RV Podcast - Stories From The Road

Have you looked at RV prices lately? They are through the roof. Expect to pay well over $100,000 to buy a new Class B campervan. Even $150K is not that unusual and some of the super high-end ones are closer to $200,000. Those high prices are one reason why lots of RVers are making their own vans, buying stripped down cargo vas and turning them into their own customized RV, with exactly the features and accessories they want. This week in our Topic of the Week interview, we’ll talk with a DIY van expert who has helped hundreds build their own RVs and even has an online course that shows you how to do it. The featured image above is from Larry and Wendy, a couple I met this past weekend who built out their own van. I'll have a video on their build and that of another DIY van-building couple we met in a couple weeks. But Larry and Wendy used the expertise of Ross Lukeman, who has become a guru in the DIY van-building crowd and you can hear my interview with Ross in this week's podcast. But keep reading and listening as we have lots of other RV News, tips, travel ideas and more. WHAT MIKE AND JENNIFER ARE UP TO THIS WEEK We’re just back from our annual winter campout at Tahquamenon Falls State Park in Michigan’s Upper Peninsul JENNIFER So we’ve brought in the winter parkas and the snow boots and now we’re now packing, shorts, T-shirts and flipflops because we are headed to Tampa, Florida where we’ll be attending the annual RV Supershow there at the Florida State Fairgrounds. MIKE It’s billed as the Greatest RV Show in America and while some of the other shows may want to also lay claim to that title, the RV Supershow is huge. Every major RV manufacturer will be there, many of them introducing brand new designs for 2019. We’ll be visiting as many as we can and doing videos on the new models. JENNIFER I just looked at the press release and it says they will have over 1,500 RVs on display covering 26 acres. So there will be plenty to see! MIKE Not only new RVs but lots of RV-related accessories and products are being displayed by 450 vendors. JENNIFER The show opens to the public today, Wednesday Jan. 16 and runs through Sunday January 20. The cost of admission is $10 per Adult and each ticket good for a FREE 2nd day return! Children under 16 are FREE. MIKE We will be all over the show so if you see us, be sure and introduce yourself. But we will also be hosting a meet and greet on Saturday from about 11 AM-3PM. You can find us between those hours on Saturday and we’ll be hanging out at the Roadtrek Motorhomes display. And for those of you in different parts of the country, we invite you to tune into a special Tampa RV Show edition of our weekly Ask Us Anything live stream on YouTube. Instead of our usual Sunday night show, we will do a special 3PM Eastern Time live stream on Saturday, direct from the show. You can find us at YouTube.com/rvlifestyle JENNIFER We can’t wait for the Tampa show. But if it’s too far from you, be sure and stay tuned to the end of the podcast and look on the shownotes page for this episode as there are a great many other RV shows held all across North America this weekend and we will tell you about all of them. Just check the shownotes page at Roadtreking.com/225 and we’ll put links to each of those shows so you can get all the details you need.  RV NEWS OF THE WEEK MIKE  Trees cut down at Joshua Tree National Park, foundation raising funds, as fall out of federal government shutdown continues Once again the damaging effects on America's national parks from the federal government shut down continues to dominate the outdoor news. Last week Joshua Tree National Park made headlines after vandals CUT DOWN trees to make new roads, set up camp spots in places off-limits to camping, cut down chains to access roads that were off limits, and leave graffiti as a handful of rangers try to protect a park the size of Delaware. Also throughout the country volunteers attempted to step in, to help protect the national parks by picking up trash, among other things. And the National Parks Foundation, a charity for the federal park system set up by Congress, announced it was launching a fundraiser to help the parks during the government shutdown. Most parks remain open with skeleton staff and are subject to closures at any moment until the shutdown is settled. JENNIFER Dalmatian accidentally hits gears, causes RV to back into lake We've all heard stories about the importance of keeping our dogs contained while driving so they don't accidentally hit the gears. Well, a poor fisherman from Tennessee learned this the hard way last week when his dog accidentally stepped on the gear shift, hitting reverse, caused his 38-foot RV to back into a lake. The owner stepped out of the RV for a minute and was unloading his boat when Bodi, his 2-year-old dalmatian accidentally did this, much to his owner's surprise. The whole thing was captured on video. We’ll put a link in the shownotes at Roadtreking-dot-com-slash-225. MIKE Officials make a human chain to rescue three hikers at Tahquamenon Falls State Park As I write this, Jennifer and I have just left our winter camp out at Tahquamenon Falls State Park in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. But apparently, not long before our camp out began, some hikers were out late at night on a popular trail there and ended up stranded, and in need of rescue. The three young men were able to make a 911 call, and then were rescued by a human chain, on an icy spot, and by the time they were rescued, were showing signs of hypothermia. Winter camping or hiking does require special preparations. Here is a link to a video we did on tips to winter camping, and here is a link to the rescue story. JENNIFER Banff National Park sets record as it opens reservations system last week Banff National Park in Canada opened reservations for summer campers last week setting a reservation record and causing the on-line system to freeze or crash at times. Some 13,500 bookings were made in the first two and a half hours, setting a record. Banff is a beautiful park, one Mike and I have visited. We were astounded by the beauty - as well as the crowds. (Click here to see our report.)  To read more about the reservations rush, click here. MIKE RV Class B sales up 28.5 percent for first 11 months of 2018, report says Sales for Class B camper vans were up by 28.5 percent for 11 months in 2018, according to a report out by RVBusiness last week. Winnebago Industries Inc. led with about 40 percent of the class B sales, followed by Erwin Hymer Group North America with 29 percent. To read the full report click here.  This part of the podcast is brought to you by RadPower Bikes,an electric bike manufacturer offering direct to consumer pricing on powerful premium electric bikes. Now with free shipping  LISTENER RV QUESTIONS OF THE WEEK A listener is interested in renting an RV - We refer them to two RV rental sites… Outdoorsy and RVShare both rent RVs direct from owners. The caller also asks on how to find dog parts in particular areas – We refer them to Bring Fido - https://www.bringfido.com/sitemap/attraction/ , also http://www.dogfriendly.com/server/travel/guides/dogpark/dogpark.shtml . If you’d rather use an app try the Dog Park Finder app for iOS Apple devices at https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/dog-park-finder/id372419544?mt=8 For Android users try the app called BarkHappy at https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.barkhappy RV TOPIC OF THE WEEK Our guest this week is Ross Lukeman, who teaches people how to build their own RV campervans through a website called cargovanconversioncourse.com Here’s a transcript of the interview: Mike Wendland:           Ross Lukeman, thank you so much for being our special guest this week. Ross Lukeman:              Sure. Thanks for having me. Mike Wendland:           Let's talk about what I think is a pretty rapidly growing niche in the RV industry, which is do-it-yourself van conversions. As more and more people are getting turned off by the high cost of an RV and finding that they can make exactly what they want for usually much less money. How much less money, usually, can somebody save off of a production model they buy from a dealer lot? Ross Lukeman:              Well, if they've got the skills, it does depend on what they're building and what kind of amenities they're putting in there. But I would say maybe twenty to forty, fifty thousand dollars off of what it would cost to get one out of a factory. Mike Wendland:           I mentioned earlier that I met two people this past weekend at one of our camp outs. I'll have a video on their vans that they converted and made themselves. That was pretty much what they say. One of them had about the cost of the van, obviously, kind of an empty cargo van, and then one added another five, six grand and had what he wanted, and the other one probably almost as much as it cost to buy the unit. He bought a used unit, but saving fifty, sixty, seventy thousand dollars off of what you'd pay if you were buying it from a dealer. The question, talk us through that whole procedure of doing it, from choosing a van to designing it and actually doing the work. How much is involved, and is this for everybody? Can most people figure out how to do this? Ross Lukeman:              Well, let me get to that question. Let's start with the van. Most of the vans that people are using are Ford Transit, Mercedes Sprinter or Dodge Promaster here in the US. You choose which brand appeals to you and then choose your size. You can get the shorter wheel base or you can get the longer extended versions. Then as far as skill level, a lot of my students have some skill. They may be a woodworker or they may have electrical knowledge from working on their house, and they have a few areas that they need to expand in. Ross Lukeman:              I would say for people that aren't handy at all, that maybe have two left feet on the job site,

Most of our National Parks remain open… but the partial governmental shutdown is causing some major problems across the country. In this episode of the podcast, we’ll update you on the latest. Plus, we talk about the controversial practice of wolf hunting near Yellowstone National Park. And, as always, we have  your questions, comments and tips. And this week, we also have a huge list of the many RV Shows being held around the country over the next couple of weeks. WHAT MIKE AND JENNIFER ARE UP TO THIS WEEK MIKE: We’re excited and packing for one of our favorite camping adventures of the year, our annual Winter Freeze Out gathering up at Tahquamenon Falls State Park in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. JENNIFER: We literally had to stop the packing to sneak into the studio here to record this episode but as soon as we’re done we’ll be back loading our RV with snow shoes, ski poles, extra boots and our warm weather clothing. MIKE: It is going to be cold up there. I just looked at the forecast and it’s going to get down to the lower single digits Fahrenheit Thursday through Sunday. The gathering officially runs Friday through Sunday but it has become so popular that many of the attendees, us included, are coming up early. We’ll actually be in the UP from Wednesday through Sunday. JENNIFER: We were worried that there wouldn’t be much snow up there because it’s been a very mild winter so far. But they got hit by a big snowstorm Monday and it is supposed to snow a couple inches just about every day this week. Of the 40 or so sites that the ark plows out for winter camping, our group has reserved about 35 of them. So we’re talking a lot of RVers. MIKE: We’ll leave there on Sunday or Monday but then we have to skedaddle south… all the way to sunny and warm Tampa Florida where we will be attending the huge RV Supershow at the Florida State Fairgrounds January 16-20. Talk about contrast: We’ll be leaving a place with a foot and a half of snow on the ground and replacing our parka with shorts and sandals in the land of palm trees! JENNIFER: The RV Supershow is one of the largest RV shows in the country and we’ll be doing several reports from there on the Roadtreking.com RV Lifestyle blog and on our Facebook Page and RV Lifestyle YouTube Channel. And we’re really excited that we’ll have a meet and greet with our followers on Saturday Jan 18 from 11AM-2PM at the Roadtrek display area at the show. It’s always fun to get to meet folks in person. MIKE: There are so many RV shows over the next few weeks. We’ll itemize a bunch of them at the end of the podcast. But RV Shows are THE best place to shop for a new RV, or to find the perfect accessories you need, JENNIFER: Let’s remind everyone on where they can find more information about the topics and stories we report in this episode. A lot of people are driving as they listen, or hiking or walking the dog or working out and can’t necessarily write down the resources we share. But they are all available in the shownotes for this episode, which can be found on the Roadtreking RV Lifestyle blog at Roadtreking.com/224. We build in links to everything we talk about here and the shownotes are like a detailed transcript. MIKE: Reminder about new phone number to call in questions and comments for the Podcast - (586) 372-6990.   