RV Podcast - Stories From The Road

This week on the RV Podcast, we talk about RV Covers: Are they worth it? Should you have one? What to look for? Our guests are two product managers from Camping World, located in different parts of the country, and they will help us understand what to look for in an RV cover, what kind of RVs need them and what kind don’t. Plus we have lots of RV News this week, along with your RV Lifestyle Questions and another great Of the Beaten Path Report from the wandering Burketts. Show Notes for Episode #319  of The RV Podcast You can listen to the podcast in the player below. And scroll down this page for shownotes and a transcript of the interview, plus links and resources about all the things we talk about. This part of the RV Podcast is brought to you by Camping World – America’s #1 RV Dealer Check out the RV products and accessories we like and use for your next road trip or outdoor adventure…For a 10% discount on purchases over $99, use the discount code RVLIFESTYE10. RV PODCAST NEWS OF THE WEEK Fewer snowbirds coming to Florida, and when they arrive, may find new COVID protocols await at the larger RV parks Florida is seeing fewer snowbirds this fall because of COVID-19. Some places estimate the number of snowbirds will be down as much as 20-25 percent, with many would-be deciding to just stay home. Canadian snowbirds can not drive across the U.S. border, causing additional challenges for our RV friends to the north. Snowbirds who do travel south may find that some RV parks and condo associations are asking them to quarantine, or avoid using the facilities for a period of time. And some of the luxurious RV parks are keeping their community room, gyms, and other such sites closed because of COVID according to the story. To see some of our favorite places to camp in Florida, click here.   Campgrounds hit by Hurricane Zeta cleaning up, staying open for business Campground owners in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama are mostly open after Hurricane Zeta, reporting minimal damage. Hurricane Zeta was a category 2 storm that took at least six lives and caused millions to lose power. At the campgrounds in its path, most were removing downed trees, repairing fencing and buildings, and conducting other clean up efforts. But most did not appear to suffer long-term damage and most were still open to campers. This has been a historic hurricane season for the gulf coast (see story here) with eight named storms hitting in 2020, and the season is still not over. Veterans and Gold Star families will be able to enter national parks for free under new rule Veterans and gold star family members will soon have free access to all national parks. Current active-duty troops and their families can enter the national parks for free. The change, which goes into effect Nov. 11 - Veterans Day - will grant veterans and gold star families this same benefit. Gold Star families are immediate family members of soldiers who died in the line of duty. For veterans, if they are driving into a national park with an admission fee, their vehicle will be free. But if the national park has a per person admission fee, the veteran will be free, but the family members will have to pay. Catch a brown trout, get paid $25 in pilot program in Arizona If you love fishing and are anywhere near Arizona, you may want to head over to the Glen Canyon National Recreational Area later this month and get paid to catch brown trout. The National Park Service and Arizona Game and Fish Department are paying anglers $25 per non-native brown trout they catch in the Colorado River below the Glen Canyon Dam. The pilot program is trying to reduce the number of non-native brown trout in the river, and there is no limit on how many fish an angler may turn in for payment. There are, however, some rules tied to Arizona licensing. For more details click here. Yellowstone to test self-driving shuttle service next summer If you are planning to visit Yellowstone National Park next year, you may be able to hop on an automatic self-driving shuttle. The iconic national park announced last week that it will be piloting a low speed automated shuttle next year to help reduce vehicle traffic on its roads. The shuttle service is expected to run May-August and will potentially serve the campgrounds, visitor centers, and lodges. To see our favorite hike in Yellowstone, click here.   This part of the podcast is brought to you by RadPower Bikes, America's #1 e-bike brand, offering direct to consumer pricing on powerful premium electric bikes. Now with free shipping   RV PODCAST QUESTION OF THE WEEK This question came in via our RV Podcast Voicemail number 586-372-6990: Hi, good morning. This is Lee Gutierez calling from Phoenix Arizona. I just wanted to say how much I appreciate your podcast and your information that you give on your podcast. I have one question though. I'm an over-the-road driver and I'm getting ready to retire next year. I'm looking at The Wonder versus the Unity. Are there any chances of the Unity having the Ford body style or chassis in the future that you're aware of? I'm absolutely in love with the Wonder. I like the fact of the no slide out and the room that it has. I'm very much interested in corner bed and the front living area. And I just want to say thank you so much for making my Sunday so much better last night. I listened to your podcast as I was coming back in California. As I said, I drive over the road and I really enjoy your sessions.  That was all I really wanted to say and just to find out if the chassis from the Ford would be something that they would do in the future for the Unity. Thank you. Have a wonderful day and blessed day. Looking forward to seeing you out here on the road someday. ANSWER: We don't see Leisure Travel Vans ever making the Unity on the Ford Transit Chassis. The Unity is made on the Mercedes Benz Sprinter cutaway chassis and comes in different floor plans, some without a slideout. That said, there are several different floor plans for the Wonder, which is made on the Ford Transit cutaway chassis. It, too, has several different floor plans none of which have floor plans. You can see the details for both models at https://leisuretravelvans.com 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 PODCAST INTERVIEW OF THE WEEK - RV Covers This week on the RV Podcast, we talk about RV Covers: Are they worth it? Should you have one? What to look for? Our guests are two product managers from Camping World, located in different parts of the country, and they will help us understand what to look for in an RV cover, what kind of RVs need them and what kind don’t. We have a video version of the interview: Here’s the official transcript of the interview about RV Covers: Mike Wendland:           Well, we're joined right now by two product specialists from Camping World to help us sort through this whole issue about RV covers. Do we need them? What do you look for? Why we should have one? And lots of questions, and we've been getting them from people for the last month or so, so you can tell it's getting cold.                                     Now joining us from the Camping World, Grand Rapids, Michigan store, Ian Baker. Thank you Ian for being here. Ian Baker:                     How you doing? Yeah, thanks for having me. Mike Wendland:           And from down in North Carolina, Chris Young. Both are product specialists and these guys know what they're talking about. So let's start off. Whichever one wants to go first, but why an RV cover and who should be thinking about one? Ian Baker:                     Sure. Chris, can I jump on this one real quick? Chris Young:                 Yeah by all means. Who needs an RV Cover? Ian Baker:                     So as far as who needs it, Mike, I mean, anyone that's, in my opinion, anyone that's not going to store it inside really should consider a cover. For me a cover, when you're looking at different covers, it does one major thing. It does a lot of things, but one major thing is that it's going to help with preventative maintenance. Anytime you have an RV outside, you have to worry about UV. You have to think about things falling on top of your roof, whether that's pine sap, branches, leaves, bird poop, it can cause more damage than people think if it stays on there. And when you're not storing it and it's sitting outside, all these things that are going to deteriorate your roof, which a lot of people know that your roof tends to be the number one place for leaks. So anything you can do to help protect the roof, protect the sidewalls, the exterior, make sure that the RV stays looking nice for years to come, is definitely going to be an added benefit. Especially when you're looking at trade-in values, that's a huge piece of that. Mike Wendland:           Well, Chris, let's go to you about what to look for in a cover. And we have towables and fifth wheels and motor homes and B vans and class As. Any distinctions among all of those? Chris Young:                 Well, it's funny you mentioned that Mike, there are so many options out there as far as coverage go, which we always kind of default to,

Questions! We get RV questions! And we have Monster stories to tell around the campfire! This week on the RV Podcast, we answer the most recent RV questions you’ve been asking about the RV Lifestyle as our Interview of the Week.  And in honor of Halloween, we have Monster Stories for the campfire from Patti and Tom Burkett Plus, we have lots of RV News, tips, the RV Show Calendar, and much more. You can listen to the podcast in the player below. And scroll down this page for shownotes, photos, videos, links and resources about all the things we talk about. Show Notes for Episode #318 of The RV Podcast: WHAT MIKE AND JENNIFER ARE UP TO THIS WEEK Mike and Jennifer, hosts of the RV Podcast It’s Halloween week and despite COVID and social distancing which are still very much with us, most campgrounds will be full this weekend for end of season camping and Halloween fun. Many places are urging that trick or treating be foregone this year, but costumes and decorated RVs will keep the spooky good times going. And come Sunday, Nov. 1, don’t forget to fall back… to set your clock back an hour as Daylight Savings Time comes to an end. RV News - The Michigan UP is getting snow! photo by Dan Spase via Upspash The cold is coming. Some parts of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula have received over 19 inches of snow this month, the most they’ve had in October in many years. Not surprisingly, Gasoline prices - and demand - has dropped significantly since the beginning of October, down from 8.8 million barrels per day to 8.2 million b/d, according to the AAA auto club. This latest demand measurement is the lowest since mid-June. While the drop isn’t out of the ordinary for this time of year, people tend to drive less in the fall, it is a staggering 14% less than last October.  