE WEEK: Sue is getting ready for a three month RV trip and ha...

We love hearing how other people use their RV. In this episode of the Roadtreking RV Podcast we meet Jim and Carolyn Diepenbruck who have one of the most inspirational stories we've ever encountered about how they use their RV to help them bring support and encouragement to Gold Star families who have lost loved ones to conflict in the armed services. You'll definitely want to tune in to meet the Diepenbrucks, subjects of our interview of the week. Plus, lots of email questions, reader tips and helpful RV news and information. Click the player below to Listen Now or scroll down through the show note details. When you see a time code hyperlink, you can click it to jump directly to that segment of the podcast. [spp-player] Show Notes for Episode #129 March 1, 2017 of Roadtreking - The RV Lifestyle Podcast: Rhonda Phipps roasts Starburst candies on marshmallow sticks JENNIFER'S TIP OF THE WEEK Today's tip is a fun one… and tasty, at that! [spp-timestamp time="11:12"] Quick now: What do you roast around a campfire at night? Marshmallows, sure. We all love gooey marshmallows and s'mores. But there's another treat you can put on that marshmallow stick. Listen up as our friend Rhonda Phipps shares an alternative – Star Burst candy! Thanks Rhonda! And be sure to send me your tips and suggestions for the RV lifestyle. You can use the “Leave Voicemail” link at Roadtreking.com. Just click it and then use the built-in microphone on your computer or mobile devise to record a message to me. You can do it over as many times as you want, until you are satisfied. And then you just click a button and it comes right to my email inbox. I love hearing from you! Jennifer's tip of the week is brought to you by RadPower Bikes (www.RadPowerBikes.com_… an electric bike manufacturer offering direct to consumer pricing on powerful premium electric bikes. Now with free shipping! And if you are attending the Portland RV show March 8-12 be sure to see Rad Power Bikes on display! LISTENER QUESTIONS OF THE WEEK: Listener Don has a question about the new Hymer Activ RV, a relative new Class B in the North American market. You can find more info at http://www.gohymer.com/ [spp-timestamp time="15:13"] Here's a list of where you can see the Activ at an upcoming RV show - http://www.gohymer.com/upcoming-tradeshows-and-events/ Here's an Activ dealer list http://www.gohymer.com/dealer-locator/ Meanwhile, here are some email questions that came in this week: From Alan: Newbie question. If I park my RV at home and it has a 30amp cord, how do I plug it in to a cord from my house? [spp-timestamp time="17:40"] From Nancy: This question is for Jennifer. Please talk about driving your motorhome. I know my husband wishes I would drive more but, frankly, it scares me. I know you drive. I guess I need a little female persuasion that tells it like it really is, rather than my husband's advice to “just get behind the wheel and do it!” Do you know what I mean? Men! Thanks in advance. [spp-timestamp time="18:53"] Sponsoring this part of the podcast is Van City RV in St. Louis, and their Partner Dealerships Creston RV in Kalispell, Montana, and Wagon Trail RV in Las Vegas. Bringing You the largest Inventory of class B's from three locations. PET TIP OF THE WEEK This week's pet tip is for those of you who travel with cats, although I would think those who have very small dogs will also want to take notice of it. [spp-timestamp time="24:44"] It comes from reader Ken Sowell, who passes along this valuable information; Dear Mike and Jennifer: I listened to the tip on lost pets on the podcast this week and an additional comment.  We travel with our two cats.  When we checked into Banff National Park for a stopover on our way to Alaska, the check-in ranger saw one our cats who rides on the right dash in the windshield.  She warned that coyotes in the park were picking off pet cats and we should be cautious with our pets in the park.

With warmer weather, we are spending more and more time outdoors again and that means more exposure to a tiny creature that poses big problems. I'm talking about ticks, a biting, blood-sucking bug not much bigger than a pinhead. But they are nothing to take lightly. Ticks are everywhere, increasing in numbers, and spreading a serious illness called Lyme Disease. You need to listen to our interview his week with a top expert on tick infestation and Lyme Disease, a very real threat to any RVer who spends a lot of time outdoors. Also this weeks, lots of tips, listener questions, RV News of the Week, the RV Calendatr and an off the beaten path report Click the player below to Listen Now or scroll down through the show note details. When you see a time code hyperlink, you can click it to jump directly to that segment of the podcast. [spp-player] Show Notes for Episode #128 2/22/17 of Roadtreking - The RV Lifestyle Podcast: JENNIFER'S TIP OF THE WEEK We've talked before about a great product called Reflectix, an insulating product that comes in rolls and can be easily cut to fit inside and around your RV's windows. Most recently, we used it on a winter camping trip in Michigan's Upper Peninsula and it did a great of keeping our Roadtrek motorhome warm by preventing the inside heat from escaping through the windows. But you can also use Reflectix in the summer to keep your air-conditioned coolness in, and the outside heat…out! A listener named Tom tells us the Reflectix should be applied on the outside of the window, not the inside. Don't put inside the window because it would reflect too much heat onto the window and could damage the glass. Mount it outside, with stick on Velcro, just as Tom suggests! [spp-timestamp time="8:45"] And be sure to send me your tips and suggestions for the RV lifestyle. You can use the “Leave Voicemail” link at Roadtreking.com. Just click it and then use the built-in microphone on your computer or mobile devise to record a message to me. You can do it over as many times as you want, until you are satisfied. And then you just click a button and it comes right to my email inbox. I love hearing from you! Jennifer's tip of the week is brought to you by RadPower Bikes (www.RadPowerBikes.com_… an electric bike manufacturer offering direct to consumer pricing on powerful premium electric bikes. Now with free shipping! LISTENER QUESTIONS OF THE WEEK: Joyce has air in her water lines and wants to know how to get it out [spp-timestamp time="12:42"] Bill saw our recent Videoblog about our trip south and through Nashville and wants to know how to beat rush hour traffic in big cities [spp-timestamp time="14:40"] And Bob asks about amateur radio and RVing. [spp-timestamp time="18:05"] Sponsoring this part of the podcast is Van City RV in St. Louis, and their Partner Dealerships Creston RV in Kalispell, Montana, and Wagon Trail RV in Las Vegas. Bringing You the largest Inventory of class B's from three locations. PET TIP OF THE WEEK What could be worse than losing your pet while on an RV trip? [spp-timestamp time="23:26"] Bo's collar with name and phone number engraved on it It happens and it happens much too often. Our pets can be stressed and confused in new environments and be frightened by those unfamiliar surroundings. Do you know that lack of identification means as few as 14% of pets ever find their way home after getting lost? So for starters, always have your pets wear a collar with ID. Our Bo has his name and our phone number engraved on his collar, We don't have to worry about a metal tag getting snagged and falling off. But there's even a better way: Microchipping. About the size of a rice grain, a microchip is inserted under the skin in less than a second. It needs no battery and can be scanned by a vet or an animal control officer in seconds. If your pet gets lost and is taken to a vet clinic or animal shelter, your pet will be scanned for a microchip to reveal his unique ID ...