Wandering Gypsy RV Life

Stan Cromlish

Wandering Gypsy RV Life is your go-to podcast for all things RV living, adventure, and life on the open road. Hosted by Stan Cromlish, this show dives into the highs, lows, and unexpected moments of the RV lifestyle—from the first spark of wanderlust to the reality of full-time travel. Whether you’re a seasoned RVer or just dreaming of breaking free, tune in for stories, lessons, and insights on navigating life one highway at a time. Buckle up and join the journey—because the road is calling!

  1. 4d ago

    Know Your Outs Before You Commit the Rig | Margin Preserves Choices

    A safe entrance means very little if your RV cannot safely get back out. After an Airstream trailer was destroyed in a collision with a train in Minot, North Dakota—while its occupants thankfully escaped safely—Stan reflects on the importance of situational awareness before committing an RV to a railroad crossing, fuel lane, narrow road, crowded parking lot, or difficult campground entrance. Traveling with 36-foot Bertie Bea, a four-foot towbar, and 20-foot Rosie means Stan cannot simply back out when a route becomes blocked or a turn proves too tight. Every fuel stop requires looking beyond the pump: Is the canopy high enough? Can the motorhome complete the turn? Will the tow car track safely? Is there another exit if the planned one becomes blocked? This episode explores why RV travelers should: Wait until the entire rig can clear railroad tracksKnow the complete path before entering a confined spaceUnderstand their rig’s height, length, turning radius, and tail swingRefuse to let another driver’s impatience control a safety decisionInvestigate the situation before surrendering their optionsPreserve an off-ramp whenever possibleRemember that an uneventful outcome does not make an unsafe decision safeMargin is more than extra time. It is room to observe, stop, think, and change the plan before a difficult situation becomes an emergency. Before you commit the rig, ask one simple question: Do I know how I’m getting out? Keep people educated and safe. LINKS Wandering Gypsy RV Life: https://wanderinggypsyrvlife.com Rolling Smooth RV Books: https://bit.ly/rollingsmooth Support Our Journey: https://buymeacoffee.com/wanderinggypsyrvlife TechnoRV — Adventure More. Worry Less: https://technorv.com?Click=12127 Disclosure: The TechnoRV link is an affiliate link. Wandering Gypsy RV Life may earn a commission from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you. Beyond the Chutes: https://beyondthechutes.show #WanderingGypsyRVLife #RVLife #RVSafety #KnowYourOuts #RollingSmooth #MarginPreservesChoices #SituationalAwareness #RailroadSafety #MotorhomeLife #RVTravel #RVPodcast #KeepPeopleEducatedAndSafe

    Know Your Outs Before You Commit the Rig | Margin Preserves Choices
  2. Aug 22

    From Covered Wagons to Modern RVs | Exploring the RV/MH Hall of Fame with Jennifer Schillaci

    How did RV travel evolve from covered wagons and early roadside campers into the modern motorhomes we know today? In this episode of the Wandering Gypsy RV Life Podcast, I’m joined by my friend Jennifer Schillaci of Learn to RV for a conversation recorded at the RV/MH Hall of Fame in Elkhart, Indiana. Jennifer and I talk about the history preserved inside the museum, the surprising connections that hold the RV community together, factory tours, RV manufacturing, quality versus production speed, and the stories that can disappear when nobody takes the time to preserve them. We also discuss life as traveling content creators, the friendships built at rallies and industry events, and why adventures are usually better when shared with a friend—even if I still travel with my three favorite people: me, myself, and I. Come along as we connect the covered wagons of America’s westward migration with the modern RV lifestyle and explore the people, vehicles, and stories that helped shape life on the road. FEATURED GUEST Jennifer Schillaci Learn to RV https://learntorv.com EXPLORE MORE Wandering Gypsy RV Life https://wanderinggypsyrvlife.com Rolling Smooth RV book series https://wanderinggypsyrvlife.com/rollingsmooth RV/MH Hall of Fame https://www.rvmhhalloffame.org TechnoRV https://technorv.com?Click=12127 Beyond the Chutes Podcast with Doug Simcox https://beyondthechutes.show If you enjoyed the episode, follow or subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a fellow traveler. Real RV life. Real lessons. Real adventures. Some links may be affiliate links. If you purchase through an affiliate link, I may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.