Gas prices for a gallon of regular-grade is now averaging $2.16 RV usage though is just the opposite. Informal surveys of state parks and campgrounds show much higher occupancy rates in October, compared to previous years. And RV sales continue to be on fire. The RV Industry released its September 2020 survey of manufacturers showing that total RV shipments ended the month with 41,509 units, an increase of 31.2% from September last year. This is the fourth month in a row that wholesale shipments showed a year-over-year increase. And then there is the matter of RV Rentals. RV rental company Outdoorsy reports it is already on pace to exceed last year’s November bookings. Initially, the company said RV rental demand was because of quarantine fatigue, where travelers were eager to spend more time outdoors, in a safe and socially distant way, after months cooped up inside. Now, the company says the new catalyst for bookings is coming from travelers in search of a safe way to visit family over the holidays. Still, COVID has cast a dark shadow over us again as it appears the nation is experiencing a second wave. Infection rates and hospitalizations are showing dramatic increases as October comes to an end. There is just so much uncertainty. This part of the RV Podcast is brought to you by Camping World – America’s #1 RV Dealer For a 10% discount on purchases over $99, use the discount code RVLIFESTYE10. RV PODCAST NEWS OF THE WEEK Rocky Mountains National Park and nearby towns evacuated because of roaring wildfire and dense smoke Rocky Mountain National Park closed, and the neighboring city of Estes Park, CO was among many evacuated late last week as a huge fire roared across the area. As many as 6,000 acres an hour burned, sending up massive smoke clouds that caused the day sky to turn dark, as was captured in very eerie photographs by many of those escaping. More than 4 million acres have burned in Colorado this year, one of many places in the west affected by massive, out-of-control wildfires this camping season. Colorado to officially open parts of its newest state park this Friday Colorado's newest state park is scheduled to open this Friday. Called Fishers Peak State Park, the park is the state's 42nd. The park was previously a private ranch that was purchased for $25 million. The 19,200 acre park is near the city of Trinidad, and will open in stages. Campgrounds are planned for the site, but not expected to open until 2021 at the earliest. Study examines which national parks report the most deaths Ever wonder which national park is the most deadly? A law firm out west recently examined the 2,727 deaths in national parks between 2007 and 2018 and discovered only four parks had 100 or more deaths during that time period. The parks were Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Yosemite National Park, Grand Canyon National Park and Natchez Trace Parkway in order. Also the majority of the deaths - 81 percent - were males. These parks are among the most visited in the U.S. When the data is crunched to examine the most deaths per visit, the number one "most deadly" park becomes North Cascades National Park in Washington state. The most common cause of death was drowning, followed by a vehicle accident. Falls and slips were also among the top causes. Tourists get too close to herd of bison at Yellowstone National Park, causing animals to stampede Tourists getting too close to the bison at Yellowstone National Park last week caused a stampede. About six people - maybe more - walked out toward the wild animals, causing them to grunt, stomp their feet, and clearly show their agitation. Then, when the people kept approaching, the animals went on a stampede, causing the ground to rumble. People fishing near the herd had to grab their stuff and run. The whole thing was captured on video and no one was hurt. But every year we see reports of tourists getting too close to these wild animals, and just this season two people were hurt after doing just that. It is recommended everyone stay at least 25 feet away from bison, and after reading this story we thought it might be a good time to show the Yellowstone Pledge here. Snowbird Canadians may not be able to drive across the U.S. border, but they can still fly We have reported here a bit about the U.S.-Canadian border being closed to non-essential travel because of COVID-19. This closure to RVers who travel from Canada to sunny U.S. states each winter has posed many questions about where to stay when the temperatures drop. Well, a story out last week showed that even though Canadians can not drive across the border, they can fly. Air travel from Canada to the U.S. is permitted, and quarantining may not even be required. In fact, during this entire pandemic, air travel between the two nations has been allowed, perhaps providing another winter option for our Canadian snowbird friends. This part of the podcast is brought to you by RadPower Bikes, America's #1 e-bike brand, offering direct to consumer pricing on powerful premium electric bikes. Now with free shipping  Use the coupon code rvlifestyle for an additional $75 off RV PODCAST RV QUESTIONS OF THE WEEK QUESTION: We are thinking of getting a camper van. I was wondering what your average gas mileage is? We are kinda partial to the Ford brand, so we wondered what is the mileage you’re getting on your Transit? I will be looking into the sprinter as well, but I'm thinking the cost difference may persuade my choice - Donna ANSWER: Our Ford Transit-based Wonder RTB from Leisure Travel Vans has averaged about 12.6 miles per gallon. The Transit uses gasoline 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. RV PODCAST INTERVIEW OF THE WEEK This week, as we like to do from time to time, we catch up on your questions and devote our Interview of the Week segment to cleaning up some of the most-asked questions we get. These questions and answers from our regular “Ask Us Anything” live video show that we do every Sunday night at 7 PM Eastern Time on the YouTube RV Lifestyle Channel. If you have never tuned in and joined us, check us out this Sunday. Meanwhile, here’s a video entire show from which this week’s questions are drawn from:  The interview of the week is brought to you by SunshinestateRVs.com, where every new  motorhome is delivered to the customer free, anywhere in the country RV PODCAST OFF THE BEATEN PATH REPORT  - Monster Stories for the Campfire! BY TOM & PATTI BURKETT The RV Podcast off the beaten path reporters Tom & Patti Burkett One of the best things about sitting around a campfire, to our way of thinking, is telling stories.  And at this time of year, ghost stories and other scary tales are the best!  Most of us can recount the tale of the severed hand, or the Windigo that haunts the North Woods.  As we travel around the country, one very enjoyable pastime is finding and collecting lore about local monsters, creatures, and unknown phenomena.   In honor of Hallowe’en, here are a few of the best Campfire Stories we’ve encountered. Southwestern Ohio is a lovely area, full of interesting things to see and do.  And if you happen to be camping near the Little Miami Scenic River, you’ll want to be careful at night.  Several times over the past fifty years local police have reported seeing a strange creature on the surrounding roadways.  Like many reptiles, it sits on the tarmac at night soaking up the warmth. The Mothman Museum Said Officer Mark Matthews, “It was about sixty pounds and four feet high.  It stood up on its two hind feet, turned and looked at me with a face that looked like a frog or lizard, then hoped down the embankment and into the Little Miami River.”  In the ensuing years. there have been several reported sightings of the Loveland Frogman.  It’s even spawned a bluegrass musical. An example of the “fiercest, strangest,

This week on the RV Podcast we ask and answer the question: When are you TOO Old for the RV Lifestyle? And rather than beat around the bush, let’s answer that question right now with just five words: You are NEVER Too Old! This week, we will hear the encouraging answers from lots of RVers on that question plus a very special interview with one of our favorite people, soon-to-be-90-years-old Loren Phillis, who travels cross-country in his meticulously maintained quarter-century-old RV. Loren shares his experience with solo traveling as a senior and is sure to inspire and motivate you to get out there and enjoy the RV Lifestyle as long as you can. Plus we have lots of RV News this week, an update on the still closed US/Canadian/Mexican border, and a fascinating off the beaten path RV report from our friends, Patti & Tom Burkett. But first, my lifelong traveling companion and my bride… Jennifer. You can listen to the podcast in the player below. And scroll down this page for shownotes and a transcript of the interview, plus links and resources about all the things we talk about. WHAT MIKE AND JENNIFER ARE UP TO THIS WEEK Mike, Jennifer and Bo being videotaped by a Video crew and still photographer last week at Holland State Park in Southwestern Michigan . The crew is doing a documentary about us. We'll share more details when it is done and ready to be seen! We’ve been on the road for the past week, finishing up our fall color tour with a visit to Southwestern Michigan and the beautiful Lake Michigan Shoreline. We stayed at the Holland State Park last week and had an awesome time, hiking and also visiting a nearby apple orchard. We brought the apples back to the campsite and even made some caramel apples. Hanging out at our campsite in Holland, MI. And we did it all being carefully watched and videotaped by a six-person crew who used two cameras and a drone to document our camping experience there for a future story being done about us. We promised not to reveal by who and where it will be shown until it's ready, but we do promise to tell you as soon as it premieres. Meantime, though, we had a lot of fun. The crew was great to work with. I will say they had us smiling for almost every shot. It was a lot of work to always be smiling! And we got a new sensitivity for what it’s like being on the other end of the camera, being the interviewees instead of the interviewers. Bo was with us and he had a ball. The crew loved Bo, especially when he got loose at the apple orchard and went running u and down the orchard, eating as many apples as he could find. And after the trip to Holland, we headed to the Michigan Indiana border for a weekend camping trip with our son Jeff and his wife, Aimee, and our grandkids Jax and Joie and Aimee’s mom, sister, and brother in law and their kids. We had five kids and three generations of family fun… plus three dogs. And although the weather turned pretty chilly, there was lots of fun and big, war campgrounds. In fact, the weather has definitely changed. Peak color has passed and those falling leaves will soon be followed by falling snow. For a lot of people in the north and Upper Peninsula, the 2021 camping season has pretty much come to an end. Maybe one more weekend but once Halloween is past, the majority of campgrounds will be closed. This part of the RV Podcast is brought to you by Camping World – America’s #1 RV Dealer RV PODCAST NEWS OF THE WEEK Rangers seek public's help finding vandals who destroyed eight iconic saguaros at Arizona's Saguaro National Park Rangers at Saguaro National Park are searching for vandals who slashed eight iconic saguaros earlier this month. The cactuses were between one and 10 feet tall and were either slashed open or cut down along the Scenic Trail. The saguaro cactus grow very slowly, with one ranger saying a 10 foot cactus could easily be 100 years old. If you were there in October and may have seen something, call the park service’s Investigative Services Branch tipline at 1-888-653-0009. Again, that tipline is 1-888-653-0009 Campfire hops outside firepit, burns three acres in Wyoming after campers went inside trailer to eat Some campers in Wyoming recently received a frightening reminder of the importance of not leaving a campfire unattended. The campers were at Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area and had made a fire in their designated fire pit. After their meal was cooked, they went inside their trailer to eat and did not make sure the fire was completely out. Apparently, a strong wind blew and their fire hopped outside of the designated pit and on to the grass while they were inside. Another visitor saw the blaze, alerted the campers and called the fire department, which quickly arrived. About three acres were destroyed before the fire was out, and the camper was completely destroyed.  We share this story because it is a good reminder to us all to never, ever, leave a fire unattended - even for just a few minutes. Bear takes California's family's food while family watches just feet away from tent A family camping at California's Mammoth Lakes area in the Sierra Nevada Mountains last week were in their tent when they heard a weird noise. Just a few feet away a large bear was tearing through their cooler, eating their food. The family had just arrived at the campground, was taking things out of their vehicle and had just finished setting up the tent. The bear left and came back to their cooler three times, hauling off all their "good" stuff. Thankfully no one was hurt. It is a good reminder, however, of the importance of practicing bear safety. Click here to see a story we did previously on how to camp safely in bear country. US border with Canada and Mexico remains closed The US Border to Canada and Mexico will remain closed to RVers and nonessential travel at least another month, due to concerns over COVID-19, At least until Nov. 21.  