Why the fulltime RV Life may NOT be right for you

The RV Lifestyle is wonderful, no doubt about it. So wonderful that seemingly wherever you turn these days, people are saying to really experience it you should be a fulltimer. That may be great for many… but it is not so great for many more. This week, we talk about what they DON’T tell you about fulltiming. Coming up in the interview of the week, you’ll meet our friends Marc and Julie Bennett, known as RV Love… and we’ll have a candid conversation about just why the fulltime RV life is NOT for everyone. Show Notes for Episode #253 July 31, 2019 of The RV Podcast; WHAT MIKE AND JENNIFER ARE UP TO THIS WEEK This has been a special week for us as we’ve just released the fifth in our series of Seven Day Adventure Guides for RVers. This one is our Seven Day Adventure Guide to the Adirondacks, and it is 96 pages long and jammed packed with places to go and things to see in this amazing park. The Adirondacks is a truly special place. It is greater in size than Yellowstone, Everglades, Glacier, and Grand Canyon National Parks combined. Created by New York in 1892, it is a constitutionally protected “Forever Wild” area and contains 85% of all wilderness in the eastern United States.We provide a suggested route and itinerary, links to multiple campgrounds and boondocking spots, and the best spots to see along the way. You can get more info on it at https://rvlifestyle.com/adk It’s been a busy week of RV mods and adding some accessories and gadgets. We're headed to Holland MI to even do some more at an RV dealer there. After Holland we’re headed to Lake Erie and Lakeside Chatauqua, an awesome resort and summer gathering place. Then we’re heading to the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, south of Cleveland. We also want to give a shoutout to our reviewer of the week…Elf1 who left us this wonderful five-star review on iTunes: “Love this podcast. Mike and Jennifer provide a lot of entertainment and information. Don't know how I missed finding this podcast earlier. Very useful information no matter what type of RV you have or like me are thinking of buying. Thanks so much for taking the time to produce such a fine podcast.” Thank you, Elf1. We so appreciate those kind words and your review. And we invite you dear listener, to do the same. Please leave us a review and a rating on iTunes or Sticker or whatever app you listen to us on. We so appreciate the feedback and we read every one!  RV LIFESTYLE NEWS OF THE WEEK JENNIFER National Park Rangers spend most of their time managing traffic, making speeding stops, story says  Another interesting story on America's National Parks came out in USA Today last week, this one showing park rangers spend more time managing traffic and specifically making speeding stops than any other activity. The reason they do this is speeding kills wildlife, and many tourists in the national parks speed, putting wildlife at risk. Also car crashes are one of the leading causes of human death in the parks. So if you try to speed this summer in a national park, don't be surprised if you get a ticket!  MIKE High water levels leading to increase in drownings this summer in Lake Michigan In the past week-plus I've seen news stories of at least five drownings in Lake Michigan, often visitors to state parks, enjoying time outdoors with their families, when a dip in the water turns tragic. This weekend there was a story of a man who drowned near Michigan's Holland State Park, another in Indiana Dunes State Park, another at Michigan's Ludington State Park, and a man and a 14 year old girl also drowned near Ludington State park in separate incidents a week before that. I don't know if I can recall hearing about so many drownings in such a short period of time. Water levels are reported to be high, creating hazardous conditions. Lake Michigan touts some of the country's most gorgeous fresh water beaches. If you are out camping this summer along Lake Michigan, please be sure to check water conditions before wading in. JENNIFER Soft-sided camping prohibited at Blackfeet Indian Reservation outside Glacier National Park because of bear activity  If you're heading to Montana, and planning to stay at the Blackfeet Indian Reservation Chewing Blackbones campground while visiting Glacier National Park, be sure to leave that tent or canvas sided camper home. Because of bear activity there, soft sided camping is prohibited until further notice. Mike and I camped at this spot twice while at gatherings. It is an amazing campground and just last year we were there when we visited Glacier and saw bear - and moose. It was one of those moments we'll never forget. To see our video click here.  