RV NEWS OF THE WEEK JENNIFER Plan now to see the 'Super Wolf Blood Moon Total Lunar Eclipse' coming later this month   Have you heard about the Super Wolf Blood Moon Total eclipse? It's coming Jan. 20-21, and has many star gazers excited. A super moon is when a full moon is closest to the earth in its orbit, making it appear larger and brighter than normal. A lunar eclipse is when the earth gets between the sun and the moon, casting the earth's shadow over the moon, and the term blood comes from the moon having an orange or reddish hue during the eclipse. And what about the name wolf? Well, apparently wolf moons happen in January because, according to ancient lore, it is in this time of year when the wolves howl outside villages. If you are somewhere away from light pollution, try to catch sight of it. The show starts around 10:30 pm eastern time and this will be the last total lunar eclipse until 2021. To read more click here or here. MIKE:  RV Museum in Elkhart, Indiana, going strong Have you ever been to the RV/Hall of Fame in Elkhart, Indiana? The museum details the history of the RV industry, and was in the news this past week for being about to pay off its construction debt. Jennifer and I visited the unique museum last year, interviewed the president for our podcast and YouTube channel (click here) and absolutely loved the place! The museum has some 60 RVs, some dating back to 1913, and it is really a fascinating place. To read last week's story, click here. JENNIFER If you're in Florida and like large alligators, check this out! For those of you in Florida, or with plans to visit soon, you know of the importance of watching out for alligators near fresh water. Well, a video of a giant gator - and I do mean GIANT - strolling across a trail in a preserve near Lakeland, Florida,  left me speechless. This gator looked like a dinosaur - I have never seen one so huge. And it was recorded at Circle B Bar Reserve, a protected land area in Polk County, Florida, last week for all to see. Apparently this gator has been spotted several times, just meandering about, and has even earned the nickname Humpback. To see for yourself, click here.   JENNIFER'S TIP OF THE WEEK  I love getting your tips on our new Voice Message Line. One came in this week that I am delighted to share. Meet Heidi, who shares a tip on using inexpensive furniture blankets in the RV  This part of the podcast is brought to you by RadPower Bikes,an electric bike manufacturer offering direct to consumer pricing on powerful premium electric bikes. Now with free shipping  LISTENER QUESTIONS OF THE WEEK A listener took offense to the way we recently talked about the wolf killed by a hunter just outside Yellowstone National Park back in Episode 222 of the RV Podcast… That wolf was very popular with Yellowstone visitors, much photographed and… well… beloved by many, many people. Anyway, the caller objected to the word “beloved.” And in the interest of honest and respectful discussion of controversial isues, we will play her message. The message cut out at the three minute mark, because that’s the limit for Google Voice. But she sent me a copy of her comment. Some excerpts: “The other disturbing part of that report was the note of disdain in your voice when you used the word hunter.  I am a  60 year old woman.  I am an Rv'er and a hunter.  Both of these titles get me maligned at times. That's why labels are not good things.  But that is another rant. …  You may not like the idea of animals being killed. Even as you eat chicken, beef, pork. you may think that anyone who can kill an animal for sport is a horrible person.  But remember that not too long ago we all had to kill animals in order to survive.  It's still in us to hunt and gather and protect ourselves.  If you don't care for it I understand.  But try to understand for many people hunting is about getting out in the wilds, and pitting yourself against nature. It's important, vital to our makeup.  Kinda like you enjoying talking to people and reporting on it. Some would say that your traveling around the country collecting stories is an unnecessary waste of fossil fuels that pollute our atmosphere. That you and all those RV people put drain on community resources of the places you travel to and through.  And so much other silliness.  But I hope you get my point without taking offense.   All issues are complicated and multi-faceted.” Here are email questions that came in this week: From Mike and Kathi - Happy New Year to you and Jennifer!  We are thoroughly enjoying your website and YouTube channel.  You are performing a great service for RVers everywhere.  I was going to try to participate in your live Q&A last night to pose my question, but a family commitment came first so I decided to reach out by email while my questions are fresh on my mind.  I should say we have a Roadtrek Adventurous CS XL on order (2019 chassis/ 2020 model year) and are using the time until delivery to do as much research and forward thinking scenario planning as possible. My question is about winterizing and de-winterizing.  We live in Fort Collins, CO and plan to travel south to warmer areas in the winter.  Its very possible we won’t head south before it gets pretty cold in Fort Collins and we certainly will be coming back and forth from warm climes to our sticks and bricks in Fort Collins while it’s still cold in CO.  With your sticks and bricks being in Michigan and with you not living full time in your class B, I figured you may have confronted this issue.  My question is what do you do and how do you handle this?  Do you winterize at home, de-winterize on the road in warm areas, and then repeat as many times as you go back and forth?  Can this be done easily? How labor intensive is it to winterize and de-winterize? I appreciate hearing your thoughts.  Also, if you have references on how this is done , either your own experience or those of others, I’d appreciate you passing along those links or sources as well.             We have a whole playlist filled with winterizing and dewinterizing videos -  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NANFhFK4y8s&list=PLomKLKY-E0ScsKe3QPQHprQ_3saqS0Llz  From Chris - Just finished your book (cover to cover) "The beginner's guide to boondocking."  My wife and I will be purchasing a Hymer Aktiv later on this year (I retire in June).  I have been doing a lot of research so I won't be clueless when we hit the road.  Your book, far and away, has been the most helpful for me.  Thanks! A quick question, does parking a class B on a slope impact its functionality?

It’s a New Year filled with opportunities and adventures just waiting around the next bend in the road. This week, we hear from RVers all across North America about their Bucket List Trips planned for 2019. Show Notes for Episode #223 Jan 2, 2019 of Roadtreking - The RV Podcast: WHAT MIKE AND JENNIFER ARE UP TO THIS WEEK We’re back from vacation and looking forward to a 2019 travel season New videos resume Thursday on the RV Lifestyle Channel on YouTube with a look at two electronic gadgets I wouldn’t travel without, a high quality dashcam system and a cellular booster. I’ll reveal what brands I chose and just how we installed them Thursday Jan. 3. You can find our channel at https://www.youtube.com/rvlifestyle Our Ask Us Anything Live Stream on YouTube resumes Sunday night January 6 at &PM Eastern Time. And our RV Lifestyle Newsletter will begin its 2019 publication season Monday, January 7. Changes? We’re considering several that we’ll be sharing down the line here about our content production every week on the many different platforms – the Roadtreking RV Travel Blog, the RV Newsletter, the RV Podcast and our RV Lifestyle YouTube Channel. What would you like us to change about the podcast in 2019? Add new segments? Too many commercials? More Q&A? Longer episodes? Shorter episodes? Let us know. I want to work smarter, giving you what you want. We share our upcoming travel plans: Our annual winter campout at Tahquamenon Falls State Park in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula next week. And our trip to the RVSupershow at the Florida State Fairgrounds in Florida. We’ll be there most of the week of January 16-20 and doing a special Meet and Greet with our RV Lifestyle Community at the Roadtrek Motorhomes display area on Saturday Jan. 19 from 11AM-2PM. We have a new way to leave us voice questions, tips and comments that we can use in the podcast. We now have a special voice mail number set up. You can find a link to it on our Roadtreking.com RV Travel blog. Or if you want to jot it down now, it’s (586) 372-6990. In fact, in 2019 we want to feature your voices more on the podcast. Here’s one topic for you to consider and leave us a message about: My Most Embarrassing Newbie Mistakes. Maybe leaving tht antenna up… pulling away from a campsite with the sewer hose still in the drain… trying to back into a campsite. We’ve all been there, done that. So lets share some laughs about the subject…and maybe help a newbie today avoid the same mistakes. Use that number – (586)-372-6990. Call on your phone and tell us all the embarrassing details and we will share it on an upcoming episode. Also, of course, you can use that number to ask your RV questions, make comments and share your favorite trips. The number is on the Roadtreking RV Travel Blog on the right hand side but, again, if you want to jot it down, its (586)-372-6990. We really want to hear from you! RV NEWS OF THE WEEK Government shutdown makes a mess in National Parks As you know, the government has been partially shutdown for the past two weeks in a huge political fight. As a result, we’re seeing human feces, overflowing garbage, illegal off-roading and other damaging behavior in fragile areas beginning to overwhelm some of the West’s iconic national parks, as the partial government shutdown left the areas open to visitors but with little staff on duty. This has left many parks without most of the rangers and others who staff campgrounds and otherwise keep parks running. Under the park service’s shutdown plan, authorities have to close any area where garbage or other problems become threats to health and safety or to wildlife. In the southern Sierra Nevada in Central California, some areas of the Sequoia and Kings Canyon national parks were closed Monday evening. In Sequoia, home to immense and ancient giant sequoias, General Highway was closed because overflowing trash bins were spreading litter and posed a threat to wildlife and the icy, jammed roadway was seeing up to three-hour delays, according to the National Park Service. Campers at Joshua Tree National Park in Southern California’s deserts were reporting squabbles as different families laid claims to sites, with no rangers on hand to mediate. At Yosemite crowds of visitors were driving into the park to take advantage of free admission, with only a few park rangers working and a limited number of restrooms open.Visitors were allowing their dogs to run off-leash in an area rich with bears and other wildlife, and scattering bags of garbage along the roads. Officials at Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado said Monday they were closing restrooms and locking up trash bins in many locations. In Yellowstone National Park, private companies have picked up some of the maintenance normally done by federal workers. The contractors that operate park tours by snowmobile, buses and vans are grooming trails, hauling trash and replacing toilet paper at pit toilets and restrooms along their routes. Gas prices are at lowest level in years If you are looking for a reason to hit the road in your RV, the continuing drops in fuel prices is as good an excuse as any. Nearly 20 percent of states are currently enjoying prices below $2 per gallon. Nationally, retail averages have dropped 83 of the past 90 days. The national average for regular unleaded gasoline currently sits at $2.30 per gallon, which is six cents less than one week ago, 24 cents less than one month ago and 16 cents less than at the same time last year. The nation’s top 5 least expensive markets are: Missouri ($1.87) Oklahoma ($1.95) Arkansas ($1.97) South Carolina ($1.97) Texas ($1.97) It’s dangerous to drive with an unrestrained dog A lot of RVers travel with their dogs and if I’d have to guess, I’d say most of their dogs are unrestrained, allowed to move around the vehicle as you drive down the road. The Michigan State Police is sending out that warning after a recent accident on I-75 while traveling Up North. A 54-year-old woman who flipped her van on Dec. 23 told a trooper from Houghton Lake that she lost control of the vehicle when her German Shepherd jumped on the dashboard to bark at the wipers. A passenger received a minor injury, the agency said, while the dog is fine. The moral of the story is to keep pets restrained while traveling, the agency said. Several states are considering legislation that would make it illegal for a driver to have a dog on your lap while operating a motor vehicle. But in almost all states, having an an unrestrained dog could be enough reason for you to be pulled over and cited for distracted driving The tale of two winters as told by two Farmers Almanacs How many of you like to follow the long range winter forecast as predicted each year in the Farmers Almanac? But how many of you realize there are two different Farmers Almanacs? And this year they couldn’t be more different in predicting what kind of winter it will be. The Old Farmers’ Almanac has been around since 1792. That’s the familiar one with the yellow cover. However in 1818, competition developed when the rival Farmers’ Almanac – with an orange cover and no “Old” in the title - started being published. Usually, the two have similar winter forecasts. Not this year. The Old Farmers’ Almanac predicts a generally warm and wet winter. The upstart Farmers’ Almanac says it will be bitterly cold with lots of snow. Which one to believe? Well, in our part of Michigan, it’s the Old Farmers’ Almanac that has nailed it so far this winter as December has gone down as one of the warmest Decembers ever with less than a half inch of snow.  