Some experts don’t see it reopening until spring, at the earliest. The borders shut down in mid-March and although essential business travel is allowed, RV travel is not. The closing has disrupted the winter travel plans for thousands of Canadian snowbirds, who usually winter in Florida, Arizona and Texas New Mexico state parks extend ban on non-state residents  through mid-November Out-of-towners hoping to camp in a New Mexico state park will have to wait a little longer. The New Mexico State Park division is keeping state parks and state campgrounds off limits to those who do not live in the state through Nov. 13. Previously the ban on out-of-state residents was to end in mid-October. Anyone who had a reservation and does not live in the state will get a refund. New Mexico state campgrounds have been among the nation's strictest in battling COVID-19. This part of the podcast is brought to you by RadPower Bikes, America's #1 e-bike brand, offering direct to consumer pricing on powerful premium electric bikes. Now with free shipping   RV PODCAST QUESTION OF THE WEEK - A reader asks: Are We Too Old for the RV Lifestyle?  This question comes from Diane via our RV Lifestyle Facebook Group: QUESTION: “Hubby and I are 64/62 and we were thinking we want to get an RV to start doing some traveling. But, we’re wondering if we’re too old to do it! We’ve recently started making day trips with our dogs. It’s exhausting - lol! By the time we pack for the day, drive 2-3 hours, hike with the dogs, and then drive back, we need a nap! How do people our age do it? Did we miss the window to travel due to our age?” ANSWER: The answer to this is an unequivocal NO! Diane’s question brought a huge response from members of our RV Lifestyle Facebook Group. More than 400 in just the first day! And the answers are awesome: Jerry: We're 73 & 70 love it. Take longer trips with some do-nothing days. Take a drive, then a nap. Henrik: My dear, I'm 60, my wife 65.. we are currently prepping our house to go on the market in the spring.. plan is to get a 30' TT and get out! Never too old! If your body can tolerate the adventures, I say go for it! I can not imagine starting our retirement doing this.. it's our dream. And it will come true! Good luck and hope to bump into you and some of the great people in this group next year! Larry: Diane Alverez your only too old if you think you are. I am 63 tomorrow and will be taking off in my MH in March with a friend who is turning 62. Lindsay: Your not. Do it do it now. So many older ppl wait till the last minute and can’t. Do it while you can enjoy. Amy: I'm 64 and a widow. I'm doing it! Carol: We are 69 wife, 65 husband. Husband and wife good health …feel our age… hubby still works own business retires in July. I have a very bad back and use a walker or electric trike. I wanted this lifestyle but hubby thought I was nuts. We have never camped out, know no one who did this. Reluctantly he agreed and we bought a very nice new Class C. From day 1 to now, 5 yrs later, we love it. We still stay 1-2 hrs from home until retirement, then we will do our long trips and we can’t wait. We are not athletic, adventurist or very social. We do as we please, always meet new people and there are weekends I don’t leave our now Class A. Do it .... Patricia: We are 73 and just bought a 25ft class c. Use to have a 40 ft diesel pusher for twenty years. We got rid of it a year and a half ago. Missed the freedom to travel. So bought something smaller. Ann: I'm 68 & my husband is 73. We bought a used motorhome 4 years ago & have been heading South for 3 months in the winter. We do not pull a car. We have ebikes. We previously stayed in about 20 different places, shopping or doing laundry between campgrounds. We stay mostly at state, county, & municipal campgrounds with a few “ Boondockers Welcome” spots thrown in. This year we only have reservations at 7 campgrounds. Hard to get reservations, even 11 months in advance, when you have a budget. We have enjoyed it immensely!

When it comes to RV power these days, it's a battle of Lithium vs AGM batteries. If you are trying to decide between the two, we can make it easy. A new study shows one is clearly the best for RV boondockers and those seeking reliable power. It's lithium. By a long shot. Lithium batteries have been all the rage among RVers for several years now. But the one criticism some in the industry had was that lithium didn’t like cold weather. And while that is true – all batteries are stressed by cold temperatures – a new white paper study released today shows that when you compare lithium vs AGM batteries, lithium actually out-performs traditional AGM batteries even in extremely cold weather. And in warm weather, they beat AGM lead-acid batteries even more. In fact, in all environments and under temperature variations from hot to way below freezing, lithium batteries deliver more for longer periods of time than their lead-acid rivals. That is major news and we’re delighted to break it in this episode of the RV Podcast. The lithium vs AGM batteries study gives more credence to the “Lead is Dead” slogan started by Battleborn Batteries, the author of the white paper, and this week on the RV Podcast, we are joined by Battleborn’s top leadership team to discuss the findings and what it means to RVers. Plus, Jennifer and I have lots of RV news to share, some helpful information about staying overnight in an RV in an interstate rest area and a great off the beaten path report from our friends the Burketts. Jennifer joins me now on Episode 316 of the RV Podcast, being released on October 14, 2020. You can listen to the podcast in the player below. The Interview on Lithium vs AGM batters can be heard about 18:00 in. And scroll down this page for shownotes and a transcript of the interview, plus links and resources about all the things we talk about. Show Notes for Episode #316  of The RV Podcast: WHAT MIKE AND JENNIFER ARE UP TO THIS WEEK We hope you have been getting out there and enjoying some fabulous fall camping. This is such a great time of the year. After last week's visit to the Michigan Upper Peninsula, Jennifer and I are heading out this week for the Lake Michigan shoreline along the Southwestern Part of the state, hoping to see the fall foliage that way. This part of the RV Podcast is brought to you by Camping World – America’s #1 RV Dealer RV PODCAST NEWS OF THE WEEK Hurricane Delta comes ashore in Louisiana, leaving flooding, strong winds across many southern states Yet another hurricane hit the coast of Louisiana last weekend, leaving thousands without power, and people everywhere from Louisiana through Georgia and even the Carolinas bracing for potential flash floods and strong winds. Hurricane Delta is the tenth storm to make landfall this season, according and the fifth hurricane to make landfall. Many campgrounds and national park sites in the path of this storm closed, and it is not clear yet how severely damaged they may be. The 2020 camping season is surely one none of us will soon forget, with pandemic restrictions, ranging wildfires, dangerous winds that struck the midwest, and hurricanes. Lots of hurricanes. To help you monitor emergency radio bands and stay safe, we want to again urge you to visit this page to see a story we did not too long ago on apps that could help. Toddler suffers second degree burns after running off trail and falling into Yellowstone National Park thermal area A three-year-old was flown to a hospital with severe burns last weekend after slipping into a thermal area at Yellowstone National Park. The accident happened after the toddler took off running, went off trail, then slipped and fell into a small thermal area. The toddler had second degree burns on his lower body and back. He is the second person to be injured by going off trail and falling into a thermal area at Yellowstone this year. Thieves are stealing guns from unlocked vehicles at North Carolina Outer Banks area campgrounds If you carry a gun, and plan on camping anywhere near North Carolina's Outer Banks, authorities are warning a thief may be after your gun. In the last month 15 pistols, many loaded, were stolen from RVERS who brought their weapon camping. The thieves generally strike at night, when everyone is sleeping, and according to authorities they simply open an unlocked vehicle door and find the gun under the seat, in the glove box or the center console. According to one story, many of the thefts were from Camp Hatteras in Rodanthe. If you are packing as you camp, be sure to lock your vehicle. Last year we addressed a reader question about carrying firearms on a podcast. To read it, scroll to reader comments and click here. Maine state park campgrounds set attendance record Maine state park campgrounds set a record this camping season, despite opening two to four weeks later than normal. About 270,000 visitors camped in Maine's state parks so far this year, setting records. Also Yellowstone National Park set an attendance record for September, with numbers up 21 percent from 2019. Everywhere we look, more people are camping during the pandemic, and campgrounds are not only crowded, but sometimes near impossible to get in. If you decide to skip trying to get in a campground, don't give up on camping! Instead check out our boondocking guide on ways you can camp without a campground here. Snowbirds flocking to Vancouver to find place to stay since U.S. border is closed With the Canadian-American border closed to all but essential travel, many Canadian snowbirds who winter in their RV in southern U.S. states each year are finding themselves with winter quickly approaching and nowhere to go. Now reports are starting to surface that many are flocking to Vancouver. There campgrounds and RV parks are completely booked with many keeping waiting lists in case of a cancellation - something unheard of in normal winters. We've shared about the situation before, and how some groups are working with the hotel industry in Canada to find places for these folks to go when winter hits. To see the latest story, click here. This part of the podcast is brought to you by RadPower Bikes, America's #1 e-bike brand, offering direct to consumer pricing on powerful premium electric bikes. Now with free shipping   RV PODCAST QUESTION OF THE WEEK - Overnight stays in Interstate Rest Areas Kathy posted this question recently on our RV Lifestyle Facebook Group: QUESTION: I just heard today that there is no overnight parking allowed in Rest Area’s? Is this true? ANSWER: We see this question surface a lot and it’s a complicated issue that varies state-by-state. Let us say this, though: If you are exhausted, pull over at a rest area and sleep. That’s not camping. That’s resting. We have personally slept overnight in rest areas all over the country and have never once been told we had to move on. The members of our RV Lifestyle Facebook community have lots to say on this issue, and a couple of resources to pass along… which we will link to in the shownotes for this episode on the blog at rvlifestyle.com/316. Here’s an assortment of their answers: Another Kathy said: I think camping is different than staying overnight for traveling, no one is going to tell a tired person to continue driving Donna: Camping no- but stop in vehicle and rest or. In camper ok. but no slides out and no bbq- cooking!! No side tents. 