RV Lifestyle RV Podcast Mike Wendland

This week on the RV Podcast:









* Is RV Caravan travel right for you? Just how does that work?







* The Escapees RV Club has been bought out by Harvest Hosts. What will that mean to the membership of both organizations?







* How we came to adopt the “330 Rule” for our travels and why you should too.







* All this, plus the RV News of the Week and your questions coming up in Episode # 507 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 listen to us through your favorite podcast app or the player below.















This episode was recorded on the road in Bar Harbor, Maine, where we are about to begin an epic tour of the Canadian Maritimes with more than 40 of our friends and followers. Organized by Fantasy RV Tours, we'll set off Tuesday morning.







Jen and I arrived Saturday afternoon after a 1,200 drive from Southwestern Michigan. It was an awesome road trip getting here. We followed our 330 Rule (no more than 330 miles a day and/or stopping by 3:30 PM local time). We shot a video along the way and will publish that this coming Saturday.







We will be sharing our Maritimes adventures as often as we can with videos, live feeds, photos, and social media updates. The best way to follow us is through our RV Lifestyle Community at https://community.rvlifestyle.com







We can't wait!







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 Plumbing Space, Mary was having trouble attaching her stinky slinky to her sewer. She said the black tank pull and the grey tank pull were too close together, so she asked if anyone had a tool that would help her unhook the hose. She added that she had tried a rubber hammer and a screwdriver, but they just weren't working, and she needed another idea. Ideas she asked for, and ideas she got!







Someone recommended she try oil filter pliers and others suggested a strap wrench. Chris and Robert each suggested adding an extender.  Mary said she appreciated all the ideas and I'm looking forward to hearing what worked out for her.







Also in our Community under Mods & DIY Tweaks Space, Dexter shared a picture of a great solution he made for seeing the steps of his rig at night. He said he didn't want to deal with solar or changing out batteries so he connected the step lights to his porch light. So now when he turns on his porch light, the stairs also illuminate so he can see them at night. He also made a way to unplug the stair lights when traveling. Many thanked Dexter for the idea and we will share a picture of this in the show notes.







Meanwhile in our RVLifestyle Facebook Group, we get so many different kinds of questions.

This week on the RV Podcast:









* RV quality problems don't seem to be getting better, and campground infrastructure issues are straining the 2024 camping experience







* The brutal heat wave gripping the West is being blamed for at least four deaths in National and State parks.







* In Jen & Mike’s storytime, we’ll share how what sounded like a good marketing idea turned out to be the most embarrassing thing we’ve ever done as RVers.







* All this plus the RV News of the Week and your questions coming up in Episode #506 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.















This is a big travel week for us and a bunch of our RV Lifestyle followers as we make our way to Bar Harbor, Maine. There, we will soon be part of a near-month-long RV caravan tour of the Canadian Maritimes. Organized by Fantasy RV Tours, this is one of those bucket list road trips that we've wanted to do for years.







We will be sharing our adventures as often as we can with videos, live feeds, photos, and social media updates. The best way to follow us is through our RV Lifestyle Community at https://community.rvlifestyle.com







We can't wait!







P.S. And yes, we do have our new truck! Look for a Saturday video on our RV Lifestyle YouTube Channel that shows the truck, what we've added, and how we are prepping the RV for a long trip. To be alerted to when we have new videos, make sure you subscribe to our channel and click the bell icon. To subscribe 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, we sometimes run polls. Now we may use these polls for research, or stories, or just for the general enjoyment of the group and they are fun to read. This week I have two polls to share with you.







The first poll ran in our Campgrounds Space and we asked: What features do you prioritize when choosing a campground? The top answers were:







50 percent said location







20 percent said views/scenery







15 percent said cost







9 percent amenities, including things like WiFi and power outlets and 







4 percent said accessibility.







In the comments people added to this with Julee saying feeling safe, cleanliness and lately in these temperatures a pool have been important. Michael says he wants sewer at the sites.

RV travel and camping is filled with surprises, both good and bad. And in this article and episode of the RV Podcast, we share them all...







The topic stems from a very lively discussion from our RV Lifestyle Community when readers were asked to fill in the blank… “As much as I Love the outdoors, I can’t stand…”







We got around 1,000 responses and have written a few related articles. We list those articles and summarize the key points below.







