RV Lifestyle RV Podcast Mike Wendland

This week on the RV Podcast:









* Some new Dog Reentry Rules from Canada will make it much more challenging to bring your pet back home to the US. The same goes for Mexico.







* There’s a new scam going around reported by many RVers. They get an email telling them they have to pay a $50 late fee for missing a road toll. If you get that email, don't click on it.







* And in our Mike & Jens Storytime at the end of the podcast, we’ll share why a simple tape measure is a great illustration to jumpstart your RV Lifestyle plans.







* All this plus the RV News of the Week and your RV questions coming up in Episode #498 of RV Lifestyle’s RV Podcast









You can watch the video version from our RV Lifestyle YouTube Channel by clicking the player below.















If you prefer an audio-only podcast, you can hear us through your favorite podcast app or listen now through the player below.















Well, that didn’t take long! Our Fall Gathering at the Gulf for October has sold out. It took three days. If you want to get on the waitlist, go here and read all about it.







And we’re just three weeks away from our summer Gather and Groove meetup in Shipshewana, IN, in June. A highlight for that gathering will be an Amish dinner followed by a show from the Temptations!















We’re on the road this week, in the Southwest. We’re hitting all the attractions… Las Vegas, Hoover Dam, the Colorado River, the Grand Canyon… and catching some great desert sunsets. We've been updating our social media channels with highlights and have a full video coming in a week or two.







SOCIAL MEDIA BUZZ - Wendy Bowyer















Wendy Bowyer reports on the hot issues most talked about this past week on social media and our RV Lifestyle Community group.







In the RV Lifestyle Community General Discussions Space, Bud and Sue recently warned everyone about a SCAM. In the scam you get a text message from "SunPass" saying you owe money for tolls, and to avoid a $50 late charge, you have to go to a website to pay immediately. SunPass, is of course a toll road program in parts of the country, generally the east and southeast, and Bud and Sue wanted people to be aware.







Many thanked them for this warning and Sharon said she had just received such a text but it was from a different toll road pass company and she knew it was incorrect because she hadn't been anywhere.







And Joe suggested you still check with your toll road company to make sure no one messed with your account, and he shared a story out of New York where thieves were making fake license plates and using those to fool the automatic toll road stations and get out of paying.







I did a little digging and SunPass issued a statement recently that the company would never text people seeking immediate payment, so thank you Bud and Sue for sharing that!







Also in the RV Lifestyle Community, in the Traveling with Pets Space, Teena asked if anyone put a Dog on Board sticker in their RV when they leave their pets alone?

This week on the RV Podcast:









* Walmart camping: Is it safe to camp at Walmart?







* Do sway bars really help with towing?







* Are YouTube influencers ruining our National Parks?







* All this, plus the RV News of the Week and your questions coming up in Episode #497 of the RV Podcast









You can watch the video version from our RV Lifestyle YouTube Channel by clicking the player below.















If you prefer an audio-only podcast, you can hear us through your favorite podcast app or listen now through the player below. And if you want to read the entire transcript of the podcast - click the CC on the player!























Gathering at the Gulf - Oct. 8-11, Navarre, FL.















Announcing the RV Lifestyle “Gathering At the Gulf,” our fall meetup on the crystal clear waters of Florida’s fabled Emerald Coast, held at an upscale RV resort right on the shore of Santa Rosa Sound in beautiful Navarre, FL.







Imagine mile after mile of pristine, white sparking beaches and crisp Emerald-colored water. Smell the warm salt air. Feel the ever-so-gentle breeze following off the Gulf and hear the gentle purr of the waves swishing against the shore.







The location is in the Florida Panhandle, halfway between Fort Walton Beach and Pensacola. Navarre Beach is our entry to the National Island National Seashore. It is a place of unspoiled natural beauty that truly stands apart. It is the longest stretch of federally protected seashore in the United States that runs for 160 miles from east to west.







We will be camping just minutes from this breathtaking spot in the luxurious Santa Rosa Waterfront RV Resort located right on the bay and just minutes from the pristine sandy beaches.