8 hr maximum Jeff: You are allowed to rest for some number of hours depending on the state. Usually somewhere between 8-16 hours. Usually online info is available Derek: I have parked overnight in rest areas all over this country and never run into this issue. This is precisely what they are for. Cheryl: Some rest areas have signs saying no overnight parking. A highway patrolman told me those signs just make it easier to run off people who stop to party (weird). He said by all means, stop, sleep. Do not drive tired. Just don’t put your slides out. Nellie: The only time we ever had any trouble staying overnight at a state rest area was in Wyoming several years ago. It was outside of Gillette. Some guy there literally ran us out of there. We weren't planning on staying, just stopped to stretch, but he wasn't having anything to do with that! A vehicle was leaving as we pulled in and there were no other vehicles there. We figured something fishy was going on. Rachelle: I’ve slept many times in many states. I always Google state name and sleeping and number of hours to find rules. I do NOT put levels down, slides out, etc. just park and snooze. I’ve even had Jehovas Witness come knocking early one morning in rest area! Tim: I sleep in a semi all the time no worries. Just don’t set up camp etc and don’t take up multiple spots. If you have to put slide out to go to bed park along grass etc because they get packed at night. Angela: I have seen no overnight parking, 2 hour limit, 24 hour on site security it just varies. I pull my camper with my work truck. I have to stop for 10 hours and sometimes 14 hours mandatory. Bob: Resting is what they're for we don't want people all over the road at night falling asleep! But with that said some have limited hours in California most are 8 hrs on the long sections on interstates I've seen 10 for commercial truckers and long RVs and trailers have to park with the commercial truckers anyhow. On the other hand I've seen as little as four in very small rest stops along 101 in northern California. Several Readers shared online resources about this: Dean: It varies from state to state. https://www.careersingear.com/.../states-ban-sleeping... Tricia: https://www.interstaterestareas.com/ Bottom line, if you can’t go on and have nowhere else to overnight. Do so. Don’t make it look like a campsite and be on your way as soon as you’re refreshed. Thanks to everyone who helped Kathy with an answer to her question. And if you are not a member of our RV Lifestyle Facebook Group,

They may be selling RVs at a record pace, but there are lots of lingering Pandemic Problems for the RV Industry The coronavirus pandemic has wreaked havoc across all aspects of the economy including the RV Industry. And while RV sales have never been better, the damage done by the shutdowns and the resulting incredible demand for RVs continues to stress the industry. In Episode 315 of the RV Podcast, we talk about Pandemic Problems for the RV Industry and much more. We interview Dean Corrigal, of Leisure Travel Vans. Dean is probably America's Best-known RV Salesman because of his amazingly detailed walk-through RV reviews on YouTube. We talked to Dean about a lot of things about how the pandemic is still affecting the RV Industry, including: The Rise of the Digital Nomads, the near 5 million people who now work remotely from their RVs The lingering effects of the pandemic and critical, ongoing shortages in RV parts and components The incredible demand for RVs and how if you want to order a new one, you shouldn't expect to see it for 14 months! And how some are predicting the U.S. Canadian border will remain closed for RV travel through next spring! This is an interview you will not want to miss. Plus, we have lots of RV news. RV Lifestyle questions, tips and another great off the beaten path report from our friends Patti and Tom Burkett. You can listen to the RV Podcast in the player below. And scroll down this page for complete shownotes, transcripts, plus links and resources about all the things we talk about.   RV PODCAST opening: WHAT MIKE AND JENNIFER ARE UP TO THIS WEEK Mike and Jen have been Digital Nomads for nine years, doing the RV Podcast, RV Lifestyle Blog, YouTube Videos, and their RV Travel books from the road much of the year Here's what's happening with us this week... We’re back from UP…where we encountered the best fall foliage ever. We timed it for peak color. And except for Mike losing a memory card from his drone with the best aerial shots, it was an awesome 10-day trip. Mike has a new drone coming this week and hopes to up his aerial photography videos and still photos We’re planning to be in Southwest Michigan next week along the Lake Michigan shoreline October is a very busy time in RV campgrounds every weekend Halloween… decorating rigs… There will be NO Trick or Treating in many places… but decorations and the festivities are on tap at most campgrounds. Most are booked up every weekend in October. This part of the RV Podcast is brought to you by Camping World – America’s #1 RV Dealer  RV PODCAST NEWS OF THE WEEK You can listen to the RV Podcast in the player below. And scroll down this page for complete shownotes, transcripts, plus links and resources about all the things we talk about. The News of the Week comes about 13:20 in. Florida RV SuperShow WILL happen this January, organizers announce It's now official: The Florida RV SuperShow is on! The show, one of the largest in the nation, will happen in person (vs. virtual) on the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa Jan. 13-17. Show organizers say they will do everything possible to provide a clean and safe environment for exhibitors and attendees.  Currently, Hillsborough County, where the state fair is located, is under a mandatory indoor mask order which - if that is still in place in January, will be enforced. The Florida RV Super Show is one of our favorites. To see past reports we have done click here. New regulations spell out e-bike rules for federally managed land, including national parks  U.S. Department of the Interior finalized its e-bike polices last Friday, announcing e-bikes are allowed where traditional bikes are permitted on land managed by the National Park Service or Bureau of Reclamation land. For the Bureau of Land Management, an authorized official must say where the e-bikes can go, and a refuge manager must determine if e-bikes are appropriate for land managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Many e-bike users were excited about being able to take their bikes on national parks trails, but some environmentalists feared people riding too quickly might alter the ambiance of the trails. Personally, Jen and I are big fans of e-bikes. They permit you to petal on your own, providing a little assist where you need it. To see a report we did a while back on our e-bikes, click here. GPS from cell phones show parks are the one place more Americans are visiting more during the pandemicAn interesting story out last week tracked GPS from Americans cell phones and found every category Google is tracking  - visits to stores, the office, restaurants, and so on - is down except one category - parks. According to the Google tracking numbers, visits to parks including beaches, dog parks, marinas and federal land like national parks, are up - significantly, something many of us can attest to anecdotally. To see the story click here. Company ranks the best national parks for night sky viewing Those who, like Jen and I, enjoy gazing into the night sky will want to check out a star mapping company's ranking of the best national parks for viewing the stars. The company, called Under Lucky Stars, used a measure of the artificial light ratio, to help with the ranking and came up with its list of the top 10. Photographing the night sky is one of my favorite activities. For photography tips, check out this blog post here.  KOA reporting strong, near record-breaking numbers with 25 percent of campers trying for first time For months we have been reading about record RV and camping trailer sales. Now the private campgrounds are also starting to gather their numbers. Kampgrounds of America announced that despite tens of thousands of cancellations in March and April, the company had an amazing summer and is within 10 percent of last year's record numbers. According to the KOA report, one-quarter of the people who camped this summer camped for the first time. And about 80 percent of these campers were families with young children, seeking a way to vacation during the pandemic. This part of the podcast is brought to you by RadPower Bikes, America's #1 e-bike brand, offering direct to consumer pricing on powerful premium electric bikes. Now with free shipping   RV PODCAST QUESTION OF THE WEEK You can listen to the RV Podcast in the player below. And scroll down this page for complete shownotes, transcripts, plus links and resources about all the things we talk about. The question of the week can be heard about 19:25 in. This question comes from our Podcast VoiceMail number (586-372-6990) Hi, Mike, and Jennifer, it's Karen. I really enjoy your RV lifestyle newsletter and podcasts. I got a question. I'm a retired sixty-two-year-old female and I recently just sold my Class C 24 ft RV. That was on a Chevy 4500 chassis and I really loved her. She was perfect in so many ways, but I wanted to buy something smaller. So now I'm kind of confused as to what I should do. I've been searching on RV Trader and different places and I really want a van type RV because I want to go places that will accommodate shorter length and height vehicle. I know I want gas vs. Diesel and I really don't want to spend over $55,000 total. I can't justify a new one because the prices are way too high. So I've been looking at Chevy models because I really like how mine drove very strong and reliable and I want to be able to travel during all seasons, winter camping, boondocking, off the grid. Go to the mountains, you know, go wherever I want to go. So I'd love to have something with an all-wheel or four-wheel drive to get me in two different places, but I don't know if that is really a necessity and it's very difficult to find those. I'm also considering buying a cargo van and having it built out or partial build-out and doing some of it myself. I was thinking also maybe an older model Pleasure Way because I've always gravitated to those. So I was wondering if you had any advice on what type of vehicle I might want to consider or if my thoughts are in the wrong direction. I really don't like the fold-down electric beds. I think I prefer twin beds and I want to be able to bring a kayak in a bicycle. I travel along with my dog and no I'm not afraid to travel alone. I've done it for quite a while now. I also backpack and hike so I'd be bringing that type of equipment along I've been looking at a lot of YouTube videos.. Doing a lot of research, but I'm kind of confused. The more research I do, the more I'm thinking that it will end up costing near a new price when I'm done building or retrofitting an older model vehicle. So if there's any advice that you could give me or considerations on purchasing an older model vehicle, or maybe why not to purchase one, I'd really appreciate it. Thank you so much. Mike and Jennifer. I hope you can answer my questions and maybe use it on your podcast. Okay. Have a good day. Thanks. Bye. ANSWER: Jennifer Wendland:       What a well thought out question. Mike Wendland:           Yeah Karen has done her homework hasn't she? Jennifer Wendland:       She certainly has. Mike Wendland:           Well Karen you don't sound confused. You have a pretty clear list of what you want, and that is good. But let me give you a bit of a reality check. For $55,000 if that's that's your top budget, you're going to have to make some compromises. To buy a new RV, with most of those features that you want, you're going to be talking about double that, $100,000 or more. Now you can find really cheap RVs and I'm just not going to recommend them because people make them and they're really cheap. I mean, they are and all you got to do is look at them. So to get a new one, that has a number of those features you wanted. It's going to cost north of $100,000. Now used, you're right in finding that, but be realistic. You're going to have to buy something six or seven years old. So probably a 2013,