Alas… winter has really only just started and there is plenty of time for the other forecast to come true. We’ll put a link to the tale of the two almanacs, as well as the other stories we have reported, on the shownotes page for this episode at Roadtreking-dot-com-slash-223.  This part of the podcast is brought to you by RadPower Bikes ,an electric bike manufacturer offering direct to consumer pricing on powerful premium electric bikes. Now with free shipping  LISTENER QUESTIONS OF THE WEEK A reader with a brand new RV called for some hand holding about using and charging the Lithium batteries. RV INTERVIEW OF THE WEEK RVers from all over share their 2019 bucket list travel plans The interview of the week is brought to you by SunshinestateRVs.com, where every new or used Roadtrek motorhome is delivered to the customer free, anywhere in the country TRAVELING TECH TIP By Andy Choi Verizon Wireless Feeling good about a wonderful new year means getting a jump start on those goals. And when it comes to those 2019 resolutions, Verizon can help put a little pep in your step if health and fitness are on your 2019 to-do list. Wearables have been hot for the past few years, and the Fitbit Versa is the perfect fitness companion for recording workouts, heart rate zones, sleep patterns and more. And with the Fitbit app connecting you to your fitness minded loved ones, a little healthy competition among family goes a long way to keeping your goals accountable. Perhaps your new year is all about staying present. Look no further than the Google Pixel 3. With Pixel 3’s digital wellbeing, you’ll see how often you’re checking your phone. And wind down mode will start to prompt you to put your phone down as bedtime nears. Plus Google Fit is more powerful than ever so when you want to work out you’ll get just the stats you need! Back to that gym motivation. You're going to want a sweet soundtrack to go with those fitness goals. Make sure to pump up the jam with the JBL Free Truly Wireless In-Ear Headphones. Free yourself with these completely wireless headphones, ideal for your active lifestyle. All with that incredible JBL sound so many have come to appreciate. So when it comes to feeling happy and healthy in 2019, don't forget a little tech goes a long way to keep your goals going strong!

There is no excuse anymore to overnight in your RV in crowded, brightly lit, noisy parking lots. This week, we bring back the CEO of Harvest Hosts who will tell us in the interview of the week about a huge expansion in the number of farms, wineries, fruit orchards, attractions, and now golf courses across North America that welcome members of Harvest Hosts to stay on their scenic, beautiful grounds. We’ll also have him explain how listeners to this podcast can avoid the price hike coming January 1 and even get a nice discount not available to others. Also in this podcast, also answer your RV questions, share some tech tips and bring the Burketts on for another off the beaten path report. Lots to share this week. Show Notes for Episode #222 December 12, 2018 of Roadtreking - The RV Podcast: WHAT MIKE AND JENNIFER ARE UP TO THIS WEEK MIKE This is our last podcast of the year. We’re taking our first real vacation break in almost seven years of creating RV and Travel content. Besides pausing the podcasts to enjoy some time off at this special time of the year, we’ll be taking a break on our newsletters, videos and blog posts. In fact, speaking of the Roadtreking RV Lifestyle blog, we’ll be doing a redesign and giving it a slightly different look. We’ll still be checking in on social media but we’re planning a real break. The podcast will return on Jan. 2, 2019 and all our other content will also pick back up right after the New Year. JENNIFER We have a new way to leave us voice messages, besides the link on the right side of the Roadtreking RV Lifestyle blog. You can call us on Google Voice. From any phone, just dial 586-372-6990 and leave a question, comment, tip or any message. We really love hearing everyone’s voices and featuring them in the podcast so we hope you will use that service. We’ll post that number in the shownotes for this episode but again, if you want to jot it down now, it’s 586-372-6990. RV NEWS OF THE WEEK MIKE Class B RV Sales Continues record setting growth  Class B sales continued to enjoy year-over-year sales growth during the first 10 months of 2018, as overall retail registrations climbed 27.8% in the period. Statistical Surveys Inc. reported that Winnebago Industries Inc. led the segment through October with a 39.6% market share followed by Erwin Hymer Group North America (29.3%) and Thor Industries Inc. (10.9%).  JENNIFER Officials discuss ways to 'haze' Yellowstone National Park's wolves after beloved wolf legally killed by hunter Last week we told you about the legal shooting of a beloved Yellowstone National Park wolf which had wandered just outside the park's entrance and was shot during hunting season. The death grieved both park and wildlife officials who are now working on developing a way to 'haze' the wolves so they are less accustomed to humans.The Yellowstone wolves are used to humans watching them from a distance which makes them an easy hit for hunters looking for a trophy kill, officials said. To read more click here. Others are petitioning for a a buffer zone around Yellowstone, so hunters can't shoot the animals just outside the entrance, like what happened in this case. To read more click here. MIKE Homeowner decorates house and RV to raise toys for needy children Have you ever watched National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation? Apparently a man from New Jersey is a HUGE fan, deciding to decorate his house in the same way the Griswold family did in the movie - complete with an RV. The homeowner used mannequins to mimic scenes from the movie. While the decor is fun, the homeowner did it with a purpose. Those who come by to see the display are encouraged to leave a toy for needy kids inside the RV. Visitors are dropping off about 100 toys a night. To see for yourself, click here. JENNIFER Best meteor shower of the year - the Geminid - peaks this week  Anyone who loves a good meteor shower needs to be sure to get outside this Thursday and Friday. The Geminid meteor shower is widely thought of as one of the best  of the year with bold, quick white lights falling, as many as 50 an hour during its peak, which is this Dec. 13 and 14. To learn more click here. MIKE State park transforms cave into underground Santa workshop Searching for a unique way to celebrate the season? Anyone near Alabama may want to visit Rickwood Caverns State Park. For the second year now the state park is having "Santa's Underground Workshop," where park officials have turned an underground cave into a scene from the north pole. Laser lights, LED lights, fog machines, fake snow, and even Santa are all there, hard at work. To learn more about the unique cave experience, click here.   JENNIFER'S RV TIP OF THE WEEK As many of you know, Mike, Bo and I are getting ready for Bo's favorite camping trip of the year - the Great Winter Camp Out at Tahquamenom  Falls. It is so much fun to travel to Michigan's Upper Peninsula, and then go deep into the woods and camp with friends during winter. There is something magical about looking out the window of our toasty RV, and seeing the woods covered in white, the sun glistening off the snow, creating this fresh brightness which is hard to capture with words.  But obviously camping when temperatures are below zero does pose some challenges. Last week I shared how I was buying glove and toe warmers to stay warm during walks outside, which we do a lot of.  Well today I'd like to tell you about a way I am planning to stay clean while camping without running water. This tip was given to me by our friend, Jan Matthews, during a previous winter camp out. And what is that tip? Bring a package  of disposable cleaning washcloths and use them for dry showering. Such washcloths are produced for those who can't, for whatever reason, take a shower and need a way to stay clean while being bedridden. The brand our friend Jan recommended was called Comfort Bath Cleaning Washcloths. The cloths are about 8 by 8 and are not too thin, made out of a polyester blend. They are enriched with aloe and vitamin E, making them soft. They are meant to use one time to clean one part of your body. You will likely need a couple to feel clean all over. When you are finished with the cloths, you simply toss them in the trash. These disposable washcloths come in a package already moist. Another thing I like is that they they can be warmed up in the microwave (directions are on the packaging), making that dry bath warm. While we are using these disposable washcloths for winter camping, really they are a great option for any type of boondocking when you need to conserve water, can't shower, but want to feel clean. I found a box on Amazon, with two packages of 8 Comfort Bath Cleaning Washcoths per package selling for about $12. https://amzn.to/2LbMbvM I hope this tip helps one of you. And be sure to send me your tips and suggestions for the RV lifestyle. You can use the “Leave Voicemail” link at Roadtreking.com. Just click it and then use the built-in microphone on your computer or mobile devise to record a message to me. You can do it over as many times as you want, until you are satisfied. And then you just click a button and it comes right to my email inbox.  This part of the podcast is brought to you by RadPower Bikes ,an electric bike manufacturer offering direct to consumer pricing on powerful premium electric bikes. Now with free Visit WWW.RADPOWERBIKES.COM  LISTENER RV QUESTIONS OF THE WEEK We’ve had several questions by voice and email asking for more information on the upgrade we did to the stock radio on our Sprinter based Roadtrek campervan. (You can see that story at https://rvlifestyle.com/replacing-the-standard-radio-on-the-sprinter-van  A listener asked how to subscribe to the podcast on an app. We explain that the RV Podcast is available on all the major podcast apps, be they for Apple’s iOS system or Google’s Android, apps like Spotify, Stitcher, iTunes, TuneIn and many many others. Just open up that app and search for RV Podcast and then hit subscribe and you will automatically have the latest episode app available on you on that player whenever you want to listen to it. RV INTERVIEW OF THE WEEK There is no excuse anymore to overnight in your RV in crowded, brightly lit, noisy parking lots. This week, we bring back the CEO of Harvest Hosts who will tell us in the interview of the week about a huge expansion in the number of farms, wineries, fruit orchards, attractions, and now golf courses across North America that welcome members of Harvest Hosts to stay on their scenic, beautiful grounds. We’ll also have him explain how listeners to this podcast can avoid the price hike coming January 1 and even get a nice discount not available to others. Here’s a video version of the interview: Here’s a written transcript of the interview: Mike Wendland:         Well joining us right now from Harvest Hosts is Joel Holland and we've got some news. You guys have been very busy lately. How you doing Joel? Joel Holland:               I'm good Mike, how are you? Thanks for having me on. Mike Wendland:         Well we have had a lot of people who have been so excited about our partnership with you guys and the 10% discount that they can get, but let's talk right away about some of the big changes that have been happening recently with Harvest Host and your plans for 2019. Where are we going? This is just getting better and better. Joel Holland:               Well I appreciate that. So as you know, Harvest Hosts Community is a very special program that connects our viewers with all these unique small businesses, wineries, breweries, distilleries all over the country. We're basically trying to get it to more people because we've found that RV-ing is a very active lifestyle, it makes people happy and being able to go stay on a farm instead of in a Wal-Mart parking lot makes them even happier.