October is Florida’s most beautiful time of the year. Gone is the humidity of summer. The days are comfortably warm, the nights pleasantly cool. 







Sign up and get more info now at https://rvlifestyle.com/fall24















SOCIAL MEDIA BUZZ - Wendy Bowyer















Wendy Bowyer reports on the hot issues most talked about this past week on social media and our RV Lifestyle Community group.







In the RVLifestyle Community's Troubleshooting Space, Jon asked if sway bars would help control his trailer  with high winds. Recently he white-knuckled it all the way home in 30 MPH winds and did not want to repeat that experience, so he asked about options.







Bob and Roxy told Jon they have used a Reese Strait Line active sway control and weight distribution kit on their travel trailer and it helped a lot.







Randall said his family has learned sway bars on a travel trailer is a must. 







And Ari and Jesse said they have a Blue Ox weight distribution hitch with sway bars and they often don't even know their 30-foot Airstream is behind them - even on windy days and even with big trucks passing.







So I think Jon got his answer!







Meanwhile, in the General Discussions Space, Traci was on a road trip and was going to stop at a
Mike Wendland
full
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56:56



Tourons, TechTalk & Tales from the Road
https://rvlifestyle.com/tourons-techtalk-tales-from-the-road/
Wed, 08 May 2024 10:00:00 +0000
https://rvlifestyle.com/?p=109472
This week on the RV Lifestyle RV Podcast:

In the interview of the week segment, tech talks about lithium batteries, how to replace your existing AGM or wet cell batteries, how to pair lithium with an inverter, and what you need for wiring.

Yellowstone National Park just reopened for the new season and already, there’s been a touron incident - a tourist moron who dangerously messed with the wildlife.

And we introduce a new segment at the end of the podcast - Mike & Jen’s storytime, in which we share a tale and lesson we’ve learned from our many years on the road. This week, we talk about the time we were robbed!

All this plus the RV News of the Week and your questions coming up in Episode #496 of the RV Podc

This week on the RV Podcast:









* In the interview of the week, we have practical RV driving tips from an expert on operating, backing up, and navigating mountains and steep hills in an RV.







* A Massachusetts couple dropped off their RV to get repaired. The dealer then moved the RV to an unsecured parking area down the street, where it was then stolen. The dealer basically shrugged and said it wasn't their problem. We’ll explain in the news of the week.







* Good News! The National Parks Service has abandoned its plan to remove the wild horses from Theodore Roosevelt National Park thanks to public pressure.







* Plus the latest in RV recalls and your questions coming up in Episode #495 of the RV Podcast









You can watch the video version on our RV Lifestyle YouTube Channel by clicking the player below.















If you prefer an audio-only podcast, you can hear us through your favorite podcast app or listen now through the player below.



















SOCIAL MEDIA BUZZ - Wendy Bowyer















Wendy Bowyer reports on the hot issues most talked about this past week on social media and our RV Lifestyle Community group.







In the RVLifestyle Community General Discussions Space, Angelina asked Where do you store your shoes and how do you keep the bed up so you can store things under it? 







For the bed up question, Lynnette suggested she get stronger hydraulic arms to make this easier to lift - sounds like a simple and relatively inexpensive fix. And for the shoes, many weighed in. Scott suggested Angelina try hanging canvas shoe pockets along the base of the bed. He said this could easily store about a dozen pairs. Kathy said they use white racks from Walmart that are meant for kitchen cabinets but work great on the shelf that runs along the foot of her bed. And Ari and Jesse suggested getting a shoe organizer, one that could hang over a door.







This next question in our RVLifestyle Community was in the Apps & Planning Tools Space and I have to admit it - I was the one who asked this question. In last week's podcast I learned that I could get a 10-cent per gallon discount by using the Love's App and I wondered what other good fuel apps I was missing out on.







So many good suggestions in this thread, had to share them with you. Many recommended Gas Buddy to see which nearest station had the best price. Several people pair that with Upside, which is an app where you scan your fuel receipts and to get cash back for just buying what you would normally buy. I thought that one was super interesting.