This week on the RV Podcast we talk about working remotely from an RV from a remote and beautiful area far away from the crowds. That’s where we are this week, camping in Michigan’s remote Upper Peninsula. Now as RV travel writers and reporters, we’re always working remotely from an RV. But with the pandemic, we’re noticing a lot more people also doing their remote work in remote locations, too. In our interview of the week coming up in a few minutes, we’ll talk to a local tourist official in the UP who is running a national advertising campaign urging remote workers to come do that remote work in one of the most remote and beautiful areas of the UP. You may get some great ideas from this interview about how you can also be working remotely from an RV instead of staying close to home. Also, this week, travel tips, your RV Lifestyle Questions, and a great off the beaten path report from the Patti and Tom Burkett. You can listen to the podcast in the player below. And scroll down this page for shownotes with links and resources about all the things we talk about. Show Notes for Episode #314 of The RV Podcast: WHAT MIKE AND JENNIFER ARE UP TO THIS WEEK We love working remotely from an RV when we can do so in beautiful spots like this In the Upper Peninsula We’re having an awesome time in the Upper Peninsula. And yes, as we prepare this podcast, we are indeed following our own advice and working remotely from an RV. This report is coming to you from Copper Harbor, MI on the Keweenaw Peninsula, which juts out like a thumb into Lake Superior at the northwestern end of the Upper Peninsula. We’ve been on the road a week so far, boondocking some nights in really wild country, other nights staying in state parks.  We’re slowly making our way from one end of the UP to the other. We couldn’t have timed it any better. The weather is cool and crisp. And the fall color is spectacular. Peak color up here is right now. See why we like working remotely from an RV? This is the Rapid River in the Central UP. I don’t think we’ve ever seen the fall foliage so brilliant. Naturally, we’ll have a video about it on our YouTube RV Lifestyle channel. And stay tuned for the News of the Week segment a little further down because we’ll have a resource that we’ll share that will let you know when peak fall color will happen in your area. If folks are coming up here, we should remind them that, except for the lone interstate in the UP – I-75 – the speed limit on all two-lane roads in the Upper Peninsula is 55. And it IS enforced. We should also note that it is much more crowded up here this fall than we’ve seen on previous fall trips. One reason, of course, is because of what we’ll learn in our interview segment coming up about working remotely from an RV. Also, we need to report that many of the U.S. Forest Service campgrounds will be shutting down across the UP starting next week. Most of the state parks will be open a bit later but there’s no doubt, the season is coming to an end. That’s been brought home this week by a cold snap. Last week we had temperatures up here in the mid-seventies. This week, daytime highs are in the 50’s and the nighttime temperatures are expected to drop near freezing. We find it very pleasant. And Bo is thrilled. We’ve been taking two or three hikes every day and enjoying every minute or it. We mention on the RV Podcast about the winter season and snow up here. Below is a sign on the Keweenaw Peninsula showing how much snow falls annually. The record is nearly 32 feet. Last year was about 27 feet. This is the snow pole on the Keweenaw Peninsula showing how much snow falls each winter. The record was 32 feet. Last year it was about 27 feet.   This part of the RV Podcast is brought to you by Camping World – America’s #1 RV Dealer Listeners of the Podcast can get 10% off all purchases over $99. Just go to RVLifestyle.com/campingworld and you will see all the Camping word RV gear and accessories we like the most! Just use the discount code RVLIFESTYLE10. RV PODCAST NEWS OF THE WEEK Many planning to go camping this month for some Halloween fun October officially arrives this week and that can only mean one thing for many - the official start of Halloween camping! Many campgrounds, especially private ones that cater to families with young children, are booked each weekend in October because of special Halloween themed family friendly events. Jellystone Park (click here) is one private campground system with plans, but many other private and government-run campgrounds also have activities, even during COVID-19. Many campgrounds are limiting trick or treating but having Halloween decoration or costume parities, all with social distancing, of course. And, should we say, with many already wearing… masks. To see a story we did last year explaining more on the Halloween camping trend, click here. Zion National Park officials dealing with unprecedented amounts of graffiti  Rangers at Zion National Park are dealing with unprecedented levels of graffiti this year, something rangers are blaming - in part - on the COVID-19 pandemic. This year many coming to the park are different than normal visitors. One ranger said many have never been to a national park, and are there because they are tired of being cooped up. Some of these visitors are carving the cliff faces and leaving behind literally miles of graffiti-covered rock. Volunteers are spending hours trying to remove the damage. But once the damage is done removing the mess causes permanent damage to the delicate landscape.  Zion is a beautiful park, one of our favorites. To see our past reports click here. Cast your vote during Fat Bear Week at Alaska's Katmai National Park and Reserve It is Fat Bear Week at Katmai National Park and Preserve. What is Fat Bear Week you ask? It is a fun way to help the public connect with the hard-to-reach Alaska park, famous for its bears who feast on salmon and get, well, very, very fat before hibernation. The annual event begins Sept. 30, and is designed a bit like a Big 10 tournament with the public casting its vote for the winners between rounds.  Not too long ago we did an interview with a Katmai ranger about the bears in this unique part of the world. To see our piece and a link to the live bear cam at Katmai, click here. Vintage Airstream community helps locate stolen 1950s trailer and capture thief People who love a particular brand of camper or RV can form a tight group, as many of us know. It was just such a tight community that helped the owners of a restored 1953 Airstream Flying Cloud - decked out in its full 1950s glory - find its trailer after it was stolen. The 19-foot camper, a favorite rental at the Dolores River Campground, was stolen in the middle of the night in August when thieves backed up to it and hauled it away. The owners turned to social media for help locating it. And that is how the trailer was found, the thieves were caught and charged, and the trailer returned. Gotta love a story with a happy ending! Use a fall color predictor to help you plan your fall travels As noted earlier, Mike and I are in Michigan's Upper Peninsula visiting some of our favorite UP campgrounds enjoying the fall colors. We are big fans of fall camping, as usually, the campgrounds are less busy (not necessarily so this year, however!), the bugs are gone, and the colors are just spectacular. If you plan to head out to see the colors, check out this national fall color predictor to help you plan. We have an Upper Peninsula travel guide to help you plan your trip which you can learn more about here. This part of the podcast is brought to you by RadPower Bikes, America's #1 e-bike brand, offering direct to consumer pricing on powerful premium electric bikes. Now with free shipping   RV PODCAST QUESTION OF THE WEEK This week’s question comes from a member of our RV Lifestyle Facebook Group named Jerry, who asks: I am curious what are some of the things one would not think of to have/stock an RV with. Essentials like pots, pans, dishes, flashlights, small tool bag, replacement fuses etc.........I get, but it’s the things you thought of like 6mo, year + in and were like....I wish I thought of that in the beginning, LOLFrom you seasoned folks - any suggestions? Jerry’s question brough more than 200 suggestions from our members: Dee: Deck of cards in case of rain. Randall: Collapsible sink. Comes in handy to keep gray water out of tank when not hooked up to sewer. The one we have also comes with drain platform. Judy: Pizza Pzazz electrical pizza cooker. We don't use it often, but it doesn't take up much room & is great for cooking a pizza or reheating leftovers. This is especially helpful if you don't have an oven. Linda: My two suggestions would be a well-stocked first aid kit and the weather radio. A suggestion to go along with the weather radio is that every time you check in at a campground ask what county you are in. TV and weather radio warnings come in by counties and if you don’t know which county you’re in you may not be warned in time. Elisabeth: We bring along solar-powered cell phone chargers. Vicki: Wooden matches. Paper clips. Envelope and stamps. Scissors. AA batteries. Patricia: I have a clear shoe bag hanging behind the door in the bathroom. Top half for small things that I might need (batteries), bottom half for small things that honey might need (fuses). It has saved lots of space and time searching for those little things. Julie: We just bought a small, collapsible electric leaf blower and it is wonderful. So easy to blow off the leaves and dirt from our outside mats, concrete pad, etc. Makes it much nicer while camping and helps during clean up, too! Patricia: Small, inexpensive shower mat with suction cups on the bottom for inside the main door. It’s easy to hose and rinse off and catches the first bit of water, dirt, etc. Then a dirt catching mat that can be shaken out. And… Mark,

This week in the RV Podcast Interview of the Week, we’ll hear from a group of RVers who will share their individual RV stories about how they got into the RV Lifestyle, what challenges they’ve had, and what the RV Lifestyle is really like. These are REAL RV stories from REAL RVers, unedited and I think you’ll find them very encouraging. Inspirational even. Whether you are a newbie RVer, someone just dreaming about getting an RV, or an experienced RVer for many years, I know you’re going to really enjoy these stories… coming up in just a few minutes. Also this week, we share lots of RV News of the week, answer your RV Lifestyle questions, and listen to another great off the beaten path report from Tom & Patti Burkett. You can listen to the podcast in the player below. And scroll down this page for shownotes that include links and resources about all the things we talk about. WHAT MIKE AND JENNIFER ARE UP TO THIS WEEK Mike and Jennifer Wendland, hosts of the RV Podcast First, on the personal side, we want you to know that Jennifer and I have just launched special RV Lifestyle Supporter Communities on Facebook and on YouTube as a way for us to become more community-supported (instead of advertising-driven), to connect with you better, and to sharpen the focus of all our platforms to meet more of your needs. We won't change anything in the content we deliver each week. We'll continue to produce all that content as before, all free. These new members-only support communities are in addition to all the regular content we create each week. This new effort to build community support is a way for you to contribute to the channel and help support our work… And for us to give something extra back to you.  I realize, being a supporter is not for everyone. Not everyone has the means to do so. This won’t change a thing for you, we'll still do all the content you’re used to seeing from us, still free. But for those who do choose to support us, it will enable us to do more with our content and you’ll get some cool rewards in the process.  