This week we hear from a favorite, Chef MJ… Mary Jane Curry, who has been writing up RV Recipes for our RV Lifestyle Blog for several years now and has just published a delightful cookbook aimed squarely at RVers called “Small Kitchen Big Flavors.” Chef MJ is our interview of the week and she has five great RV kitchen and cooking tips to share with us. Plus, you’ll get first notice here of an awesome event this spring where you can learn from Chef MJ in person. But also, in this episode, RV news, RV tips, a great off the beaten path report and much more. But first, my lifelong traveling companion and my bride, Jennifer. Show Notes for Episode #221 Dec. 5, 2018 of Roadtreking - The RV Podcast: WHAT MIKE AND JENNIFER ARE UP TO THIS WEEK We’re working on videos We’re planning a break… to take the first time off in seven years… the last two weeks of the year. We talk about our free Christmas gift-buying guide… https://rvlifestyle.com/christmas And we also talk about the members-only benefits available free through our RV Community at https://rvlifestyle.com/community RV LIFESTYLE NEWS OF THE WEEK MIKE Man and dog climb tree to escape angry herd of buffalo, and broadcast whole thing on Facebook live Have you ever been out west, out for a hike, and come across some wild buffalo that are not too happy to see you? Well, in a story I saw last week, apparently a man was hiking on Antelope Island near Salt Lake City, Utah, with his German Shepard when a herd of buffalo decided to go aggressively come toward him. The man did what many do these days, decided to record the whole thing on Facebook Live. As the buffalo started following him he noticed their tails were up - a sign of aggression - and they were grunting menacingly. He walked faster and faster and then tried to climb a tree as he called for help. His story has a happy ending, after a parks official came to help. Officials believe the herd mistook the dog as a predator. JENNIFER RV shipments to dealers down 11 percent, though sales are up 4.63 percent You may have heard that Elkhart, Indiana, home to the RV manufacturing industry, is closely watched for signs of how the economy is doing. Several stories out last week analyzed what the third slip in RV shipments in a row means not just for the RV industry, but for the whole country. The RV Industry Association reported wholesale shipments to dealers dropped 11 percent for its third period, yet RV sales in the U.S. and Canada are up 4.63 percent. What is not clear is if the third drop in shipments is because dealers had ordered too much inventory, or if rising interest rates, tariffs and the contentious the political climate is adding up to mean something else. MIKE Manatees ares heading to Florida's inland hot water springs  The manatees are back! Florida's Blue Springs State Park report that the manatees are back in large numbers as cold temperatures have hit the Sunshine State driving the gentle giants inland to Florida's warm springs. A story out last week about this made me think of a camping trip Jennifer and I took at the Blue Springs State Park a few years back to see the manatees. (see our report here). We thoroughly enjoyed camping in the park and watching the gigantic creatures. If you can't make it to Florida, a webcam is also operating live footage here. To see the report that took me down memory lane click: http://www.fox35orlando.com/news/local-news/manatees-gather-at-blue-springs-state-park-to-stay-warm JENNIFER Man camping in at Idaho KOA campground dies in fire tied to space heater use  A sad story caught my eye out of Idaho this week about a man dying after his camper at a KOA caught on fire. The man had apparently been using a space heater to help his vehicle stay warm, and fire officials said the blaze was caused by combustible materials getting too close to the space heater. The trailer also did not have working smoke alarms. A tragic story that serves as a reminder for all of us who camp in cold weather. MIKE Search continues for missing Rocky Mountain National Park hiker The search continued over the weekend for a missing 20-year-old hiker at Rocky Mountain National Park who hasn't been heard from for about a week. The man, 20, was a U.S. Air Force Academy cadet candidate who decided to go hiking in the popular park alone. The story highlights the dangers of hiking alone, and got me thinking back to an interview we did on the podcast some time back with an expert hiker discussing hiking safety, something that is always good to review. To listen to the our hiking safety expert interview click here  JENNIFER'S RV TIP OF THE WEEK In a month Mike, Bo and I will head to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula for one of my favorite trips of the season – our annual winter campout. We camp at Lower Falls campground in the Tahquamenon Falls State Park and always have so much fun. Sometimes we go snowshoeing, other times cross county skiing, but always we’re walking, being outside and enjoying the beauty of winter in the deep woods. But one thing I need to be very careful about when we do our winter camping is keeping my fingers and toes warm.  I have Raynauld’s disease,  which causes the arteries in my fingers and toes to contract when I get cold, literally cutting off circulation and changing the color of my fingers to a ghost-like white. So to protect myself from the elements,  I rely upon a wonderful invention called Hot Hands and I’d love to tell you all about it, in case it could help any of you. I buy both the Hot Hands hand warmers and toe warms. One is cut to fit inside a glove, the other is cut to fit in a boot, but both operate the same way. About 15-30 minutes before you plan to head outside you simply open the packaging and take the hand or toe warmer out, exposing it to the warm air of your RV. Then you shake the packet vigorously. After about 15-30 minutes the packages heat up, and you simply it put them in your gloves and boots and head outside. It is that simple. Each warmer can only be used once, and should last about up to 8 hours.  The warmers are made in the USA, and the listed ingredients include Iron Powder, Water, Salt, Activated Charcoal, and Wood Fiber. When you are done with a packet, you can simply throw it into the trash. I found a package of 40 hand warmers for $28 on Amazon, and they are often sold at ski resorts, and other places where people are planning to spend time outside. You can get 40 toe warmers for about $33. Here’s the hand warmer link - https://amzn.to/2PhXJOj Here’s the toe warmers link - https://amzn.to/2QetvB6 Also, we will be doing a video next week on something else we tried – electric gloves. We’ll compare how they work compared to the hand warmers I’ve been using. Look for that video next Tuesday. And be sure to send me your tips and suggestions for the RV lifestyle. You can use the “Leave Voicemail” link at Roadtreking.com. Just click it and then use the built-in microphone on your computer or mobile device to record a message to me. You can do it over as many times as you want, until you are satisfied. And then you just click a button and it comes right to my email inbox. I love hearing from you!  This part of the podcast is brought to you by RadPower Bikes ,an electric bike manufacturer offering direct to consumer pricing on powerful premium electric bikes. Now with free shipping  To see our Rad Power Bikes in action, just click here. LISTENER RV QUESTIONS OF THE WEEK Listener Dan asks about 5G cellular networks. When will we see them? Mike gves a full update on who will have what, when. Dawn wants to know if she can put the new Alpine 9 inch radio into her Winnebago Revel. Here’s my blog story and video of my new Alpine Halo 9-inch iLX-F309 By email, this came in from Paul: Mike, my wife and I are looking at a 2018 RS Adventurous.   Any thoughts on a fair price given the time of year and being a 2018?     RV INTERVIEW OF THE WEEK This week, we interview Chef MJ – Mary Jane Curry, who writes RV Recipes for our Roadtreking RV Lifestyle Blog each week and has just published an awesome cookbook for RVers called “Small Kitchen Big Flavors.” Chef MJ shares 5 RV Kitchen Tips that every RVer needs to know. Here’s a video version: Here’s the full transcript: Mike Wendland:           If you are a regular reader of our roadtreking.com RV Lifestyle blog, you are familiar with the name Chef MJ, Mary Jane Curry. She has been writing RV recipes for us for several years now, one of the most popular parts of our blog. Every week there's something neat to find.                                     But now, it is even neater, because look what she published - Small Kitchen Big Flavor, a brand new cookbook filled with recipes perfect for RV travelers. All of them are one page, so you don't have to be switching pages while you're cooking and prepping, all of them geared for that small kitchen that we have in our RV. Of course, you can cook them at home, as well, but just a great book. We'll put a link in the description below on how you can get one and get it still in time for the holidays.                                     But we're delighted, because in this episode, Chef MJ joins us from her RV, as a matter of fact. She's got five, count them, five great tips for us on how to get the most out of our RV kitchens. MJ, Mary Jane Curry, welcome to the program. How are you? Chef MJ Curry:              Hi. I'm fine, Mike. How about you? Mike Wendland:           I am doing terrific. Love the book. It is just ... and what a great time of year to have it come out. I hear everybody talking about, everybody's planning to try out this recipe and that. We're thrilled. I hope you sell a million of them. Chef MJ Curry:              Oh, thank you. Mike Wendland:           So let's talk about five tips for everybody as they think about using their RV, heading out for maybe just a weekend trip, maybe a long trip,

Is your RV in storage? Whether out in your driveway, parked around back or kept at one of those storage lots that charge a monthly fee there’s a lot more involved in safely and securely storing your RV for the season than simply locking the doors and walking away until it’s camping season again. We’ll discuss thus in the interview if the week, coming up a little later in the podcast. But we also have your RV questions, traveling technology tips and a great off the beaten path report.  Show Notes for Episode #220 Nov 28, 2018 of Roadtreking - The RV Podcast: WHAT MIKE AND JENNIFER ARE UP TO THIS WEEK Here’s a housekeeping item. Throughout the podcast, you will often hear us say that you can find links or resources about the topics we are discussing on our shownotes. For those of you who just listen to us on an app or by download, those shownotes can be found on our RV Lifestyle travel blog. We call that blog Roadtreking and every Wednesday when we release a new podcast, we also publish shownotes for the episode. It’s not a full transcript but a very complete outline that contains those links and extra resources. To find it, just go to Roadtreking.com and then a forward slash followed by the episode number of the podcast. For example, to find the shownotes for this episode, you’d type Roadtreking-dot-com-slash-220 and that would take you directly there. We talk about our whereabouts this week and our plans for the next few weeks. Jennifer and I have put together a free 25-page guide you can grab of our Christmas Gift Suggestions for RVers. These are the products and accessories we like and use the most. It's absolutely free! Just go to https://rvlifestyle.com/christmas  and you can instantly download it. It is like a catalogue and is arranged by various topics - camping/outdoor gifts, RV technology ideas, pet gifts for RVers, RV kitchen gifts, fun gifts and more. We hope you enjoy it and feel free to share it with your RVing friends. RV LIFESTYLE NEWS OF THE WEEK JENNIFER Story highlights overuse of American national parks An interesting article was jointly reported and published in several publications last week detailing how the national parks are being loved to death. The excellent article highlighted two-mile long bison spotting traffic jams at Yellowstone, fist fights over parking spots in the parks, and once unknown sites being overwhelmed by tourists after becoming famous on social media - as we talked on the podcast a few weeks back. The article is worth