RV Podcast - Stories From The Road

Mike Wendland
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  • PLACES & TRAVEL
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RV Lifestyle's RV Podcast – Learn. Travel. Connect. Grow.

  1. 2D AGO

    8 RV Mistakes That Cost Us $26,000 (Learn From Our Pain)

    We’ve made a lot of RV mistakes over the years… but these eight? They cost us a jaw-dropping $26,000. In this episode, we’re getting real and sharing the costly, embarrassing, and sometimes downright scary mistakes we’ve made on the road, from a $16,000 fuel disaster to a tailgate crunch, a campsite mishap, and one very icy near-disaster that could have ended much worse. The truth is, none of these were bad luck. Every single one was preventable. If you’re new to RVing, or even if you’ve been doing it for years, these lessons could save you thousands of dollars, a whole lot of stress, and maybe even your safety. Here’s what we cover: • The $16,000 fueling mistake that forced us to replace our truck • A simple hookup error that cost $7,000 in seconds • Why rushing into a campsite can cost you big • The embarrassing backing mistake in front of a crowd • How ignoring the weather almost tipped our fifth wheel • Why driving too far leads to costly decisions • The checklist mistake that shattered a window • The fuel habit that nearly left us stranded And the big takeaway? RVing isn’t hard… but it is unforgiving if you’re not paying attention. Learn from our mistakes so you don’t have to pay for them. Also in this episode" Travel tips to make your next trip smoother Our RV Question of the Week, with a practical answer you can use right away to save on fuel costs (especially diesel)A featured RV destination to inspire your next adventure- The Great Lakes Shoreline Tour RESOURCES MENTIONED: The RV Trip Dashboard app we made - https://rvlifestyle.com/tripdashboard Our May 14 workshop on Fixing Problems on the Road - https://rvlifestyle.com/workshop Departure Day Checklist - https://rvlifestyle.com//DepartureApp The Great Lakes Shoreline Travel Guide - https://rvlifestyle.com/tripdashboard https://gasguddy.com https://gasguru.com https://truckerpath.com https://rvlifestyle.com/tripdashboard Get a free quote from Wholesale Warranties: https://wholesalewarranties.com/rvlif... Find unique overnight spots at farms, ranches, wineries, and more - use code RVLDEAL for 40% off: https://RVLifestyle.com/rvovernights

    37 min

  2. 4D AGO

    $6 Diesel, a Mining Bombshell, and a Two-Story RV That Transforms

    Travel season is here — and so is $6 diesel. This week's Monday News Edition covers five stories that every RV traveler needs to hear before they hitch up and head out. What we cover this week: Fuel Prices: The Surge That Could Change Your Summer Plans National diesel is at $5.62 and climbing. Regular gas jumped 34 cents in a single week — the biggest weekly run-up of the year. Real RVers are already shortening trips and canceling plans. Mike breaks down the numbers and gives practical advice for budgeting your 2026 travel season. Boundary Waters: A Historic Public Lands Decision For the first time in American history, Congress used the Congressional Review Act to overturn a public land protection order — lifting a 20-year mining ban near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in Minnesota. No mine is being built tomorrow, but the legal precedent is one every camper and public lands user should understand. Theodore Roosevelt National Park Goes Cashless As of May 1, cash is no longer accepted at TRNP campgrounds. Reservations through Recreation.gov are now required. If you have a trip planned to North Dakota this season, here is what changed and what you need to do before you arrive. A Chinese Company Just Reinvented the RV The Feixiang "Flying RV" looks like a normal compact motorhome on the road. Park it, hit a button, and the entire upper level rises on hydraulic legs — doubling the living space from 200 to nearly 400 square feet. Mike watched the video twice. Links are in the show notes. Camping World Q1 Results: Two Trends Worth Watching Revenue hit $1.35 billion, but the real story is buried in the details. CEO Matt Wagner used the phrase "K-shaped economy" to describe what he is seeing at dealerships right now — and a new Costco partnership is about to open a customer pipeline no other RV dealer has. All stories are sourced and linked below. Links and Show Notes: RV Trip Planning Dashboard: https://rvlifestyle.com/tripdashboardLive Workshop - How to Handle RV Problems on the Road Fast (May 14, 7PM Eastern, $10): https://rvlifestyle.com/workshopAAA Gas Prices: https://gasprices.aaa.comBoundary Waters Mining Decision: https://www.eenews.net/articles/trump-signs-resolution-favoring-mining-near-boundary-waters/Theodore Roosevelt NP Cashless Notice: https://www.nps.gov/thro/learn/news/theodore-roosevelt-national-park-to-move-to-cashless-fee-collection-starting-may-1.htmFeixiang Two-Story RV Video: https://rvbusiness.com/video-chinese-company-built-a-2-story-transforming-rv/Camping World Q1 Results: https://rvbusiness.com/camping-worlds-wagner-pleased-with-q1-performance/Subscribe for new episodes every Monday and Wednesday. Monday: News Edition - the stories shaping RV travel right now. Wednesday: Stories from the Road - tips, destinations, and the RV lifestyle. The RV Lifestyle Podcast is the longest-running RV lifestyle podcast in the United States. Hosted by Mike Wendland, an 18-time Emmy Award-winning journalist, every story is sourced, fact-checked, and told straight. RVLifestyle.com | RVPodcast.com | RVCommunity.com