You’ll get members-only perks,  badges, and emojis that only supporters get that show up in our livestreams so we can give your questions priority answers and shoutouts. In addition, there will be discounts on RV products and services, member-only meetups around the country, and exclusive content in the form of members-only posts, photos and videos. CLICK HERE to learn about our YouTube Members-Only Community CLICK HERE to learn about our Facebook Members-Only Community This part of the RV Podcast is brought to you by Camping World – America’s #1 RV Dealer Listeners of the Podcast can get 10% off all purchases over $99. Just go to RVLifestyle.com/campingworld and you will see all the Camping word RV gear and accessories we like the most! Just use the discount code RVLIFESTYLE10. RV PODCAST NEWS OF THE WEEK Raging wildfires lead California to close of ALL national forest land and 30 state parks All national forests are closed in California totaling more than 20 million acres because of the unprecedented fires devastating the state. About 30 state parks, including the Big Sur area along Highway 1, are also closed because of fire risks. With so many fires burning out of control in California, and much of the West for that matter, you may want to get an app to help you monitor police and fire activity for safety reasons. To learn more click here. Oregon officials also close national and state lands to camping, outdoor use, due to fires and smoke Oregon is another state facing devastating wildfires roaring all across the state. More than a million acres are burning, with many reported deaths. Not surprisingly, state and federal officials are also closing campgrounds and parks. Much of the land operated by the Bureau of Land Management, the U.S Department of Agriculture, forestry, state parks, and national parks are either closed or camping is banned.  This includes Crater Lake National Park, Siuslaw National Forest and more.  Idaho officials concerned more inexperienced campers are negatively impacting forests More Americans are definitely camping this year, and some states are beginning to analyze what that means to its forests. In Idaho, for instance, a report found five times as many people as normal camping in the Payette National Forest, with many new campers unaware of proper camping etiquette. The report said these campers were improperly disposing of human waste, not properly putting out their campfires, and not cleaning up their trash when they leave. To help all of us remember proper boondocking etiquette, thought I'd share this link from an interview we did on our podcast on this very topic not too long ago. State Park in Michigan's Upper Peninusla reporting staggering number of search and rescues of newbies This increase in new, and relatively inexperienced campers, is something we are hearing about all around the country. In Michigan's Upper Peninsula Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park (one of our favorites, click here to see why), state workers are reporting an alarming number of search and rescues. Inexperienced campers and hikers are coming to the beautiful but rugged wilderness unprepared - leading to an astonishing number of calls for help. In just 10 weeks ending on Labor Day, the park has conducted 30 search and rescues, compared to six for the ENTIRE year of 2019. The vast majority of these calls are from inexperienced people coming outdoors because of COVID-19. Click here for tips on what everyone should know before hitting the trails. Bear found scavenging on man's body in Great Smoky Mountain National Park; bear killed, investigation ongoing Rangers at the Great Smoky Mountain National Park euthanized a bear found scavenging on a man's body. The man was apparently camping in a remote area of the park and died. Whether his death was caused by the bear was not clear as of this report. When backpackers came across the bear on the man, and saw the man's empty tent, they left to find a place with cell coverage and called for help. The bear was still on the man when rangers arrived hours later. The campsite, number 82, is closed and will remain so for some time as officials investigate the very horrible incident. Apparently, there had been reports of bears attacking humans in this part of the park in years past. This part of the RV Podcast is brought to you by RadPower Bikes, America's #1 e-bike brand, offering direct to consumer pricing on powerful premium electric bikes. Now with free shipping   RV PODCAST QUESTION OF THE WEEK – Organizing the RV Kitchen This question comes from Lynn, one of the 42,000 members of our RV Lifestyle Facebook Group. She writes: QUESTION: We recently purchased a 2018 34’ Keystone Alpine. We retired this past December, but are not FT as yet. You all on this great site have been so incredibly helpful with advice and ideas. Can I ask for some more? I need ideas on how to better organize our kitchen. How do you store pots & pans? Glasses? Foods? Flatware, Etc? I’m usually super-organized here at home, but I need many more ideas before we take off on our month-long cross-country trip early next month. I’ve already bought museum putty, Command hooks, 3 curtain-type rods to help hold things in place, unbreakable wine and drink glasses, a new cookware set, and a few big bins, etc. I’d really appreciate more ideas and advice! Many thanks!!! ANSWER – As Lynn noted, she already bought museum putty, sometimes called museum wax. And there was lots of discussion about that. In case you don’t know what museum putty is, it is a removable and reusable adhesive putty used by museums, and others, to secure valuable objects like vases, especially in earthquake zones. Since an RV going down the road generates enough rattles, bumps, and sways to equal a 4.0 earthquake, the same principle holds true. Put some museum putty on the bottom of anything you will be leaving out on the countertop, like small appliances, the paper towel holder, and other things you don’t want rattling around and following off the counter as you drive. Quakehold - Museum putty as described in the RV Podcast The product we use is called Quakehold and it costs around $10 for a 13-ounce container on Amazon. We’ll put a link to it on our RV gear page at RVLifestyle.com/gear. If you want a direct link to this product, go to https://amzn.to/2FHTz2Z One of the things we so appreciate from our RV Lifestyle Facebook Group members is how willing they are to share their knowledge and help out a newbie. And help they did! Lynn’s question brought 71 different answers from our other members. Here’s a sampling: From Lois: Good luck. It really is a trial and error type thing. What works for some won’t work for others. I use a non-skid shelf liner for dishes and glasses. Buy LOTS of non-skid. Not only do you want it on all shelf surfaces, but also small strips between pans, etc From Nora: We recently purchased an new ourselves! And in our 1st trip I found that while traveling, some refrigerator stuff including the baking soda fell and spilled. This week I went to Ikea and purchased white bins for the fridge. Their storage items are fantastic and at a reasonable price as well as light. From Sarah: I use squares of felt (8x10ish) to put between pans and plates to keep things for rubbing. Nesting bowls are handy. Ikea has nice containers with lids for spices, or whatever. I put things in containers then I can reach up and slide out the whole thing to find what I need. From Katherine: My 2 favorite rules: 1) Less is more- don’t pack your cabinets so full that there is no room for a souvenir. I find that when I open a lightly packed cabinet that my mind is peaceful and the RV FEELS spacious. 2) There is always a Walmart. Very few necessities can’t be purchased at Walmart or ordered online. We pack in quantity things like a specific gluten-free bread or prescription dog food.

You surely have heard the term moochdocking by now, a variation on the boondocking trend that is so popular with RVers these days. While boondocking is typically off-grid camping in remote areas, moochdocking is camping – usually without hookups – in people’s driveways or the back of their property. This week, we’ll learn about a new website that will help you find places to inexpensively do some moochdocking, offering still another resource for RVers who want to avoid overcrowded and overpriced campgrounds. Also, this week on Episode 311 of the RV Podcast, we have lots of RV news, your questions, and a fun and entertaining off the beaten path report from Tom and Patti Burkett. You can listen to this episode of the RV Podcast in the player below. And scroll down this page for shownotes and a transcript of the interview, plus links and resources about all the things we talk about. WHAT MIKE AND JENNIFER ARE UP TO THIS WEEK Mike and Jennifer Wendland, hosts of the RV Podcast and the RV Lifestyle Travel Blog We hope everyone had a fantastic Labor Day weekend. Many were camping. But, according to an informal survey of campers and campground hosts, we're hearing that more RVers than normal will continue camping through the rest of the month.  Many campgrounds are filled and others report being much busier than normal. With so many still working remotely, a lot of RVers figure why not work from the road. We’re planning a fall color RV getaway to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula – right after Jennifer has a tooth pulled. Ouch! This part of the RV Podcast is brought to you by Camping World – America’s #1 RV Dealer Listeners of the Podcast can get 10% off all purchases over $99. Just go to RVLifestyle.com/campingworld and you will see all the Camping word RV gear and accessories we like the most! Just use the discount code RVLIFESTYLE10. RV PODCAST NEWS OF THE WEEK More than 200 people were evacuated from a California campground, some with burn injuries, as a fast moving fire trapped campers More than 200 people in California trying to squeeze in a little camping over the Labor Day weekend had to be evacuated by military helicopters after a fast-moving wildfire came upon them, sending more than 20 to the hospital, at least two with critical injuries. The campers were near Mammoth Pool Reservoir in the Sierra National Forest in northcentral California. The fire started Friday night and by Saturday blocked the only exit to Mammoth Pool Reservoir, trapping the campers as fire spread on all sides. The National Guard sent helicopters in to rescue people, taking more than 200 to safety. One evacuee shot some terrifying video (click here) of what the campground looked like before he was rescued.  Wildfires have been a major problem in much of the West, and California especially is hard hit. Majority of Americans planned a road trip vacation Labor Day weekend If you decided to take a last minute road trip this weekend, turns out you were in the majority. Some 60 percent of all Americans planned to travel over the weekend, 88 percent by vehicle. Also the majority of those traveling headed out further from home than they did Memorial Day weekend. The stats come from a survey by Cars.com. The info collected was very similar to AAA reports, indicating 97 percent of all Americans were vacationing by vehicle this summer, and which corresponds to what we are hearing out there in the middle of the pandemic. Not too long ago we had YOU call in and tell us what it is like out there on the road. To hear that podcast click here. The Better Business Bureau urging RV shoppers to be aware of scams if shopping for used RV online If you are shopping for a used RV online, the Better Business Bureau has a warning: Beware of scams. As more people are shopping for an RV as a way to travel in the time of a pandemic, scammers are spotting an opportunity to make a quick dishonest buck by listing RVs for sale that do not exist. To avoid being scammed, the Better Bureau suggests the buyer ask the seller for a FaceTime interview and a video walkthrough, ask for VINs, and more.  