a read, and is familiar material to many of us who are out there and have witnessed much of what is described. We put a link to it in the showbites at Roadtreking-dot-com-slash-220. MIKE Seasoned RVers, and those who never RVed, buying motor homes and trailers to give to fire victims  Heartbreaking stories about the devastation caused by the California wildfires has dominated the news recently, but last week there were a number of inspirational tales of strangers helping strangers. One that caught my eye was of a Denver, Colorado, man who took a week off work, bought an RV, filled it with supplies, and drove it with his 6-year-old daughter to Chico, California, to donate it to a family left homeless from the fires. And he wasn't the only one to do this. Others even made a caravan to donate campers and RVs to those left homeless by the fires. JENNIFER National Park Service announced its 2019 enter for free days   If you like to plan your camping around deals, you might be interested in knowing that the 2019 five admission-free days in the U.S. National Parks was recently announced. The days are Jan. 21, April 20, Aug. 25, Sept. 28 and Nov. 11. On these days admission to the national parks is free, but other charges like tour or camping costs still apply. To read more click here. MIKE Florida couple who claim RV dealer sold them faulty vehicle denied request to keep lawsuit in Florida  A story out of Florida last week is a good example of the importance of reading and understanding ALL of the fine print when buying an RV. A couple bought a three-year-old used RV at a dealership in Florida as is, with no warranty, and said within 600 miles major items broke. The couple sued the dealer for bad business practices, but in the purchase agreement the elderly couple signed, all lawsuits must be tried in Michigan, where the RV dealer was headquartered. The couple apparently did not understand this when they signed the contract, and do not have the financial means to hire a Michigan attorney and try the case so far from their home, so they filed a court request to keep the case in Florida, where they bought the vehicle. A judge denied that request. The RV dealer said they couple bought the RV as is, with no warranty, and they signed paperwork that clearly spelled out lawsuits would be tried in another state. The story is another example about the importance of the buying decision and its one reason we write a new ebook, RV Buying Secrets. It tells you how to shop for and negotiate the best deal and service for your RV. You can learn more about that at https://rvlifestyle.com/buy JENNIFER Trekking around Cuba in a camper van now possible Cuba is one of those countries that has always captured my imagination. Perhaps that is why I enjoyed reading a story out last week from a British publication about a man who explored the island on vacation in a Fiat Ducato 3000 van. Those are European vans that, if sold in North America, would be a Class B RV. Cuba is now permitting tourists to rent them, and venture around the country camping. There are about 20 different campsites available on the island with electric hookups and boondocking is available pretty much everywhere. This part of the podcast is brought to you by RadPower Bikes ,an electric bike manufacturer offering direct to consumer pricing on powerful premium electric bikes. Now with free shipping.  To see our Rad Power Bikes in action, just click here. RV QUESTIONS OF THE WEEK Questions we answer this week: Listener Becky asks about carrying a spare Sepentine belt for her Sprinter RV. Here’s a link to the information we shared - https://rvlifestyle.com/jennifers-tip-carry-extra-serpentine-belt/ Listener Warren asks about buying an older RV and what new innovations he would be giving up And we answer this email question from a reader named Michael: I have a question I hope you can confirm or point me to a reliable source. I have my Roadtrek in for service) and while there I asked about wheel alignment and the service advisor said that "with the weight of the RV, "normal Sprinter settings don't work so well". From your video and other blogs, I never heard this. I thought I read that Roadtrek does NOT align the units as they leave the factory - that they rely on the customer to have that checked. I did check on MB Sprinter and found a order-able configuration for a GVWR of 11300, just like my rig. If that is available from MB, why wouldn't their specs work? Thanks for your consideration and thoughts! RV INTERVIEW OF THE WEEK This week, we talk about storing your RV for the season. Here’s a video of the interview: Here’s a transcript of the interview: Mike Wendland:         Joining us right now from National Indoor RV Centers is Jordan Kunz. Jordan is going to help us understand what's involved in storing an RV. Jordan, first of all, thank you very much for being a part of the podcast and the interview of the week this week. Jordan Kunz:               Thank you so much. It's a pleasure. I appreciate it. Mike Wendland:         Let me start off by talking about some of the things that people need to realize when they put their RV in storage. Now, a lot of people, they'll just keep it in the back of their lot, their driveway or maybe a neighbor's friend out in the country or maybe one of those outdoor centers. So let's talk about storing it outdoors first of all. What are some of the things they need to be sure about? You just don't want to walk away and leave that RV out there for long periods of time. Help us understand. Jordan Kunz:               Right, yeah. So depending on where you're at in the country, some people do have to winterize it, make sure all the water, everything is drained out of it so you don't have any problems there. Here in Las Vegas, we have extreme heat so a lot of people will have to put covers on and cover the tires, disconnect batteries. There's a whole lot of work, make sure mice aren't getting in it or anything like that. So there's a decent amount that goes into making sure your RV is protected, security, 24/7 surveillance, all that fun stuff. Mike Wendland:         So outdoors, most of the people are dealing with cold weather right about now. Of course that saps the batteries and do they need to put a charge on those batteries? Do they need to disconnect them? What do you do about that? Jordan Kunz:               Yeah. So batteries, I mean, a lot of people, batteries should last five to six years but I think one of the common things that people replace on their RVs are batteries every one to two years, it's because there's a lot of maintenance, a lot of upkeep that goes to the batteries. If they die, you lose a lot of life from that and making sure that they're not in the cold weather, that they're warm conditions and that they're charged. If they go below a certain charge, it will kill the life of the battery. Mike Wendland:         So if you keep your battery out in a vacant lot someplace and it's cold, I mean, I'm looking at, as I'm recording this in Michigan, the temperature's going down into the teens tonight. Out there for a long time, what should you do to your battery? If you can't plug it in, do you disconnect it then? Jordan Kunz:               Yeah, you should disconnect it. Take it somewhere where it's going to be warm, maybe inside you own garage or inside your house or something like that to protect it. Depending on the battery,

One of the topics that we are asked about a lot has to do with insurance. How do you select the right insurance for your RV? If you make a mistake, you can overpay, or be under insured. There are so many variables that when it comes to choosing RV insurance, you need to know as much as possible, to make sure you're getting the best deal and the best coverage. This week in our interview of the week, we're going to dig into just that. Plus, as always, your RV questions, RV News of the week, Jennifer’s Tip, Traveling Technology suggestions and an off the beaten path report. Show Notes for Episode #219 Nov. 21, 2018 of Roadtreking - The RV Podcast: WHAT MIKE AND JENNIFER ARE UP TO THIS WEEK We’re back home in Michigan for the holidays. Next event is our winter campout in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. We are taking Bo up camping at Tahquamenon January 11-13th. We have a tradition of five years of doing this and Bo insists on a snow vacation before we head south. Anyway, we have reserved site 177. Openings are filling up fast for that weekend. We can't make later dates because of other official commitments later that month. But if you also want to head up there, you need to reserve your own spot with the Michigan DNR at Tahquamenon Falls State Park, at the Lower Falls Hemlock campground. Here's the website: https://www.midnrreservations.com/TAHQUAMENONFALLSSTATEPARK If you do, let us know you're coming and request to join our special Facebook Grpup that we have set up for this event at https://www.facebook.com/groups/1697339513886451/ We’re celebrating the RV Podcast being the Number One Podcast in the list of the Top 15 podcasts released by by Feedspot, a respected web service that rates logs, news websites, Youtube Channels, podcasts, magazines, RSS feeds and Social Sites accounts worldwide. We were chosen, said Feedspot, “from thousands of RV Podcasts on the web using search and social metrics…because they are actively working to educate, inspire, and empower their readers with frequent updates and high-quality information.” The judging was by Feedspot's editorial team and expert reviewers and based on, among other things, our influence, popularity, quality and consistency of posts. That's pretty exciting and we wanted to share that with you, who, after all, make it possible by listening and reading us! See https://blog.feedspot.com/rv_podcasts/  The second exciting announcement is that we have released a new book called RV Buying Secrets, that demystifies the RV buying experience  in a 70-plus page guide that will give you a step-by-step process to buy a new or used RV at a fair price. If you've spent any amount of time researching RVs, you'll know that the RV buying process can be completely overwhelming and confusing.There are so many different models and manufacturers to choose from, floor plans, amenities and everything in between. That's why we wrote the guide, to give prospective buyers an exact plan to follow, a plan that lays out the exact steps to take from an idea of the RV Lifestyle to you driving home in the perfect RV for you. You can learn more about it at https://rvlifestyle.com/buy RV LIFESTYLE NEWS OF THE WEEK MIKE More states are urging residents to make Black Friday a Green Friday by going outside  This week many of us will enjoy spending Thanksgiving with friends and families, but what to do on Friday? Why not head outdoors? Many state parks across the country are urging everyone to make Black Friday a Green Friday, by offering free or discounted admission and offering special outdoor-related activities. Oregon has even renamed the day Green Friday, and in Washington state they are calling it Autumn Day. (click here for more info). South Carolina is offering deep discounts (click here), and many, many other states have similar plans. The whole #OptOutside movement was started by the retailer REI several years ago and has really caught on. Click here for more info.  