The Smart RVer Podcast Eric Stark
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- Education
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Welcome to The Smart RVer Podcast, where we are dedicated to providing invaluable information on RV Maintenance and repairs tailored for DIY enthusiasts and all RV owners. Your host, Eric Stark, is here to guide you through every aspect of RV maintenance, making it accessible to even those who may not be hands-on with their RVs. Although RV maintenance takes up a large portion of the show, Eric and his co-host Alexis also discuss the RV Lifestyle for all types of RVers, The Next Stop, where they share RV and family-friendly destinations around the country, and finally, they wrap up the show with RV Envy where Eric spotlights products and tips and tricks on how to make your neighbors jealous of you RV.
But don't worry; this podcast is still your go-to resource, even if you prefer leaving the repairs to the professionals. Eric is committed to ensuring that every RV owner is well-informed about their vehicle's upkeep and repairs, empowering you with knowledge that will keep you confidently in control.
From your tires to the very roof that protects you, your family, and your investment, I'll cover each topic in a down-to-earth, easy-to-understand manner. No more sifting through the noise that plagues the internet today – I'll cut through the clutter to provide you with straightforward, practical advice.
Our episodes are designed to be concise and to the point, each episode lasting around 30 minutes. So why wait? Join us now and embark on a journey to become informed and empowered.
Listen Now!
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It's Time t De-Winterize Your RV and Hit the Road!
This is Eric Stark with The Smart RVer Podcast, delivering the smarts you need to enjoy the freedom of the RV Lifestyle without the fear of breaking down!
Enjoying the RV Life: How to find the perfect job on the road! The goal is to enjoy the RV life as much as possible, including finding a way to cover the costs of your adventure! Whether you need a little or a lot of income, Eric and Alexis can help you find something that fits your needs.
Staying On The Road: De-winterizing! It's a scary word to some, but not if you are part of The Smart RVer nation! Eric can put your fears to rest if you pay attention to his advice on how and when to properly de-winterize your RV. He tells you all about the do’s and don'ts of getting your RV ready to go this spring.
The Next Stop: Eric and Alexis delve into the wonderful world of Mugu State Park. The state park is an amazing place to visit! It has so much to offer from the views to the wildlife that is prominent in the area. The ocean offers a lot of activities for water lovers!
RV Envy: Water filters! Eric explains how important is to have one or more water filters to make your water more appealing smelling, even if it doesn't make it potable! Having a filter or two can really save your bacon!
Water Filter Video
Our Online Resources:
The Smart Rver YouTube Channel - Check Out Our No-Nonsense YouTube Videos
Sunpro Mfg - RV Sunshade, Windshield Covers & Slide Out Awning Fabrics
Hot Boat Ropes - Marine Cordage- Anchor Lines, Dock Lines, Tow Lines etc.
Top Rated Podcast - The Smart RVer Podcast Website
Check Out Our Tees, Mugs and Cool Stuff! -
The Complete Guide to Simplify RV Maintenance
This is Eric Stark with The Smart RVer Podcast, Delivering the smarts you need to enjoy the freedom of the RV Lifestyle without the fear of breaking down!
Enjoying the RV Life: Eric and Alexis delve into the world of packing the correct equipment in your RV for every trip! Its vital that you have what you need but you don’t overdo it either! It’s important to be smart when it comes to knowing what you need!
Staying On The Road: Eric emphasizes the significance of an RV as a substantial financial and emotional investment. He stresses the importance of maintenance to prevent the deterioration of this investment, particularly when the RV is a means to fulfill family activities and travel goals. The maintenance process is portrayed as manageable, requiring confidence, knowledge of personal skill limits, and basic tools.
The maintenance checklist includes various systems such as electrical, water, sanitation, appliances, ventilation, roof, house structure, LP (propane) system, and chassis. Eric advises on the need for tools but emphasizes that an extensive or top-of-the-line tool set is unnecessary. He also recommends keeping basic parts on hand, especially when traveling or when businesses are closed.
Eric acknowledges the availability of maintenance guides and YouTube videos but notes that they serve as general guides and individual experiences may differ. He compares an RV to a house, highlighting the complexity of its systems and suggesting that certain maintenance tasks may be within one's expertise while others may require professional assistance. The key is understanding the RV's various systems and navigating maintenance accordingly.
The Next Stop: Eric and Alexis travel over to Cody Wyoming and share all the gems that lay there! Its a great place to visit as a family and learn about the wild wild west! There's a big cowboy culture that you’re sure to enjoy, even if it's new to you or not exactly your thing! Plus if you have kids, this is the ideal place to visit.
RV Destinations Magazine- RVdestinationsmagazine.com
RV Envy: Eric talks about why you need to get yourself some sewer hose supports! Slunky and Camco carry some really good products and you can be sure to get what you need from either of these brands. Supports come in very handy at RV parks and help the sewage flow more easily!