We also recommend that, if possible, you hire an RV inspector to look over the RV to make sure it is in the condition claimed by the seller. We did a whole Podcast episode about buying an RV and getting it inspected. CLICK HERE for the information on RV inspections. Yet another American fined - this time $2,000 - for violating Canada's Quarantine order An American family was fined $2,000 and expelled from Canada last week after violating the country's Quarantine Act. Americans are permitted to enter Canada if they go straight through to or from Alaska and the lower 48 states. They are not permitted to go to national parks, leisure or tourism areas. They are only permitted to stop for food, gas or sleep. And they are required to have a tag stating the day the entered Canada and the day they must be out. This tag is what gave the latest quarantine-violating American family away. They entered British Columbia Aug. 25, and were found vacationing in Vancouver Aug. 29. Once discovered they were fined and escorted to the Peace Arch Border Crossing. If Canadian border remains closed, Canadian campground organization warns snowbirds will need somewhere to go Speaking of Canada, as the Canadian-American border remains closed to non-essential travel because of COVID-19, Canada's National Private Campground Association is looking ahead. The group estimates Canada has about 50,000-200,000 Canadian Snowbirds, who live or travel in an RV in Canada in the warm weather, the U.S. south in the winter. If the border remains closed they will need somewhere to go, and the group is suggesting a partnership with hotels since many of the seasonal Canadian campgrounds can't operate in winter. There are increasing indications that the border may be closed until 2021. This part of the podcast is brought to you by RadPower Bikes, America's #1 e-bike brand, offering direct to consumer pricing on powerful premium electric bikes. Now with free shipping   RV PODCAST QUESTION OF THE WEEK What happens when my RV runs out of freshwater? Here’s a question that came in from Wendy: QUESTION: Newbie here: we are quite confused about where to get clean water to fill the freshwater tank when Boondocking/dry camping. How do you do it? ANSWER: One of the things we’ve done in the past is use 1-gallon water containers that we pick up at a supermarket. Our RV has a short hose and a valve that will suck water out of the water jugs. It comes standard on our Leisure Travel Vans RV. But most RV shops can easily set up with a similar system. If not, we’ve heard of people who take an empty soda bottle, cut a rectangular hole in it and use it as a sort of funnel to pour in the water from the gallon jug to the freshwater fill on the RV. A better solution for most RVers is to use something called a Water Bandit. It has a ¾ in threaded connector on one end tat should connect to your city water connection. The other end is an a highly flexible, silicone polymer sleeve that stretches to fit over the end of virtually any standard water source… like a gallon water jug… making it really easy to pour in the tank. It costs around $8. Here’s the Amazon link - https://amzn.to/35gpKkZ Something else we’ve done more recently is buy a heavy-duty collapsible 5.3-gallon water container. It only costs $12 or so. Here’s a link to it on Amazon - https://amzn.to/2ZixW0c When empty, it collapses very small and easily stores. When I fill up the RV freshwater tank, I’ll also fill up the collapsible water container. That way, if we’re boondocking for a while and we run low on fresh water, we have an extra supply that will let us stay out longer. As I said, Wendy posted her question on our Facebook RV Lifestyle Group. It brought in more than 40 responses from members. Here are some of the replies and suggestions: Jack: I top off at home before leaving I often top off at a paid campsite before leaving there. Most truck stops have water hose at or near the pumps that you can use to top off. Any gas station would probably let you top off especially if you tip the attendant a $10 or $20. If you use a small pump you can pump creek water if you can get close enough but make sure you chlorinate it to kill any bacteria or parasites. Dave: I use several 3-gallon water jugs with handles. Much easier to carry 2 three-gallon jugs then 1 five-gallon jug. all drinking water we use goes through a Brita water filter first. Renee: Some fire stations will let you fill your RV freshwater tank. Cindi: We also carry a 60-gallon tank in the back of our truck that we fill as well. We have a small transfer pump that pumps into the camper. Between coffee and washing we always run out of water before our grey or black tanks are full. Robert: We boondock nearly all the time. Water has never been an issue nor have we ever paid for water. Gas Stations, parks, a few stores, and a brewery have helped us out. You also need a Water Bandit RV Gear info We have a full page of all the products Jennifer and I use and recommend, including the water bandit and that collapsible water container. Just go to RVLifestyle.com/gear and you’ll see everything in one spot, all the products and gear we personally use and talk about here on the podcast. 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.

This week we learn about the 2021 Quartzsite RV Show, scheduled Jan. 16-24. This just may be the biggest RV show in the world, drawing from the estimated 750,000 to 1 million visitors (most in RVs) who flock to the tiny desert town every January. Our guest on the RV Podcast Interview of the Week is Kimmy King, producer for the 2021 Quartzsite RV Show. Plus we have lots of RV news, tips and travel ideas, including an off the beaten path report from the Burketts. You can listen to the podcast in the player below. And scroll down this page for shownotes. The question of the week about a 4 season RV is at 19:15 in, while the interview about the 2021 Quartzsite RV show is at 26:09  RV Podcast Show Notes for Episode #310, released Sept. 2, 2020: WHAT MIKE AND JENNIFER ARE UP TO THIS WEEK Special Live Feed Friday at 3 PM ET on the 2021 Quartzsite RV Show We’re having fun doing live stream broadcasts simultaneously on all our platforms. We’ll have our next one coming up this Friday, Sept 4 at 3 PM Eastern Time and our special guest will be Kenny and Kimmy King, the producers of the giant 2021 Quartzsite RV Show. Kimmy will be our guest in the interview of the week in this episode of the RV Podcast. And in our live video stream Friday, she’ll be joined by her dad, Kenny. This will be a really fun broadcast and you will have an opportunity to ask them questions live. So if every you have had questions about boondocking in Quartzsite, about the biggest RV show in the world (that’s what their event has become) tune in live at 3 PM Friday Sept. 4 on our RV Lifestyle Facebook Group, our RV Lifestyle Facebook Page and our RV Lifestyle YouTune Channel. Fall Camping Updates We’ve had some really fun discussions on the blog lately about fall camping. Just this week we have published articles on fall camping in the UP and our five favorite RV destinations around the country to see the fall colors. You can read them and much more at rvlifestyle.com RV service issues I have an update on the status of our RV issues. The inverter failure while on battery power that I taked about last week had a very easy solution. It was a blown fuse. The fuse that blew was a 150 amp fuse between the house batteries and the inverter. My service tech at Holland Motor Homes in Holland, MI said the reason why it blew is that someone put the wrong sized fuse in at the factory. It is supposed to have a 250 amp fuse. Not a 150 amp fuse. Problem solved. And my dealer even gave me a spare fuse if it should happen again. As to the Dometic three-way refrigerator door that keeps falling off there is bad news. The dealer says Dometic told themthere is a 70 day wait time for replacement parts. Since I talked about it on the podcast last week I have heard from several others who have the same problem with the door falling off. One said he grew so impatient with Dometic’s lack of service that he has replaced his fridge with a new one from a different company. We are considering the same thing. This part of the RV Podcast is brought to you by Camping World – America’s #1 RV Dealer For a 10% discount on purchases over $99, use the discount code RVLIFESTYLE10. RV PODCAST RV NEWS OF THE WEEK Wild fires continue to cause havoc in West, California closes 34 state parks, Oregon, Montana, Arizona, Utah and more states affected Wildfires continued to devastate the West with 1.4 million acres burned, and more than 800 new wildfires between Aug. 15 and 29 in California alone. California closed at least 34 state parks because of fires, many will be closed indefinitely. Historic Little Basin Campground in California's Big Basin State Park was destroyed, with visitors evacuated in a rush last Tuesday just before the flames came through. But California is not alone. An 850-plus acre wildfire is in Yellowstone National Park, just three miles from Old Faithful. Oregon and Colorado are also especially hard hit, but fires are popping up in many western states. If you are camping in an area at risk, be sure to check out this story on emergency apps you should have to stay informed. Camping up by double digits in many states this summer Numbers are continuing to come in from state campgrounds throughout the country, showing the number of campers is up over last year by double digits. In North Dakota, a recent story showed North Dakota's 13 state parks saw the number of campers up 28 percent from May, June, and July 2019. Ohio state parks are reporting higher numbers, as is all public land in Wyoming. The reason states are attributing the large numbers to is that more people are turning to camping during these COVID-19 times. For tips on how to navigate camping during a pandemic, click here. Visitors told to avoid all contact with Virgin River as highly toxic algal bloom continues to pose safety concerns A toxic algai bloom at Zion National park that we warned you about last month after it killed a Siberian husky puppy is apparently spreading,  causing new concerns. Rangers say all visitors – humans and pets - need to avoid all contact with the Virgin River until further notice because the toxin is at extreme levels and has spread to the Narrows section of the river. People need to avoid hiking through the water, which means people should not do the Narrows hike which is one of the most popular Zion hikes as it is down the river between towering canyon walls. And people should especially keep the water far from their eyes or mouths. The algai colonies produce a toxin that impacts the nervous system and can be fatal to children or pets.  An Inn and Campground tied to 127 COVID-19 cases temporarily loses license before state reinstates it last weekend The Big Moose Inn and Campground in Maine temporarily had its license revoked last week by state officials for violating COVID-19 orders after an outbreak was traced to the facility. The Inn hosted a wedding reception in early August, that has since been linked through contact tracing to 127 COVID-19 cases. Apparently one person at the wedding reception had COVID, which then spread to some of the 65 guests who attended, and those guests in turn spread it more. Maine limits activities like receptions to 50 people, and apparently the Inn and Campground violated other Maine rules like requiring contact tracing information for guests, requiring 6 foot social distancing, and requiring employees to wear masks. While the campground and inn did call and cancel reservations when it did not have a license, after its license was reinstated last weekend, it was back open. Woman transforms bland camping trailer into bright, inviting living space for $6,000 Mike and I love seeing how people personalize their RVs. We are betting a lot of you like seeing this, too, which is why we wanted to share a story about a woman who purchased a camping trailer for $10,000 and then gave it a complete facelift, putting in another $6,000. The woman swapped out the floor, and transformed the trailer, decorated with a variety of beige and browns, with bright whites and eye-popping colors that made it seem more like a contemporary apartment than trailer. There are many companies out there to help people remodel their RVs, and it made me think of a podcast interview we did recently with Renovation Camp, designed to help you do the work by yourself. To listen to that report, click here and scan down to the Interview of the Week. This part of the podcast is brought to you by RadPower Bikes, America's #1 e-bike brand, offering direct to consumer pricing on powerful premium electric bikes. Now with free shipping   RV QUESTION OF THE WEEK - Is there a real 4 season RV?  