One person said he is getting $1 per gallon off the first three fill ups by using the Chevron app. Others that came up often included Shell, Costco, Kroger, and Good Sam's for Pilot and Flying J. The diesel users often recommended Open Roads.







Meanwhile, over on our RVLifestyle Facebook Group, Ro asked, What do people think is best for putting down the black tank to break up waste material? Ro tried a few things, but was still searching for what is best. This question comes up a LOT but there are also common recommendations.







Many say they use Unique RV Digest or Happy Camper with great success. Many have homemade mixtures,

This week on the RV Podcast:









* The chain of Love's Travel Centers is opening up more and more space for RV camping at a truck stop, not just overnighting, but multiple night stays if you want. We’ll share the details in our Interview of the Week,







* What’s up with this? Crackerbarrel is closing some if its restaurants where RVers like to overnight.







* Where can you get the oil changed on your Class C motorhomes? Our RV Community has some practical suggestions.







* And answering one of our questions of the week, we tell you just how strong the wind has to be to flip an RV.







* All this, plus the RV News of the Week and much more coming up in Episode #494  of the RV Podcast









To watch a video version of the podcast, click the player below:















For an audio version, use the player below or download to your favorite podcast app.



















SOCIAL MEDIA BUZZ - Wendy Bowyer







Wendy Bowyer reports on the hot issues most talked about this past week on social media and our RV Lifestyle Community group.







In our RVLifestyle Community General Discussions Space, Russell asked: "Where can I go for an oil change for a gas Class C? I am new to a Class C, I've always had Fifth Wheels. I'm looking for a place in Houston to get an oil change. It's on a Ford e-450 Chassis, but the Ford dealers will not do oil changes on them. Does anybody have any ideas of where to look?"







Bob and Roxy suggested Russell find a semi repair shop that will do an oil change or a place like Flying J.







Marc and Brenda also suggested a semi repair shop and they went so far as to look one up in Houston, and while they had not been there personally,  confirmed on the shop's website they do oil changes, copied the phone number and shared the number with Russell. Talk about kindness! This is an example of what I love about our new community - people are so helpful and kind.







In our Community's Plumbing Space, Julie said she has a 2023 Imagine with a Dometic 300 series toilet. When she depresses the foot pedal to flush, a small amount of water drips from under the pedal. The tech at the RV dealer's service department said he flushed it multiple times without any leaks but as soon as they took it out again, Julie said it was doing the same thing so she asked if the group had any thoughts on what it might be.







Rita and Jeff said their valve used to drip like this, too, and they couldn't figure it out so they kept a small cloth to catch the water, which was a super tiny amount. This worked fine but when they replaced the base for another reason and got a new valve, the dripping stopped.







Ditto for Brenda and Marc. They bought another foot pedal part, and no more leak.







Meanwhile over in our RVLifestyle Facebook Group, we had a post that just took off like crazy last week. It was from Matthew and it said: "The usual progression of camping.  Year 5 is our actual current setup." Mathew shared a photo with five scenes.

This week on the RV Podcast:









* Are you ready for the great cicada invasion - the cicada Apocalypse? We’ll talk to one of North America’s top experts about what you may encounter soon on your camping trips.







* Can creditors seize your RV if you go bankrupt, even if it is your fulltime home? They did for an Arizona couple and we’ll tell you about it.







* National Park Week is almost here. And that means free entry at National Parks this coming Saturday, April 20.







* All this plus the RV News of the Week and your questions coming up in Episode #493 of the RV Podcast









You can watch the video version from our RV Lifestyle YouTube Channel by clicking the player below.















If you prefer an audio-only podcast, you can hear us through your favorite podcast app or listen now through the player below.



















We hope you've been watching our ongoing five-part video series on Class B RVs that we started over the weekend. It's on our RV Lifestyle YouTube channel, and we invite you to watch the series and subscribe to the channel. Just go to https://youtube.com/rvlifestyle.