    From Covered Wagons to Modern RVs | Exploring the RV/MH Hall of Fame with Jennifer Schillaci
  3. Jul 25

    Questions Became Answers | Why Good RV Diagnosis Starts with Margin, Not Assumptions

    Last week, we talked about building margin. This week, I had the opportunity to live it. After several unusual symptoms began showing up in Bertie Bea, I decided to arrive in Red Bay early instead of rushing from one appointment to the next. What followed wasn’t a week of throwing parts at problems. It became a lesson in slowing down, asking better questions, trusting the right experts, and discovering that symptoms are not diagnoses. From a chassis inspection and hydraulic repairs to airflow improvements and a handful of simple fixes, every question that week gradually became an answer. More importantly, I was reminded that sometimes the best repair isn’t the one that just fixes your RV… it’s the one that quiets your mind. In this episode, we talk about: Why building margin leads to better decisionsThe danger of assuming the worstWhy symptoms are not diagnosesThe value of finding the right expertHow reducing uncertainty makes the next good decision obviousWhy peace of mind may be the most valuable repair you’ll ever makeWhether you own an RV, tow horses, or simply enjoy the journey, this week’s lesson reaches far beyond the campground. Support Our Journey ☕ Buy Me a Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/wanderinggypsyrvlife 📚 Rolling Smooth RV Book Series https://bit.ly/rollingsmooth 🌎 Wandering Gypsy RV Life https://wanderinggypsyrvlife.com 🧭 Rolling Smooth Mindset https://rollingsmoothmindset.com 🛒 TechnoRV (Affiliate Link) https://technorv.com?Click=12127 🤠 Beyond the Chutes Podcast https://beyondthechutes.show Because in the end, the goal isn’t to eliminate every future problem. The goal is to reduce uncertainty enough that the next good decision becomes obvious. #RVLife #RVMaintenance #Tiffin #RedBay #RollingSmooth #TravelPodcast

    Questions Became Answers | Why Good RV Diagnosis Starts with Margin, Not Assumptions
  4. Jul 18

    Sometimes That’s the Work: Why Margin Creates Better Decisions

    Have you ever had one of those weeks where it feels like someone walked over to the chessboard of your life and moved six pieces all at once? This week was one of those weeks. Maintenance schedules changed. Travel plans shifted. New work opportunities appeared. Decisions had to be made before circumstances made them for me. At first, it felt like I hadn’t accomplished much. Then I realized something. Sometimes the most important work we do isn’t something we can hold in our hands. Sometimes the work is simply making thoughtful decisions before life forces us into desperate ones. In this episode, we continue exploring the Rolling Smooth Mindset by looking beyond financial margin and into something even more valuable: Margin creates options. Whether you’re driving across Wyoming in dangerous winds, adjusting RV travel plans, managing maintenance, or navigating everyday life, having room to think often makes the difference between reacting in panic and responding with wisdom. We’ll talk about: Why margin creates better decisionsWhy consistency matters more than perfectionDon’t confuse urgency with importanceDon’t pour concrete in panicThoughtful progress over perfect outcomesWhy sometimes… that’s the workBecause the goal was never to create a perfect trip. The goal is to keep learning, keep growing, and keep making the next good decision. Episode Links 🌐 Wandering Gypsy RV Life https://wanderinggypsyrvlife.com 📚 Rolling Smooth RV Book Series https://wanderinggypsyrvlife.com/rollingsmooth ☕ Support the Journey https://buymeacoffee.com/wanderinggypsyrvlife 🛒 Amazon Storefront https://www.amazon.com/shop/stanc 🚍 TechnoRV https://technorv.com?Click=12127 🤠 Beyond the Chutes Podcast https://beyondthechutes.show #WanderingGypsyRVLife #RollingSmoothMindset #RVLife #FullTimeRV #RVTravel #RVLiving #MotorhomeLife #RVCommunity #RVSafety #DecisionMaking #Margin #ThoughtfulProgress #DontPourConcreteInPanic #Consistency #AdventureMore #LifeLessons #TravelSmarter #KeepRollingSmooth