Most RV Travel and Camping LOVE/HATE Issues Weren't So Complicated







The response we had in our RV Lifestyle Community to our questions about what people disliked the most about RV Travel and Camping brought hundreds of responses each time. These are the resulting blog posts about these questions, and we've included a few highlights in the list below.









* The Top 10 Worst Things About Camping











* Top 10 Best Things About Camping







* Facebook Page Post with over 700 comments "As much as I love the outdoors... I can't stand... :-)







* Facebook Group Post with over 300 comments "As much as I love the outdoors... I can't stand... -









Outdoors Love/Hate - over 1000 responses in the Group and on the Page









* all sorts of bugs - but especially mosquitos







* humidity and bad weather







* ticks and snakes get their own bullet point :-)







* bad campground etiquette (lights on too late, loud music, and campers)







* campfire smoke









Worst Things About Camping - Highlights from this blog post









* Then what goes up, must come down! Breaking down camp may include drying out outdoor gear after a rainy night, stabilizing all the interior loose objects, airing out the fire smell, and dumping the tanks, of course. While ending the trip is bad enough, a dump job gone wrong is the worst!







* Dog poop is definitely the most problematic of them all. Despite dog parks and bag/trash stations being much more popular at many RV parks, many dog owners refuse to follow the simple rule of “please pick up after your pet.”







* Patricia shared on Facebook that expensive campgrounds are the worst in her opinion and many others agreed. Not only are the site costs rising, but many amenities and necessities are also increasing as well.







* Jim commented that taking his trailer back to the dealer has severely dulled his camping time.









BEST Things About Camping - Highlights from this blog post









* The RV lifestyle allows you to have your own bed, bath, and kitchen as Luci pointed out in the recent Facebook post.

This week on the RV Podcast:









* Picking up the pieces after a major RV accident. Toss in the towel or start all over again? In our RV conversation of the week, you’ll meet a couple who just faced those questions. They have some inspiring advice for us all.







* Do your RV shades annoy you by rattling as you ride down the road? Our RV Lifestyle Community has some great sound-dampening advice.







* Dangerous heat and nasty weather have been sweeping across the country taxing the comfort and safety of lots of RVers this past week.







* All this, plus the RV News of the Week and your questions coming up in Episode # 505 of the RV Podcast









Hello everyone. I’m Mike Wendland and this is my lifelong traveling companion and my bride, Jennifer.







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 listen to us through your favorite podcast app or 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 our RVLifestyle Community's General Discussions Space, Lynn recently shared that every time she travels she wants to rip the metal blinds off the window. The wand flops around and hits the blinds, and the blinds knock against the window making all kinds of noise.  







So she asked "Does anyone have any ideas for the short term? And what would be your thoughts on replacement when I return from my travels?"







For the short term, Cary said they wrap velcro on the wand and secure it against one of the slots and it works great to reduce the rattling sound. 







David cautioned if she ends up taking down the blinds and the window is over the stove, make sure not to replace it with curtains for safety reasons.







And Steve, he said he ended up replacing the metal blinds with a roll up shade - no more rattling, no fire hazard, and it works great.







Also in the RVLifestyle Community's General Discussion Space we asked, What is the most unforgettable place you've visited in your RV and why? Too many great suggestions to list all the responses but here are a few.







Frederick said the most unforgettable region was southern Colorado - Great Sand Dunes National Park, Black Canyon, Mesa Verde, Pagosa Springs, and the drive along US-160 to Durango and on was just spectacular.







For Tim, it was Unicoi State Park in the mountains of northern Georgia. The lake is crystal clear and just begging to be paddled, awesome trails are all over and great falls are just a short drive away. Also the state park has some full hookups- not always common at a state park. He shared a picture and it was gorgeous.







Linda's favorites were Dead Horse Point State Park and Moab in Utah. Both were just incredibly beautiful and amazing after dark!







And there were so many other suggestions. If you are looking for ideas of places to add to your bucket list, you need to read this post.

This week on the RV Podcast:









* What’s going on with the recent violent RV theft crime wave? There have been two more dangerous incidents since last week’s deadly attack in Nebraska.







* If you have a drone made by DJI, as many RVers do, the government wants to ban them because they think the Chinese could be using them to spy on us.







* What to do when you empty your RV black tank but the sensor shows it is still full?







* All this plus the RV News of the Week and your questions coming up in Episode #504 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.















Mike & Jen's truck woes







Good news!