JENNIFER Story profiles four couples who sold their sticks and brick houses to live on the road  About a million people at all stages of life are living full-time in their RVs, traveling the country as modern day nomads, according to a story I read last week. Most of us in the RV community know full-well the appeal of living in an RV, traveling the country, and enjoying a new adventure each day. It was fun, however, to see how the lifestyle was portrayed in the paper, complete with a profile of four couples. To see for yourself, click here. MIKE Drones in news again after illegal footage of Yellowstone National Park becomes public Last week we shared about a drone controversy surrounding footage out of Russia, of a mother bear and her cub trying to get away from the buzzing device. This week drones were in the news at Yellowstone National Park. Apparently a man was in the park the last day it was open, and brought in a drone - which is illegal- and shot footage that he put on Instagram. Officials found it, and are now searching for him to charge him with a misdemeanor crime. Apparently the drone operator is not apologetic - but Yellowstone officials stressed the harm drones cause animals - and unique environments. To see the story, click here. JENNIFER About 90 percent of Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area affected by fire Much of the country has been captivated by the heartbreaking stories coming out of California and this latest round of wildfires. The loss of life, loss of property, loss of entire communities is devastating. We are now also hearing about the destruction of public lands. One story stated nearly 90 percent of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area was blackened by the Woolsey fire in California. Historic structures, including Western Town at the Paramount Ranch, was destroyed. Much of the wildlife, including mountain lions and bobcats who lived there, are alive, according to tracking collars, but their habitat is gone. To read more, click here. Another story (click here) lists some of the other popular camping or trails destroyed. MIKE Camping in a Colorado state park next year is going to be more costly Another state is raising its camping fees to better maintain its campgrounds. This time it is Colorado which was in the news, with costs for a full-hook up site in one of its beautiful state run campgrounds costing ​$32-$41 per night next year, up from $28-$30 per night currently. Primitive camping sites will cost $14-$18 per night, up from $10-$12 per night in 2018. Some of the increase is off set by the elimination of a $10 registration fee. The new funding is needed to upgrade pads, keep more camp hosts and improve connectivity, according to the Colorado Parks & Wildlife site (click here to see.) A story out last week explains more here.  JENNIFER'S RV TIP OF THE WEEK Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. I enjoy gathering with loved ones, sitting around the table, eating the traditional foods, and sharing memories. But inevitably, as soon as the dinner is done and the dishes washed and put away, the topic that starts to occupy my mind is holiday gift giving. Do any of you ever feel this way? Well, this year I have a few campers on my list, and I am getting a head start looking for that perfect, sometimes practical, sometimes whimsical gift. I found items that were just perfect last weekend on the site Etsy, and was so excited, I decided to share some of those finds with you. For instance, everyone needs something to wipe their feet on before entering their RV. One site I found sells personalized door mats with camping themes. The mats are 30 inches long and 18 inches wide and sell for $43. You can put a personalized message on them such as "Home Sweet Camper"  or "Grandchildren spoiled here," or "Home is where you park it." The items appear to be well made, based on reviews, and would be perfect for that practical camping friend.  Another gift idea is a beautiful garden flag that could be placed on the campsite to welcome others, or to hold the spot for us in campervans when we are away exploring. The garden flags are personalized, and have sayings like, "Living the Good Life," or "Always at Home, Wherever we Roam." There are also various options available with pictures of the type of camper your friend uses, and places to add last names.  The personalized garden flags sell for about $26. A gift that might be perfect for the campfire enthusiast in your group are personalized, homemade firestarters made with pine cones, pine needles, and various other recycled materials covered with soy wax .The fire starters are to be placed in your campfire with kindling surrounding them. Then simply light the starter, and the fire should start that easily. The site I found makes a variety of cute designs selling for $10-$15 for a set of 10.  Or, if you are looking for something a little less practical, I found some socks that made me grin. Have any of you ever tried to park a long camping trailer in a tiny spot at a busy RV park? Or, have you ever watched anyone who tried to do it? One site was selling socks that addressed this. One sock said: "Sorry for what I said" and the other sock said "When we were parking the camper" The socks are available in both men and women's sizing, in a variety of colors, with cotton or cotton and wool blends for just under $8. I sure had fun looking at all the whimsical and practical ideas out there and only have space to mention a few of my finds. I will include links to each in the show notes in case it could help you. And be sure to send me your tips and suggestions for the RV lifestyle. You can use the “Leave Voicemail” link at Roadtreking.com. Just click it and then use the built-in microphone on your computer or mobile devise to record a message to me. You can do it over as many times as you want, until you are satisfied. And then you just click a button and it comes right to my email inbox. I love hearing from you!

This week we update you with some inside information on the 2019 Sprinter van, probably the most popular chassis used by Class B RVs. They’ve been in short supply for almost two years now and we’ll learn this week that a new Sprinter factory in South Carolina is about to change that. Plus, lots of RV news, tips and reports. WHAT MIKE AND JENNIFER ARE UP TO THIS WEEK Show Notes for Episode #218 Nov. 14, 2018 of Roadtreking - The RV Podcast MIKE We’re coming to you this week from Okaloosa Island on the Florida Panhandle’s Emerald Coast where we’ve been enjoying some time at our condo. JENNIFER Mike’s been doing a lot of writing, video editing and tinkering with our new 2018 Roadtrek CS Adventurous XL, adding some accessories and personalizing it for his tech gear. I’ve been cleaning our condo down here, doing a little redecorating and visiting friends. MIKE We’re set to travel back to cold and snowy Michigan over the weekend. I’ll have to winterize the RV before we hit the road because the weather forecast says we can expect freezing temperatures from Nashville on. JENNIFER Remember the Wooly Caterpillars and the animals in Kansas? When we were there a month ago for one of our Roadtreking gatherings, the cowboys we met on the cattle ranch we were visiting said the animals were developing much thicker than normal winter coats much earlier than normal and the wooly caterpillars had thick black bands. MIKE Yup. According to folklore, the amount of black on the woolly bear in autumn varies proportionately with the severity of the coming winter in the locality where the caterpillar is found.  JENNIFER I read this morning that it was snowing in Amarillo TX and I see posts on our Roadtreking Group on Facebook shows a lot of people have been experiencing very cold weather this past week. There are a lot of snow pictures there. MIKE At the same time, California has been devastated by the deadliest wildfires in history. So many lives have been lost, homes and property destroyed. Our hearts and prayers go out to those affected by those fires. We’ve heard from several of our Roadtreking friends this week that they have their RVs packed and ready to flee in case those fires head their way. JENNIFER Giant plumes of smoke can be seen on satellite images rising from the West Coast and then getting picked up by the Jetstream and carried east. As we record this podcast, some weather experts were predicting that some of that smoke could be detected as far east as New England today. So sad. MIKE As far as our RV Lifestyle goes, this has been a particularly busy week. I haven’t said a lot about this but I’ve been working hard on a new book which deals with a subject that we are asked a lot about: Buying an RV. I’m pretty excited about this book which will be published this week. It is jam packed with practical buying advice that I think can literally save you thousands of dollars and prevent lots of headaches or buyers resource as you shop for an eventually purchase a new or used RV. We will announce this book first to those who have signed up for our RV Lifestyle newsletter. If you are already part of that community, look for an email soon about availability. And if you have not yet subscribed, now’s a chance to do so. Just go to https://rvlifestyle.com/newsletter You can become a part of our community there for free. And when you do, you’ll get lots of perks and special discounts for RV services and products. JENNIFER How big is that Roadtreking community now? MIKE Between all our various platforms and social media, we’re talking well over 550,000 people. It’s pretty amazing how we’ve grown. JENNIFER Who would have thought this would be so big when we started this journey almost seven years ago. Oh… hey… what about that video you promised last week about our visit to Walt Disney World? MIKE It’s coming. Almost done. It will be on the RV Lifestyle YouTube Channel tomorrow…Nov. 15…or Thursday. It was so much fun putting together and it answers the question, are you ever too old for Disney World? JENNIFER Obviously, the answer is no. We had a ball there. It was the first time we visited without kids or grandkids and the first time we stayed at the Fort Wilderness Campground there. I think it’s safe to say… We’ll be back. This part of the program is brought to you by AllStays Pro, the best tool for RVers looking for places to camp. http://rvlifestyle.com/allstays10 RV LIFESTYLE NEWS OF THE WEEK MIKE Couple fleeing California wildfire abandons campsite, uses RV as rescue vehicle helping others escape We talked a minute ago about those horrific California wildfires. I ran across a story that was both terrifying and encouraging about a couple who turned their RV into a rescue vehicle of sorts. The couple started their morning at their campsite in Paradise, California, making their morning eggs when they got the call to evacuate immediately because of an approaching wild fire. The couple quickly packed up and hit the road, and as they headed to safety, they stopped to pick up people stranded or on foot, at one point driving down a road with flames threatening on each side. We’ll put a direct link to the story on the shownotes for this episode at Roadtreking-dot-com-slash-218  JENNIFER Viral video of mother bear and her cub example of stress drones cause wildlife, story says  Did you see the video of a mother bear and her baby, with the baby struggling to climb a snowy cliff, all captured on video? The video was shot by a drone in Russia, and was in the news last week as an example of the incredible stress drones can cause wildlife, altering their behavior and putting their very lives in danger. With drones becoming smaller and less expensive, it is important to remember to use them wisely, and even if the drone does not seem close to the wildlife, the animal may still be incredibly stressed. MIKE Renting a camper van becoming increasingly popular story says While this newsletter, and everything Jennifer and I do on the RV lifestyle, is open to all forms of camping, we know some of you are still considering what to buy, which is why I wanted to share a story on the growing popularity of renting your Class B RV. A story out last week highlighted the growing trend, even mentioning how Thor Industries, Inc., the world's largest RV manufacturer, formed a joint venture with a New Zealand-based tourism company earlier this year aimed at increasing its rental business. And if you are interested in renting an RV, we urge you to consider a peer to peer rental company like Outdoorsy, which lets you rent directly from an owner. JENNIFER Missouri state campgrounds with electricity to charge $2 a night more in 2019  Missouri state parks are joining the growing number of state run campgrounds that will be raising the cost of renting a campsite next year. The cost of renting a campsite with electricity will rise by $2 a night beginning in May 2019 in the first rate hike since 2013. To read more click here. MIKE Don't want a full bathroom in your camper van? Try a portable option Remember the story we shared last week by a writer who argues for no full shower or toilet in her camper van? Well, apparently she received a LOT of feedback - both pro and con - and this week provides five partial toilet options, for those so inclined. In case the detailed description of the portable toilet options are of interest, we wanted to share the follow-up story and you can find a link in the shownotes for this episode at Roadtreking-dot-com-slash-218 This part of the podcast is brought to you by OvernightRVParking.com,  the only place you can access a searchable database of the most complete, accurate and up-to-date listing of places where RVers are and aren't allowed to park overnight.   