SOCIAL MEDIA BUZZ - Wendy Bowyer















Wendy Bowyer reports on the hot issues most talked about this past week on social media and our RV Lifestyle Community group







In our RVLifestyle Community's Cooking Exchange Space, James asked What do you do with seasoning to keep it fresh? After all, the temperature and altitude changes we experience in an RV can vary greatly.







Doreen said during the camping season she leaves everything in her RV, but at the end of the season, brings it inside.







Despina, I love what she wrote. She said she makes a lot of her own spice blends, labels each, and when she is camping she will heat the spices in a dry pan to bring out their flavor. And she said airtight containers are key to keeping things fresh.







Brenda said she has had spices go bad, so she suggested James put some rice in with them, depending upon the type of shaker he has, to keep things fresh.







Also in our RVLifestyle Community, in the RV Travel/Planning/Trips space, we had a post from Paul that showed a big map of an epic trip he is doing this year on the East Coast. He is traveling 6,000 miles from North Carolina, going up the coast of the U.S. into the Canadian Maritimes. It looks like there are numerous stops planned for Maine, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island, and they are even going to attend an Iceberg Festival way up in Newfoundland.  Isn't it fun to see epic trips fellow campers have planned? Ken urged Paul to eat lots of lobster, and many in the group like Teena and Sheila encouraged Paul to share pictures - which he said he will do. We can't wait to follow along.







Meanwhile over on our RVLifestyle Facebook group, Amber asked: "How firm is the 10 year rule in RV parks?" And what she is asking about is a rule some campgrounds have prohibiting RVs that are more than 10 years old from camping there.







This sparked a big discussion - more than 300 comments - with many saying enforcement really varies.

This week on the RV Podcast:









* Do your headlights need aligning? If you are having trouble seeing the road while driving at night, your headlights could need adjustment. We’ll learn about this in the interview of the week.







* There’s a lot of controversy about excessive frame flex and fifth wheels these days. We’ll answer those concerns in our questions of the week segment.







* How to save money with all those road toll fees. Our RV Lifestyle Community shares some tips.







* All this and much more coming up in Episode #492 of the RV Podcast









You can watch the video version from our RV Lifestyle YouTube Channel by clicking the player below.















If you prefer an audio-only podcast, you can hear us through your favorite podcast app or listen now through the player below.



















Eclipse debrief















Well… what did you think of the eclipse? A lot of RVers sure watched it.







Over the weekend, we drove through the zone of totality along I-65 in Indiana and spotted lots of RVs. Campgrounds, Harvest Hosts, and state parks were filled, and farmers were renting out their fields for parking. All along I-65 in Indiana, roadside signs warned of big traffic jams after the event, urging people to stay put.







It’s been estimated that one-quarter of all eclipse tourists were RVers - and the excitement was palpable.







Campgrounds within the path of totality in the north opened early, and campgrounds throughout the country were fully booked.







Clubs and various groups held rallies. Airstream Club International members, for example, held nine rallies along the path. Then others were dry camping in places like Harvest Hosts, Boondockers Welcome, farmers' fields, and church parking lots all along the path.







New York, Texas, and other state parks were sold out for weeks, and it was THE talk in both our RVLifestyle Community and our RVLifestyle Facebook Group.







Jennifer and I just got home from three months of traveling, so we decided to stick this one out at our 10-acre Michigan property. But we were not too far off the path, so we were definitely outside watching the partial coverage of this not-to-be-missed event.







Our Current Whereabouts







We brought our fifth wheel back to Michigan after keeping it on our Tennessee property for the past three months. We have a busy camping season throughout the Great Lakes Region planned for the next couple of months.







If you're curious about our day-to-day activities, we share regular updates and photos on our rapidly growing RV Lifestyle Community at https://community.rvlifestyle.com







The Community is completely separate from Facebook and now has over 10,400 members. If you haven't become a part of it yet just go over to https://community.rvlifestyle.com. It is warm, welcoming,