After this was recorded and before it went live, we learned that our truck, an F-250 that we use to tow our fifth wheel, will be repaired in time.







The damage caused by putting a small amount of DEF in the diesel tank last January was not as severe as we feared. The repair will be costly but expected to be done by the end of the week, in plenty of time for our trip to the Canadian Maritimes later this month.







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, Lynn wrote that her black tank sensor shows it is full right after she dumps it so she asks: What is going on and what is your personal solution? The group had many ideas.







Richard uses Dawn Platinum and said he no longer has an issue with sensors not working correctly. And Robert takes 1/4 cup Dawn, 10 gallons of water, puts it in the tank then drives 50 miles and dumps. He said it works great.







Randall doesn't dump until the black tanks are full, and then he uses lots of water. His family has found the water sloshing around in the tank when you drive helps and he also uses Happy Camper.







In the RVLifestyle Community's Boondocking Space, we asked: Can you share a valuable tip of something you did to make your off-the-grid camping experience appreciably easier or better?







Joyce collects shower water in a bucket - the water that collects waiting for the water to get warm - and uses that to flush the toilet at night saving water and noise from the toilet's pump. Since you can choose your own place to camp when boondocking Edward suggests parking in a spot where you can have a beautiful view of the morning sunrise. Dawn suggests investing in lithium batteries.







And Charlie has a two-man dome tent he sets up to protect his generator when it is not in use. And these are just a sampling of the ideas shared.







Then over on our
Mike Wendland
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Off Grid RV Living in the Desert
https://rvlifestyle.com/off-grid-rv-living-in-the-desert/
Wed, 26 Jun 2024 10:15:00 +0000
https://rvlifestyle.com/?p=109859
This week on the RV Podcast:

Off Grid RV Living in the Desert - We’ll learn how one RVer has found paradise in Arizona

The latest on the brutal knife attack on an elderly RVing couple at a Nebraska Rest Area that left the husband dead and the wide fighting for her life.

There are a lot of people who are disappointed about the rising Internet costs for on-the-go RVers.

All this plus the RV News of the Week and your questions coming up in Episode #503 of the RV Podcast

This week on the RV Podcast: Off Grid RV Living in the Desert - We’ll learn how one RVer has found paradise in Arizona The latest on the brutal knife attack on an elderly RVing couple at a Nebraska Rest Area that left the husband dead and the wide fi...
The Ultimate RV Guide to Yosemite National Park.















We are so excited about this book, now available for immediate downl

Show Notes for Episode #502  of The RV Podcast: What Real RVers Like and Dislike About their RVs







This week on the RV Podcast:









* What real RVers like and dislike about their RVs.







* An Alaska RV rental company has abruptly shut down after being accused of shady dealings involving security deposits, collecting taxes that were not due and forging customer signatures.







* And in Mike & Jen’s Storytime, we’ll share how we learned firsthand why every hiker in bear country should carry bear spray.







* All this plus the RV News of the Week and your questions coming up in Episode #502 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're back and still recovering from our RV Lifestyle rally, held last week in Shipshewana, Indiana, in the heart of Amish Country. We called our meetup the "Gather and Groove with the Temptations" because, on Thursday night, we all attended a concert by Motown's legendary Temptations. 















It gets a little embarrassing that after every one of our meetups like last week, Jen and I tell ourselves, "This one was the best ever." Jen is always predictable. She also always says, let's go back and do the same location next year.







But it was so great hanging out with our folks last week. We can't wait for the next one, in October, in Florida!







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 Mods and DIY Tweaks Space, we asked what was the most efficient modification made in your RV to maximize space or utility and why.







Several people, including Brian, said adding SnapPads to the Fifth Wheel's landing legs was a huge plus. He no longer needed to place wood boards down under the legs while setting up and it was a huge time saver.







Traci said they turned their RV's mid-bunk room into an office by removing the bunk beds. Now it is easier to do work on the road which means they can go camping more.







And Mark removed the jackknife sofa and foundation and replaced it with a small sleeper sofa. Now they have double the sleeping space and the same amount of sitting space, He shared a picture of his new sofa and it looks great. There are many other interesting modifications shared in this post so I highly recommend checking it out.







Also in the RVLifestyle Community's Troubleshooting Space Alan and Cindy were out in Texas for a month and they picked up an ant problem The ants are the tiniest ants they have ever seen, and wondered if they group had any pest control suggestions.







Bud said those really tiny ones are sugar ants and t...