JENNIFER'S RV TIP OF THE WEEK As Mike and I were driving from Disney World's Fort Wilderness campground to the Florida panhandle last week, I saw on the road a camping trailer with a sticker of the United States stuck on its back door, complete with colorful stickers in place of the states these travelers had visited, and blank spots in the locations yet to be explored.  Have you ever seen one of these maps on your travels? I love them. Not only is it fun for the RV owners to mark each new state they camp in with a color sticker, it is also fun for the owners to look back and remember all their adventures in states past. And these maps are fun for other travelers to see, too. It can be a great conversation starter in a campground if you see a neighbor has been to a state that is next on your travel plans. I even enjoy just looking at one of these maps, as we're traveling down the road, seeing where someone has been and remembering the trips Mike and I have made. I wrote about those maps on our Roadtreking RV Lifestyle travel blog a few days ago. Here's one for U.S. States  https://amzn.to/2qsO1yx Here's one for Canadian Provinces https://amzn.to/2qsBqf1  There is just one drawback to these sticky decals and that is they stick --- on the paint ---sometimes forever. Seeing this map stuck to the paint of what looked like a brand new travel trailer, made me think back to a tip I received some time ago from a listener named Sharon. Sharon was also a fan of these maps and also was concerned about the damage these stickers can bring to the paint on her rig. Her solution? Put it on a magnet.   Sharon recommended getting a magnetic sheet and putting that on the body of your RV. Then, stick your decal of the United States and the provinces you've visited on the magnet instead of the back door. The magnetic sheet will protect your paint from the decals. And, should you sell your rig, or for some reason need to take off the stickers, you can do so without worrying about permanent damage. These magnetic sheets can be purchased at craft stores, office supply stores and, of course, Amazon. I found a four pack of 4 by 12 magnetic sheets for $13.

It’s no secret that across North America, many towns and cities are becoming increasingly anti-RV, prohibiting overnight camping anywhere except in RV campgrounds, which often charge an arm and a leg for what can often be pretty dismal campsites. Our interview of the week tells us how we can avoid such places and find lots of great overnight RV camping sites, oftentimes for free or very minimal costs. Also this week in Episode 217, your RV questions, some great RV tips and another excellent off the beaten path report from the Burketts. Show Notes for Episode #217 November 7, 2018 of Roadtreking - The RV Podcast: WHAT MIKE AND JENNIFER ARE UP TO THIS WEEK MIKE This week we’re coming to you from our new RV, camped in the Fort Wilderness Campground at Walt Disney World in Orlando Florida. JENNIFER We're attending a gathering organized by our friend Paul "Pogo" Pogorzelski, who loves Disney and tossed some dates out last spring and found 50 or so others who agreed that Fort Wilderness would be a great place to gather in early November. MIKE We are loving our new Roadtrek! It rolled out of the factory Friday and made its way straight to our Michigan driveway, where we packed it up and immediately took off for Florida. Friday and Saturday nights, we needed to run the heater. Tonight, in Florida, the air conditioning is on. It's performed flawlessly so far and we can't wait to show it to you. JENNIFER As soon as we finish the Disney World video and we get a little more familiar with all the bells and whistles on this unit, we will be doing a complete video reveal and tour. But let me say that in almost seven years of doing the RV Lifestyle now in five different Class B Roadtreks, this Roadtrek has impressed us the most in every away way possible. And we've only been in it for three days! MIKE We've asked our various social media followers to help us name this new unit and we'll probably choose one for the video reveal. If you have a good idea, send it in! This part of the program is brought to you by AllStays Pro, the best tool for RVers looking for places to camp.  RV LIFESTYLE NEWS OF THE WEEK MIKE Pictures of amazing locations shared on social media can draw millions of visitors, and unintended consequences An interesting story I saw YouTube last week about the affect social media is having on various unique but previously little-known locations around the country was fascinating. As people take pictures of gorgeous places on public land they often share the picture on places like Instagram and Facebook. Those posts typically include location coordinates. So then more people visit the spot, more pictures posted, and more people decided to visit. The result is some unique spots around the country are becoming inundated with tourists before the parking lots are made, before the trails laid out, and before the bathrooms are installed, causing significant environmental damage and a slew of unforeseen troubles. We’ll put a link to this interesting story in the shownotes at Roadtreking.com/217. JENNIFER Couple who fell to deaths at Yosemite National Park were taking selfie, brother said Speaking of social media, last week in this newsletter we reported on a couple who were found dead at Yosemite National Park after apparently falling off Taft Point, with rangers investigating how they fell. This week a relative of the couple was widely quoted as saying the couple was taking a selfie. The couple, who were from India, were travel bloggers who posted pictures of themselves in sometimes dangerous situations while taking pictures to post. This is such a sad story. So many beautiful locations in national parks have no guard rails, and all it takes is a slip of the foot or an unexpected breeze to fall and literally die. One story I found reported a study on literally hundreds of deaths around the world caused by people trying to get the perfect selfie to post online. MIKE Full-time RVer denied the right to vote because he lives in his RV Many who live full-time in their RV, traveling the country keep a Post Office Box often in the community where they used to live, for mail and various other purposes. That's why a story about a Missouri man, who lives full-time in his RV, caught my eye. The man was denied the right to vote in the midterm elections because he does not have a sticks and bricks house, only a U.S. Post Office Box. JENNIFER Jellystone Park-Camp Resorts sees nearly 19 percent sales increase third quarter  Jellystone Park Camp-Resorts issued a press release last week saying its third quarter sales were up nearly 19 percent for 2018, credited largely to an increase in millennial campers. Jellystone is the second largest campground franchise network in the U.S., which is known for catering to families with its swimming pools, kid activities and regular appearances of Yogi and friends. Mike and I camped at a Jellystone campground last summer in northern Michigan with four of our grandchildren, our son Jeff and his wife Aimee, and our daughter Wendy and her husband, Dan. We were there during the week and it seemed every spot was taken, most spots filled with young families. Check the shownotes to see a video at Roadtreking.com/217 MIKE Ditch the bathroom when designing your camper van, writer urges Recently I came across a fun and thought-provoking story by a writer who advocates getting a camper van built with no bathroom. To open up space, the writer argues, get your van built without a bathroom and simply dig a hole when boondocking, or use the campground's facilities when in a campground. Skipping the bathroom means four could sleep in the camper van - instead of two. We’ll build in links to a story and photos of this in the shownotes to see a video at Roadtreking.com/217 JENNIFER'S RV TIP OF THE WEEK As Mike and I hit the road last week to camp with our friends and fellow Roadtrekers at Disney’s Camp Wildness Park before meandering over to the Florida panhandle to check on our condo--- I knew we’d be doing some grilling. Some time ago our friend Doug McClendon from Texas shared how he uses an onion to clean the grill. We still use this tip, and in case any of you have never heard of it, I thought it would be a good idea to share it again. I think we can all agree that when we’re on the road grilling is a great option. It keeps food odors out of our rigs, and it keeps much of the mess of cooking outside our RVs, too. Plus grilled meat soaking in a good marinating all day is an easy way to quickly cook a tasty meal while on the road. But, the downside of all this, is sometimes those BBQ grills are just, well, nasty. So what to do? You could scrub it with something like a Brillo pad, but I really try to eat naturally and healthy and avoid all that chemical exposure. That is why I like to use an onion. Onions are a great cleaner, providing a wonderful, non-toxic and inexpensive way to eliminate all the grime. Here is how it works: First get the heat on your grill very hot to burn off as much of that gunk as possible. Then slice an onion in half, poke it with one of those extra long grilling forks, and  rub it back and forth over the grill, like a scrub brush. If you have any stubborn spots, spray it with a little lemon juice or vinegar, for a natural aciditic boost. Then get that onion out and scrub a little more. If you are using charcoal when you're done,  just throw your onion onto the briskets to add a little more flavor. Obviously I wouldn’t recommend that for a gas grill. And that’s it! It is that easy. I went to the National Onion Association webpage to learn a little more about why this method works, and was fascinated to read about the antibacterial properties onions hold, and the many studies that show onions contain compounds found to fight cancer, reduce heart disease and even help reduce osteoporosis. I will put a link to the National Onion Association on the show notes. Thanks Doug for sharing your grilling tip with us some time ago – as you can see, we are still using it! And I hope this tip will be helpful for you, too. And be sure to send me your tips and suggestions for the RV lifestyle. You can use the “Leave Voicemail” link at Roadtreking.com. Just click it and then use the built-in microphone on your computer or mobile devise to record a message to me. You can do it over as many times as you want, until you are satisfied. And then you just click a button and it comes right to my email inbox. I love hearing from you! Jennifer's tip of the week is brought to you by RadPower Bikes ,an electric bike manufacturer offering direct to consumer pricing on powerful premium electric bikes. Now with free shipping  To see our Rad Power Bikes in action, just click here. Visit WWW.RADPOWERBIKES.COM  LISTENER RV QUESTIONS OF THE WEEK Larry asks about availability for the 2019 Sprinter chassis for REVs. We also answered some email questions: Question re: a Roadtrek....can you get them with leveling Jack’s or only stabilizers....or nothing? Thanks, Ronnie & Milt Hello and thanks for the welcome, Just had an 80 watt Solor panel added to my unit and winter is about to set in, will the Solor maintain my battery’s over the winter? RV INTERVIEW OF THE WEEK It’s no secret that across North America, many towns and cities are becoming increasingly anto RV, prohibiting overnight camping anywhere except commercial RV campgrounds, which often charge an army and a leg for what are frequently pretty dismal campsites. This week, Jim O’Briant from Overnight RV Parking tells us how we can avoid such places and find lots of great overnight RV camping sites, oftentimes for free or very minimal costs. Here's a video version of the interview: Here's a transcript of the interview: Mike Wendland:           Joining us right now from Overnight RV Parking is our friend Jim O'Briant and he connects with us from his home in Gilroy, California. Jim, how are you? Jim O'Briant:                 Fine.