Our Online Resources:
The Smart Rver YouTube Channel - Check Out Our No-Nonsense YouTube Videos
Sunpro Mfg - RV Sunshade, Windshield Covers & Slide Out Awning Fabrics
Hot Boat Ropes - Marine Cordage- Anchor Lines, Dock Lines, Tow Lines etc.
Top Rated Podcast - The Smart RVer Podcast Website
RV Roof Magic -
I think it is time to go into Maintenance Mode - New RV Sales Plummeting Along with Quality
This is Eric Stark with The Smart RVer Podcast, Delivering the smarts you need to enjoy the freedom of the RV Lifestyle without the fear of breaking down!
Enjoying the RV Life: Eric and Alexis discuss how you can be prepared for an emergency on the road. This type of assurance and preparedness can give RVers the peace of mind they need when traveling. It’s vital to have a first aid kit whether you’re traveling with or without family. Things happen, so being well equipped can make a huge difference in feeling safe and knowing how to handle scary situations.
Jase Medical Emergency Medications Use Coupon Code & Save 10 Bucks "SmartFirstAid"
My Medic RV First Aid Kits
Staying On The Road: Eric discusses the fluctuations in the RV industry over the years, influenced by economic factors, fuel prices, wars, and interest rates. He highlights how the industry experienced a boom after 2008/09 but underwent a gradual decline in quality. The pandemic led to a surge in demand, but the industry faced challenges like employee turnover and quality issues.
Eric suggests to enter maintenance mode due to the industry slowing down. He advises against buying new or used RVs at this time, expressing concerns about the industry's focus on efficiency and technology rather than addressing quality concerns. Instead, he recommend improving and fixing existing RVs, cautioning that selling a pandemic RV to buy a post-pandemic one may not solve underlying problems.
The Next Stop: Eric and Alexis take a road trip to Seattle Washington where they highlight some of the must-see areas surrounding the city! They talk about the great outdoors and how to take advantage of every moment you can as an RVer. The proximity to the city can also carry a special opportunity for last-minute supplies you may have forgotten for your RV adventure.
RV Destinations Magazine- RVdestinationsmagazine.com
RV Envy: Eric tells us all about the “new” interstate battery that lives twice as long as other batteries! This is exciting for RVers because we all want to buy less and buy smart! RVers want to be independent and ready to go and they don’t want to be slowed down by the likes of a lame battery with a short life! So check out the EFB Interstate batteries on the SmartRVPartsCenter.com.
Our Online Resources:
The Smart Rver YouTube Channel - Check Out Our No-Nonsense YouTube Videos
Sunpro Mfg - RV Sunshade, Windshield Covers & Slide Out Awning Fabrics
Hot Boat Ropes - Marine Cordage- Anchor Lines, Dock Lines, Tow Lines etc.
Visit Our YouTube Channel RV Related Videos for The Smart RVer
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Tell Me About TV Wall Brackets & Flat Screen TVs for My RV
This is Eric Stark with The Smart RVer Podcast, Delivering the smarts you need to enjoy the freedom of the RV Lifestyle without the fear of breaking down!
Enjoying the RV Life:
In this episode, Eric & Alexis give some pointers on how to party while RVing. Actually, they give some pointers about having small parties in the RV park. An RV Party can be with a group of your friends, or you can put something together in an RV Park and invite your neighbors. Everyone loves a good party, and there is no better place to have a party than in an RV. Get together with friends, family, and neighbors, and have a good time!
Staying On The Road:
Today everyone loves a flat-screen TV; there is no better screen to watch your favorite movie or show on, big and flat. Even though RV manufacturers seem to love the idea of providing a pretty awesome product, they tend to screw it up. Eric explains what to look for when replacing a Flat Screen TV in your RV if it breaks or falls off the wall. Not all flat-screen TVs should be mounted in an RV. The backing plates are not designed to take the beating an RV often provides while going down the road.
The Next Stop:
Alexis takes us on an adventure to New Mexico to enjoy the annual Ballon Festival held in Albuquerque, usually held in October when the weather is perfect and the skies are clear.
RV Destinations Magazine- RVdestinationsmagazine.com
RV Envy:
Eric explains the benefits of using premade plastic leveling blocks and the importance of leveling your RV. Today wood has become almost as expensive as plastic and can be a bit of a hassle to use. Wood is great but, plastic has made its way as the new wood replacement product.
RV Levels on YouTube
Our Online Resources:
The Smart Rver YouTube Channel - Check Out Our No-Nonsense YouTube Videos
Sunpro Mfg - RV Sunshade, Windshield Covers & Slide Out Awning Fabrics
Hot Boat Ropes - Marine Cordage- Anchor Lines, Dock Lines, Tow Lines etc.
Top Rated Podcast - The Smart RVer Podcast Website -
When It Comes to RV Parts, Do Brands Really Matter?