    16 min

  3. APR 29

    Small Meetups, Big Connections: How RVers Stay Connected Between Rallies

    What happens between the big RV rallies? That is where the real magic often begins. In this episode, we talk with RVer Jeff Neumann about the growing trend of mini meetups, those small, informal gatherings organized by everyday RVers that are quietly transforming the lifestyle. These casual get-togethers are helping people build deeper friendships, stay connected on the road, and turn quick festival encounters into lasting relationships. We will explore how mini meetups work, why they are becoming so popular, and how you can find or start one yourself no matter where your travels take you. Plus in this episode: Travel tips to make your next trip smoother Our RV Question of the Week, with a practical answer you can use right away A featured RV destination to inspire your next adventure If you have ever felt like the best part of RVing is the people you meet, this episode will show you how to keep those connections going long after the rally ends. Subscribe, share, and join us as we celebrate the friendships that make the RV lifestyle so special.

    28 min

  4. APR 27

    RV News: Grand Canyon Fire Scandal, Bear Attacks, Park Openings & Major Industry Merger

    This week's RV news is big. A congressional hearing reveals what really happened when the Grand Canyon burned. A potential mega-merger could reshape every RV on the road. Bears are attacking hikers at the most visited park in America. And the national parks are opening - with some major changes you need to know before you go. In this episode: The Dragon Bravo Fire scandal: did the NPS let it burn on purpose? Congress wants answers.Fire season is already here - Southeast RVers, there are campfire bans in effect RIGHT NOWPatrick Industries and Lippert in merger talks - the two companies inside your RV want to combineBears attacked six hikers at Great Smoky Mountains in two weekends - here is what not to doGrand Canyon North Rim reopens May 15 after the most destructive fire in park historyGlacier National Park drops its reservation system for 2026 - finallyAcadia, Yellowstone updates - and an RV height warning Acadia visitors must hearNew episodes every Monday (News) and Wednesday (Stories from the Road). Subscribe so you never miss one. Join our community at RVCommunity.com - ad-free, no algorithms, just RVers. Plan your next trip at rvlifestyle.com/plan

    21 min

  5. APR 22

    Unbelievable RV Buyer Behavior Exposed

    Ever wonder what really goes on behind the scenes at an RV dealership? This week, Mike and Jennifer sit down with Nick Schmidt of Sunshine State RVs for a hilarious and eye-opening conversation about the wildest, most unbelievable customer stories you'll ever hear. "Crazy RV Buyers" - you have to hear these to believe them. Plus: Jennifer shares practical tips on keeping your RV bathroom fresh (hint: it all starts with water). Mike and Jennifer highlight one of America's most peaceful and historic road trips - the Natchez Trace Parkway, 440 miles of slow, scenic, billboard-free driving from Nashville to Natchez, Mississippi. And they answer a listener question from Matt and Becky in California: how do you run your air conditioner without tripping your RV breakers? In this episode: Crazy RV Buyer stories with dealer Nick Schmidt of Sunshine State RVsJennifer's RV Know-How: keeping your black tank and bathroom odor-freeTrip of the Week: the Natchez Trace Parkway, RV-friendly and big-rig approvedQ&A: managing 30-amp power so your A/C doesn't kill your microwave and coffee makerPlanning a Natchez Trace trip? We've driven it from both ends and put everything into a complete 7-day RV travel guide - campgrounds, stops, mileposts, and more: https://RVLifestyle.com/natcheztrace Join the RV Lifestyle Community - ad-free, twice-weekly livestreams, workshops, rallies, and thousands of fellow RVers: https://RVCommunity.com Get a free quote from Wholesale Warranties: https://wholesalewarranties.com/rvlifestyle Find unique overnight spots at farms, ranches, wineries, and more - use code RVLDEAL for 40% off: https://RVLifestyle.com/rvovernights Show notes and more: https://RVPodcast.com

    43 min

  6. APR 20

    RV PODCAST NEWS: Why are Campervans and Class B RVs so Expensive?!!