MIKE Another National Park bison incident – second in week There’s been another bison attack at a US national park, according to officials.The latest incident involved a 17-year-old boy from Colorado who was walking along a trail in North Dakota’s Theodore Roosevelt National Park on Saturday. A witness said that the visitor was walking along the trail; a herd of bison was nearby and two bull bison had been fighting moments prior and were on either side of the trail. When the teen walked between them one bull charged from behind, striking him in the back and goring the back of the right thigh, tossing him about six feet into the air. The teenager, who was not identified by officials, spoke to NBC News about the attack — which unfolded while he was preparing to go backpacking with a friend.   NBC News got  ahold of the teen in a hospital.Wildlife experts say you should stay AT LEAST 75 feet away from bison as they are wild animals and thus unpredictable. Bison can reach up to 2,000 pounds and run 30 miles per hour. JENNIFER. Illegal campfire believed the cause of a raging wildfire in southwestern Oregon  An illegal campfire is blamed for starting a wildfire in southwest Oregon. The fire, which likely started on remote wilderness owned by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, is in a difficult location for firefighters to reach. By Sunday the fire had spread to 9,000 acres and communities were being encouraging to evacuate as about 900 firefighters battled the blaze.  This part of the podcast is brought to you by RadPower Bikes,an electric bike manufacturer offering direct to consumer pricing on powerful premium electric bikes. Now with free shipping   LISTENER QUESTIONS OF THE WEEK Q: We have been half time RVing for the last 20 yrs.  we have owned class a during that time.   We have on order a Leisure Travel van unity twin bed and supposed to get it in November.  All is good except one question.   I’ve sat in two 2019 MB and can’t recline the front seats.   Any suggestions. Roy, via email              A: They don’t recline. They swivel. Q: As usual, you posted another great video (our Nashville trip). And what a beautiful family ! I have a question: Is there parking available for RV in Downtown Nashville and Opryland ? I travel without a tow, and parking availability is an intimidating factor when visiting "urban" areas. Are there any apps that help with that issue that you know of ?  Felix, via our RV Lifestyle YouTube Channel            A: We share our tips for urban parking and visiting place Q: I am a caterer based out of Colorado with plans of becoming a full-time nomad. I have a 6 foot rotisserie grill that will accommodate a 100 pound pig or 40 chickens at one time. I have a decision to make before I hit the road. Do I sell this beautiful grill or do I take it on the road with me in hopes that it will help me earn a living selling rotisserie chicken dinners to fellow campers? What are your thoughts? Katherine, via our RV Lifestyle Group on Facebook         A; Need permission from campgrounds, licenses for food prep, sales, etc. Do you have a question you’d like us to answer, or a comment on the things we’re discussing. If so, we invite you to leave us that question or comment on the special voicemail number we have for the podcast – it’s 586-372-6990.  If you are driving and can’t write it down right now, just go to the RV Lifestyle travel blog at rvlifestyle.com and scroll down the page. You’ll see that number prominently posted on the blog. This part of the RV Podcast is brought to you by Battle Born Batteries, maker of quality, safe and reliable lithium batteries that can be installed in just about every RV. Get in touch with Battle Born to find out what lithium batteries and an upgraded energy management system can add to your RV Lifestyle. Check them out at https://rvlifestyle.com/lithium RV INTERVIEW OF THE WEEK Marc and Julie Bennett - RV Love Marc and Julie Bennett are fulltime RVers known to their tens of thousands of fans as RV Love. They have a blog, a YouTube Channel and they’ve written an awesome book on fulltime RV travel, Living the RV Life: Your Ultimate Guide to Life on the Road. They have traveled to all 50 USA states over the past 4 years, sharing their journey and learnings along the way. And one of the things I like the best about Mark and Julie and their various RV Love platforms, is they tell it as it really is, sharing the good and the bad and always being up front about just what the fulltime RV Life is…. And isn’t. This is Marc and Julie's Living the RV Life book They are our special guests this week in the podcast in an episode we’re calling…. What you really need to know about RV fulltiming! Here's a transcript of the interview: Mike Wendland:           Well I'm really excited that Marc and Julie can join us right now. They are in Maine as we speak, enjoying the summertime. Hi guys. Welcome to the program. Julie Bennett:                Hi. Marc Bennett:              Hi Mike. Thanks for having us on. Mike Wendland:           Oh, I am honored to be on as followers of you guys. I've long been watching your adventures, and I'm a big fan of Living the RV Life, the ultimate guide to life on the road.