This is Eric Stark with The Smart RV’er Podcast, Delivering the smarts you need to enjoy the freedom of the RV Lifestyle without the fear of breaking down!
Enjoying the RV Life: In today's episode, Eric and Alexis explore RV cookware. Sometimes we can let the amount of cookware we keep in the RV become overwhelming, or someone new to RVing might be inclined to buy nothing but the best and a lot of it. It is best to keep it simple, as it was brought out in the episode. Listen to Episode 142 for all the details.
Staying On The Road: Eric digs into the problem with so many no-brand-name products creeping into the RV world. Some of these off-brands might be inexpensive, but are they worth the savings? Eric points to some examples they might become a hazard creating unsafe conditions, or they might fail prematurely, forcing you into replacing it much sooner than expected, which will cost more money. Not to mention the possibility of the part causing unexpected damage to the RV. This is great to listen to; check it out!
The Next Stop: In this segment, Alexis shares some insights on Shiner, TX, and what an awesome place it is to visit. This quaint town near Houston and San Antonio has a Historical Brewery and a host of family-related activities to keep you entertained for days. It is an RV friendly getaway with plenty to for even the more seasoned RVer.
RV Destinations Magazine- RVdestinationsmagazine.com
RV Envy: Eric talks about the best Tire Blow Out System made today. RV Defender is the best product to reduce the damage caused to a Travel Trailer or 5th that has a tire blow out. One blow out can cost thousands of dollars and ruin a well planned RV Get a Way.
RV De-Fender on YouTube
RV De-fender Tire Blow Out System
Our Online Resources:
The Smart Rver YouTube Channel - Check Out Our No-Nonsense YouTube Videos
Sunpro Mfg - RV Sunshade, Windshield Covers & Slide Out Awning Fabrics
Hot Boat Ropes - Marine Cordage- Anchor Lines, Dock Lines, Tow Lines etc.
Top Rated Podcast - The Smart RVer Podcast Website
RV Roof Magic
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Why are 110-volt RV Adapters, Also Called Pigtails, So Confusing?
This is Eric Stark with The Smart RVer Podcast, delivering the smarts you need to enjoy the freedom of the RV Lifestyle without the fear of breaking down!
Enjoying the RV Life: Eric and Alexis discuss tips for buying your first RV! Eric would probably tell you not to buy a new RV, only a nice used one but we won’t go into that right now… anyways, Alexis and Eric do give out tips about one should go about buying their very first RV. There is a lot of fore thought that goes into buying an RV of any type so doing extensive research is vital.
Staying On The Road: Why are pigtails, or in other words, 110 Volt adapters, so confusing? Well, that's exactly what Eric explains in depth to his listeners this week. It’s something everyone with an RV should know, so Eric is here to clarify things in this Staying on the Road portion of the show.
YouTube Video about 110 Volt Adapters
The Next Stop: This week, Alexis and Eric will go into the world of the best RV parks in the USA. This is just a small list, and there are many others that aren't listed but are just as great! The important thing to remember about The Next Stop is that it just gives you a small taste of what you can research before you take a trip.
RV Envy: Eric gives you the full run-down of sewer hoses! There is a difference between some sewer hoses, so we like to keep our listeners informed so they can buy the right ones for their specific needs!
Check Out Our No-Nonsense YouTube Videos
RV Sunshade, Windshield Covers & Slide Out Awning Fabrics
RV Parts & Accessories
The Smart RVer Podcast Website
Marine Cordage- Anchor Lines, Dock Lines, Tow Lines etc.
RV Roof Magic
Dicor Products- Dicorproducts.com
Rudys (Dicor) Tips and Tricks Book- RudysRoofbook.pdf
RV Destinations Magazine- RVdestinationsmagazine.com
TheSmartRVer YouTube Channel- youtube.com
Customer Reviews
Perfect Podcast
Just purchased an 06 Forest River F38 that is in decent condition. I’ve been on a binge listening to the maintenance episodes and learning a lot. Sending thanks from the Valley of the Sun! 🤙🏻
Top notch customer service !
I am a new RV owner, and having to learn everything by trial and error. It seems impossible to learn anything from the manuals or calling the RV manufacturers, and sometimes all the YouTube videos in the world can make me feel more overwhelmed than anything.
I accidentally stumbled upon this podcast and instantly wanted to watch all the videos and learn as much as I could, the information was so straightforward and helpful. I ended up calling Eric Stark on the phone, and he gave me his time and wisdom and answered so many questions that I was unable to find anywhere. I just appreciate being able to talk to a real person! And also somebody that understands Montana winter weather:)
It feels nice to finally have a knowledgeable contact with very direct and straightforward answers. I would highly recommend!
My favorite RV Podcast just got better!
I’ve enjoyed all the episodes and really looking forward to the new version.