    Jennifer and I just spent a week doing hands-on reviews of six small motorhomes - Class Bs and compact Class Cs. And I have some things to say about what they cost. Strong things. Things that have been building for a while. We are going there today - including a hard look at the manufacturers who are trying to capture the low end of this market with rigs that are, frankly, not worth what people are paying for them. Then - tariffs. On April 6th, new steel and aluminum duties took effect. And if you thought that Winnebago or that Newmar was already out of reach - this story is not going to make you feel better. And we close with a story about 193 million acres of public land and a federal agency reorganization that could change how - and whether - you access your favorite camping territory. Check out RVCommunity.com for a no ads, hassle free online community made up of real RVers. Get our Trip Planning Bundle - 4 apps in one money-saving bundle - RVLifestyle.com//WebAppBundle See the transctipt tab for complet6e shownotes, lins and sources to everything in this episode.

    30 min

  7. APR 15

    The RV World is Changing Fast: Here's What You Need To Know

    Episode 600 of the RV Podcast is here, and we are marking the milestone with a packed episode. Mike and Jennifer are on the road near Gainesville, Florida, prepping for their spring rally with RVCommunity.com members in St. Augustine, and they have a lot to share. First, Love's Travel Stops has been quietly building something big for RVers. Full hookups, dog parks, and campgrounds were just the start. Now Love's is offering tires and batteries to RVers who need them on the road. Jim Wheeler, Love's Director of RV Operations, joins us to explain why Love's keeps expanding its commitment to the RV community. Then Mike and Jennifer make the case for New Mexico as one of the most underrated RV destinations in America. Carlsbad Caverns, Roswell, Santa Fe, Taos, and the remote Gila region - this is not a drive-through state. It rewards the RVers who actually stop. Jennifer shares her first-night campsite setup routine, the simple approach that avoids the frustration of trying to do too much when you are tired and just arriving somewhere new. And Tom from Arizona asked about cargo carrying capacity - and the answer may surprise you. This is one of the most misunderstood numbers in all of RVing, and ignoring it can affect your braking, your tires, and your safety every mile you drive. Six hundred episodes. Twelve years. We are just getting started. Show notes and links at RVPodcast.com

    38 min

  8. APR 13

    Is Glamping Forcing RVers Out? Plus Used RV Prices Drop and New TPMS Rule

    Is glamping quietly pushing RVers out of campgrounds? That is the question we are tackling in this week’s RV Lifestyle Podcast News Edition, and the answer may change how you plan your next trip. Across North America, more campgrounds are replacing traditional RV sites with cabins, yurts, and high-end glamping units. It is changing availability, pricing, and even the overall camping experience. We break down what is really happening and what it means for RVers. But that is just one of the big stories this week. We also cover a major shift in the RV market and a new safety requirement that is long overdue. Here is what is in this episode: 00:00 Welcome and our journalism standards 01:06 Campground reservation workshop invite 02:11 TPMS will be required on all towable RVs by 2028 05:52 Why morning light matters more than ever after 60 10:04 Used RV prices are dropping, what it means for buyers and sellers 13:26 Is glamping forcing RVers out of campgrounds? 19:37 Wrap up and key takeaways 19:54 RV Trip Planning Dashboard and resources If you are an RVer, a future buyer, or someone planning trips this season, this episode will help you understand where things are heading and how to stay ahead of the changes. ???? Join our live workshop: How to Get Campground Reservations Without the Stress Register at RVPodcast.com/workshop ???? Plan your trips smarter with our RV Lifestyle Trip Planning Dashboard: RVLifestyle.com/tripdashboard As always, every story is sourced and verified. Full show notes are available at RVPodcast.com.

    21 min
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About

RV Lifestyle's RV Podcast – Learn. Travel. Connect. Grow.

Information

  • Creator
    Mike Wendland
  • Years Active
    2014 - 2026
  • Episodes
    50
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 RV Podcast - Stories From The Road
  • Show Website
    RV Podcast - Stories From The Road

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