This question from Ginger comes via our RV Lifestyle Facebook Group: ”We are looking to purchase a true 4 season RV, any manufacturers that you know of that are true to their advertising?” We get this question a lot and I like the fact that Ginger specifically asked about RVs that live up to their advertising claims. Because a lot of them claim they are 4 season, or are “4 season capable,” or have “insulated pipes,” but that is a far cry from a true 4 season vehicle that can camp and operate ints fresh water, black water, and grey water plumbing system in below-freezing weather. Some can work in the thirties but when the tem[s really drop in the far north, not many can live up to the true 4 season claim. Our RV Lifestyle group members have really chimed in with the answers. Greg McHugh says to check out the complete line of Northwood Manufacturing, based om Oregon. Northwood makes a very full line of travel trailers and fifth wheels, in particular, the Arctic Fox brand. These are true 4 season RVs with heated, enclosed holding tanks and dump valves designed for cold winter climates. The coaches are super-insulated with various residential quality rigid foam, batten, and reflective foil to protect the interior from winter cold and excessive heat in the summer. Northwood is the only brand that claims to fully be 4 season. There were other suggestions by readers of other brands that look to be really well insulated but don't claim to be truly 4 season. Greg also suggests looking at the Bigfoot RV brand of truck and travel trailers, made in Armstrong, BC. Canada Brandon recommends the Black Series, a rugged Australia brand now available in the U.S. Matt says “We have a Columbus by Palomino and when it was 15° outside we stayed nice and toasty warm inside.” Susie says Grand Design has great insulation and kept us warm all winter. No tank/line problems. Deb says to check out Lance truck campers and trailers. Again, with the exception of those RVs made by Northwood, the others do not claim to be full 4 season RVs but they do have extremely good insulation and usually perform much better than the competition during cold weather use. Do you have a question you’d like us to answer or a comment on the things we’re discussing? If so,

The first thing RV owners learn when they start the RV Lifestyle is that if something can break… it will. The second thing is getting RV repair and service done is never an easy task. That’s one of the top reasons many RV fulltimers are coming off the road. RV repair and service is nothing like automobile service. Getting parts, warranty service and repairs can easily take weeks. Before COVID, the average wait time for RV repair or service was 21 days, according to the national RV Technical Institute in Elkhart, IN. That's the amount of time that it takes from the day you drop a unit off at a dealer to be repaired, to when you pick it back up. Since COVID, the wait has increased dramatically. Dealerships shut down, manufacturers and parts suppliers shut down. Even now, many suppliers are still basically closed, with service and warranty folks working for home. Parts and supplies are, well, in short supply. Repair facilities at dealerships are jammed, catching up on their own backlogs from the shutdown and trying to cope with slowed shipments from suppliers. Add in the crush of so many new RVers who chose the RV Lifestyle for their vacations this year and you'll understand why RV service shops have to triage their repairs, prioritizing who gets fixed first based on the severity of the problem, just as emergency room doctors have to triage those in a hospital waiting room. Sometimes, it takes weeks to even get an appointment. All too often, more weeks once the RV is in the shop. In our question of the week segment coming up a little later, we'll share some of the issues we've heard from various RVers. Even mobile RV repair technicians are experiencing delays. Instead of same-day service as they used to deliver, more often than not it's next week. Or the week after. You can listen to the podcast in the player below.  Go to about 33:30 into the podcast to learn about peer to peer RV storage. And scroll down this page for shownotes and a transcript of the interview, plus links and resources about all the things we talk about. Also this week, we'll learn about a new way to find a place to store your RV... think the equivalent of an Airbnb rental applied to storage for your RV. And we have some good news about RV shows starting again after the first of the year! This part of the RV Podcast is brought to you by Camping World – America’s #1 RV Dealer  Use the coupon code rvlifestyle10 for 10% off purchases over $99.Check rvlifestyle.com/campingworld to see the many RV accessories and supplies Jennifer and I use with our RV.  RV LIFESTYLE NEWS OF THE WEEK Wildfires ravaging much of West - California, Colorado, Arizona and more Wildfires burning the West are making headlines this week, closing campgrounds and causing evacuations in many parts of California, Arizona, Utah, and Colorado to name a few. In California, at least a million acres have burned in seven days, with wildfires reaching historic size. Elsewhere Utah's Minersville Campground was evaluated over the weekend because of wildfires, Arizona officials closed at least two campgrounds because of wildfires near Saguaro National Park, and wildfires are raging across large areas in Colorado . Every year around this time we hear of wildfires in the West, but to us, this year the news seems more severe. There are more than 100 out of control wildfires being reported as we record this episode and smoke and haze can be seen from California to Kansas. Two hurricanes expected to hit the south within days of each other this week And while wildfires ravaged the West, states along the Gulf of Mexico are bracing for not one but two hurricanes to hit this week in what is being called an unprecedented event. The storms are causing campground closings and evacuations. Marco is expected to be a class one hurricane and hit Louisiana today (Monday). Laura at the time of this writing is expected to be a category 2 hurricane and is expected to hit Louisiana but also Mississippi, Alabama, and perhaps even Florida mid-week. The Gulf Islands National Seashore and Fort Pickens campground were among many on the coast closing because of the storms. We wrote a story earlier this year that included links to helpful sources to help you monitor road and weather emergencies. You can find that story here.  Pandemic camping? Number of visitors up at Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks from last year's numbers We've been telling you it is busy out there, and some national parks are starting to share numbers to define it. The numbers of people visiting Yellowstone National Park in July were up 2 percent from July 2019,  The numbers are up even though we are in the middle of a pandemic, where campgrounds and hotels have reduced their capacity and visitors from other countries are staying home. Yellowstone is seeing visitors from all 50 states and neighboring Grand Teton is also seeing an increase in visitors - up 3 percent from July 2019. American could face $750,000 fine or six months in jail for entering Canada and visiting Banff illegally A Kentucky man may face a $750,000 fine or six months in jail for allegedly violating a quarantine order in the Alberta Rockies in late June. The border to Canada is closed because of COVID-19, but as we have shared here, Americans are still illegally visiting Canada's tourist areas in defiance of the law, only to find an angry Canadian population calling police, who order quarantines and in this case a hefty fine. On July 31 Canada tightened its border even more, still allowing American travelers to pass through if headed to Alaska, but only if they enter through one of five approved entry points. Also, Americans must hang a tag from their mirror identifying them and the date they must leave, and are not allowed to visit a tourist area. Upper New York county health officials say visitors at campground last week may have had COVID-19 exposure Two people who camped at Golden Beach Campground in Raquette Lake, NY last week tested positive for COVID-19. The two went camping in the Adirondack area campground Aug. 15-20. While camping the couple used the restrooms and shower building, and also went into nearby towns. Health officials shared the information so anyone who stayed in this area during this time would know. While camping, Mike and I recommend using your RV's shower and bathroom as much as possible. And despite this story, camping is considered a relatively low-risk activity in many stories and reports we are monitoring. This part of the podcast is brought to you by RadPower Bikes, America's #1 e-bike brand, offering direct to consumer pricing on powerful premium electric bikes. Now with free shipping. Use the code rvlifestyle for $75 off.   RV QUESTION OF THE WEEK - RV Repair and service issues On our RV Lifestyle Facebook Group, that topic is a very active one. So let me share the question from a reader named Todd, who writes: “I'm new here and read of quality issues with new RVs and I can't understand how dealers don't see the need to fix issues like trim panels falling off while on the lot. $27,000 bucks and they don't see the need to fix it before customers see it.” Todd’s post brought more than 60 replies, most relating RV repair and service. Matt and Trima said: “If you only knew the problems we have with RV repair and service for our brand new 2020 top of the line Fifth Wheel; you would never buy one and absolutely run the other way.. Delamination down the side and across the back..... A defective roof where a pinhole was found for a leak, not to mention a roof with blisters, underbelly keeps coming undone, shower panels coming undone from the wall and leaks, and the list goes on with close to 40 items. Oh; the washing machine has gone out twice in six months in the oven will not stay lit until after literally about the 6th to 8th time. Man I have so many pictures and videos that it would make your head spin. Working with a lemon law lawyer right now.” Carolyn offers this advice about dealers who don’t fix obvious issues: “No one seems to take pride in their work. If they don’t fix before the sale I’d steer clear of them because they probably have crappy service dept.” Camilla, noting that many dealers charge a paperwork fee, yet, in her case, she noted “Always fun to see the $895 "Pre-Delivery Inspection" fee on a brand new RV - but wires hanging out, moldings dangling, TV missing, coffee stain in the cabin, hydraulic arm ripped out of the screen door, etc.” Joe says “So much demand for RV's now, the factories are rushing to produce them as fast as possible.” Says Michael: “I have a 2019 RV, brand new on the lot I made a list of 22 RV repair and service items that needed to be fixed before I left the dealer. Now 1 year older I have trim pieces falling off, bench seat literally fell apart and I cannot stop slide out from leaking during rain!” Helen has RV repair and service problems, too: “What makes me angry is we bought a brand new fifth wheel specifically to avoid these issues. We came to the conclusion it is cheaper for the companies to rush them through and hope people don’t return them for RV repair and service work than to make them right the first time. What is funny is that we talked to someone we met at a campground who had a much more expensive fifth wheel than us. When we said we wish we had gone ahead and spent more money for one like his and avoided these problems he laughed and told us his sad story with RV repair and service warranty work.”  Victoria reported: “We are shopping and I’m amazed that one lot at a local dealer was FULL of different sizes and shapes and brands of campers. I asked if we could see a couple of them and the RV dealer said those campers were waiting for RV repair and service to be fixed! The lot was full!” And finally Chuck says: “Sadly, what this industry needs is competition from quality overseas Manufacturing such as happened in the Auto industry.