    Sometimes That’s the Work: Why Margin Creates Better Decisions
  5. Jul 11

    The Rolling Smooth Mindset Isn’t About Perfect

    This week, I’m coming to you from the 30th Annual Chas. B. Davis Memorial PRCA Rodeo in Ringgold, Georgia. What started out as a scheduled interview with PRCA Music Director Kye Todd turned into something completely different after a sound system issue forced us to postpone our conversation. Instead, I share a lesson that has become a cornerstone of the Rolling Smooth Mindset. Over the past few days, I’ve intentionally slowed down, recharged my own batteries, and reminded myself that consistency doesn’t mean running yourself into the ground. Sometimes the smartest decision isn’t making another repair. It’s creating enough margin to think clearly. When the bathroom door in Bertie Bea stopped latching because an interior wall had shifted, I didn’t tear half the coach apart in a campground. Instead, I used a pair of Command Hooks and a ball bungee to safely mitigate the problem until my scheduled repair appointment in Red Bay. It’s not elegant. It isn’t permanent. But it’s the right solution for this moment. Join me as we talk about why urgency and importance aren’t always the same thing, why the driver needs maintenance just as much as the RV, and why sometimes the best repair is the one that allows you to continue your journey safely. The Rolling Smooth Mindset isn’t about perfection. It’s about making thoughtful decisions. Resources & Links 🌐 Wandering Gypsy RV Life https://wanderinggypsyrvlife.com 📚 Rolling Smooth RV Book Series https://bit.ly/rollingsmooth 🛒 Amazon Storefront https://www.amazon.com/shop/stanc ☕ Support Our Journey (Buy Me a Coffee) https://buymeacoffee.com/wanderinggypsyrvlife 🛒 TechnoRV (Affiliate Partner) https://technorv.com?Click=12127 🤠 Beyond the Chutes Podcast with Doug Simcox https://beyondthechutes.show Connect With Wandering Gypsy RV Life Website: https://wanderinggypsyrvlife.com Podcast: https://rss.com/podcasts/wandering-gypsy-rv-life/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WanderingGypsyRVLife If this episode encouraged you or helped you look at RV travel a little differently, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with another RVer or traveler. Every share helps more people discover the Rolling Smooth Mindset and keeps Bertie Bea and Rosie rolling down the road. Remember… The only way to fail is to quit. Travel Rolling Smooth.

    The Rolling Smooth Mindset Isn’t About Perfect
  6. Jul 4

    Huckleberry Hideaway, A Hidden Gem in Minden

    In this episode of The Wandering Gypsy RV Life Podcast, we visit Huckleberry Hideaway Cabins & RV Resort in Minden, Louisiana, and take a golf cart tour with owner Lundy McKittrick. Lundy shares the vision behind the park, what it has taken to build Phase One, and how they are learning and improving as they go. We talk about wide RV sites, preserving the property’s beautiful trees, primitive camping, cabins, glamping RVs, free firewood, laundry facilities, the dog park, walking trails, geocaching, campground insurance, surge protection, water pressure, and a little RV engineering required to get Bertie Bea level. And yes… somehow the conversation even finds its way to Sasquatch sightings in Louisiana. If you’re looking for a quiet hidden gem with room to breathe, Huckleberry Hideaway Cabins & RV Resort deserves a spot on your travel list. Links mentioned in this episode: 🏕️ Huckleberry Hideaway Cabins & RV Resort https://www.huckleberryhideaway.com 🚍 TechnoRV https://technorv.com?Click=12127 🤠 Beyond the Chutes https://beyondthechutes.show 📚 Rolling Smooth RV Book Series https://bit.ly/rollingsmooth 🌎 Wandering Gypsy RV Life https://wanderinggypsyrvlife.com #WanderingGypsyRVLife #RVLife #RVTravel #RVPongcast #CampgroundReview #CampgroundSpotlight #HuckleberryHideaway #MindenLouisiana #LouisianaCampgrounds #RVResort #FullTimeRVLife #RVEducation #RVSafety #Geocaching #Sasquatch #Bigfoot #RollingSmooth

    Huckleberry Hideaway, A Hidden Gem in Minden

About

Wandering Gypsy RV Life is your go-to podcast for all things RV living, adventure, and life on the open road. Hosted by Stan Cromlish, this show dives into the highs, lows, and unexpected moments of the RV lifestyle—from the first spark of wanderlust to the reality of full-time travel. Whether you’re a seasoned RVer or just dreaming of breaking free, tune in for stories, lessons, and insights on navigating life one highway at a time. Buckle up and join the journey—because the road is calling!