Thinking about buying at RV? Hold up. Don’t do it until you follow our advice. What advice is that? Simple: Try before you buy. Unless you are an experienced RVer and know – from experience – just what you want, RV newbies should try out an RV for a couple of days to make sure it fits their needs and lifestyle. In our interview f the week coming up in a few minutes, we introduce you to Outdoorsy, a company that specializes in helping people find RVs to rent. Also this week, RV news, especially about the dangers of taking selfies in daredevil locations; RV tips, your RV questions and a great off the beaten path report from the Burketts that all who love Mexican chips and salsa will appreciate. Show Notes for Episode #216 Oct. 31, 2018 of Roadtreking - The RV Podcast: WHAT MIKE AND JENNIFER ARE UP TO THIS WEEK Mike and Jennifer We talk about: Our plans to head to Florida this week and Pogo’s Happy Campers Gathering at Walt Disney World The dilemma of whether we bring Bo or leave him back in Michigan with our daughter Using our RV all year around Our winter camping trip to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan - We are taking Bo up camping at Tahquamenon Falls in Michigan's Upper Peninsula January 11-13th. This is not an "official" gathering but an informal one. We have a tradition of five years of doing this and Bo insists on a snow vacation before we head south. Anyway, we have reserved site 177. If you also want to head up there, you need to reserve your own spot with the Michigan DNR at Tahquamenon Falls State Park, at the Lower Falls Hemlock campground. Here's the website: https://www.midnrreservations.com/TAHQUAMENONFALLSSTATEPARK If you do reserve a spot, then join our winter campout group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/1697339513886451/and let us know there that you're coming and what spot you reserve. This part of the program is brought to you by AllStays Pro, the best tool for RVers looking for places to camp.  RV LIFESTYLE NEWS OF THE WEEK JENNIFER Park rangers investigate deaths of couple who plunged off Taft Point at Yosemite National Park  Another sad story about people slipping and falling to their deaths at a national park - this time it happened in Yosemite National Park. They were a couple who had a travel blog, citizens of India who were living in the US. Their blog has been taken down but previous posts had a lot of photos of them in precarious places and the woman wrote that they were fans of  “daredevilry attempts of standing at the edge of cliffs and skyscrapers, but did you know that wind gusts can be FATAL???” Ironically, she then added: “Is our life just worth one photo?” The National Park Service is investigating how the pair fell.  Their bodies were discovered Thursday about 800 feet below Taft Point. Taft Point is the same place we told you about in last week's newsletter where a photographer took a stunning picture  of a proposal. Again, just how this couple died has not been determined. But the tragedy is a good reminder that many of the most breath-taking locations in our parks do not have safety rails. There is an inherent risk in getting too close to the edge. While we do not know yet if this couple had a camera, let's use this sad story as a reminder to be careful because no  photograph is worth dying over. MIKE RV dealer shipments drop 29 percent for month of September   RV shipments from manufacturers to dealers for the month of September were down about 29 percent between 2017 and 2018 according to a story out of Indiana last week. The story quoted an industry spokesman who attributed the decline to a number of things including RV manufacturers increasing their capacity so dealers do not have to order far ahead, and tariffs. While the drop is being carefully watched, many are not worried. Attendance at fall RV shows, like the recent one we attended in California, is setting records. Also retail sales are up, suggesting maybe the wholesale drop was a manufacturing issue. JENNIFER Camping costs rising at Nebraska's state parks Camping in a Nebraska state park next year will be a little more expensive after the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission approved a staff recommendation last week to raise camping fees. The fee increase, which varies based on the type of camping spot, is expected to bring in $2 million in revenue. The new money will be used to maintain the campgrounds and address a maintenance backlog. A full service RV spot will now cost $35 a night most of the time, with a primitive tent-only location costing $10 a night. MIKE Thinking of selling all and hitting the road as a full-timer? Then check out this story I came across a fun story in Newsweek last week about a couple from Long Island, New York, both in their 30s, deciding to sell their home and move into an RV to travel the country for a while. The story is one we run across in person pretty regularly - couples, or sometime single people, deciding to hit the road and live a nomadic life for a while and get out of the rat race. I'll share a link here. The couple gets into their predicted expenses and provides a tour of their new home on wheels, in case any of you are considering such a move. JENNIFER Tennessee Park Blonde Ale sales bring in $7,000 for state parks  Here’s another story on funding for state parks. Lastyear a microbrewery in Tennessee came out with the Tennessee State Park Blonde Ale, pledging to donate a small portion of the profits to Tennessee State Parks Conservancy. One year later, the effort raised $7,000. A story out last week quoted a park official as saying Tennessee is one of seven states in the country that does not charge an entrance fee to its state parks in part because of such partnerships. This part of the podcast is brought to you by OvernightRVParking.com,  the only place you can access a searchable database of the most complete, accurate and up-to-date listing of places where RVers are and aren't allowed to park overnight.  JENNIFER'S RV TIP OF THE WEEK Have any of you women campers ever struggled when applying makeup because the lack of good lighting in your RV? This week's tip comes from a reader named Debra who wrote in to share her solution. Debra camps in a Roadtrek 190 Popular. She says she enjoys it very much but has found it very challenging to find good lighting to apply makeup. Her solution? The Riki Cutie Mirror by LimeLife. Debra wrote that she was not a salesperson for the company and does not order their make up but loves this mirror. The size is just right for the RV lifestyle, Debra writes, and the mirror provides plenty of light. Well, Debra's email raised my curiosity so I went online to learn more. The Riki Cutie Mirror is about the size of a cell phone, costs about $55, and has three different light levels. The mirror appears to be VERY popular with many YouTubers who do makeup tutorials and many have filmed themselves unboxing this mirror. The mirror comes with a built-in stand and a retractable finger ring, so you can wear the mirror on your finger as you apply your make up. It also comes with a carrying sleeve and micro USB cable as it is rechargeable. It weighs 11.7 ounces and could easily fit in a purse. It operates on 1 Lithium ion battery and appears to have very powerful lighting. Its size makes it easy to carry to all sorts of settings. I must say I, too, have found lighting to be a challenge when camping so some time ago we bought I lighted vanity mirror, with magnification, that we attached to the wall above the sink in our bathroom. I do not recall what brand I am using, but it has worked pretty well. But, after reading Debra's email and learning more about this product, it has caught my attention. I like the idea of a mirror that is so lightweight, powerful and mobile. And with so many on-line recommendations from people who do make up tutorials, it must work very well. Thank you so much Debra, for sharing your tip. I really appreciate it and share it in hopes of helping others. Here’s the link - https://amzn.to/2yFNKN8 Jennifer's tip of the week is brought to you by RadPower Bikes ,an electric bike manufacturer offering direct to consumer pricing on powerful premium electric bikes. Now with free shipping.  To see our Rad Power Bikes in action, just click here. Visit WWW.RADPOWERBIKES.COM  LISTENER RV QUESTIONS OF THE WEEK Chris from Chicago asks our opinion about RV inductive cooktops versus propane cooktops. Sharon asks for a good campground reservation near Pensacola, FL. We suggest Fort Pickens on the Gulf Islands National Seashore on Pensacola Beach. It is located very close to the water and contains 137 family sites with electric and water hookups, as well as 41 non-electric tent sites. A group site with water hookup is also available. Amenities include flush toilets, showers, drinking water and a dump station. This part of the podcast is sponsored by Steinbring Motorcoach, Roadtrek’s newest dealer and a third generation family business in Minnesota’s beautiful Chain of Lakes region built on quality motorhomes and excellent pricing and service. RV INTERVIEW OF THE WEEK If you are a regular listener of the podcast, you know our absolute Number I piece of advice we give those trying to buy a new RV is to try before you buy. Well this week we are going to talk about that and tell you the best way we know that you can find an RV to rent. It’s from a company called Outdoorsy and if you go to https://rvlifestyle.com/outdoorsy you can check out what RVs are available to rent wherever you want to go in North Amrica.   Here is a video version of the interview that also shows the way the Outdoorsy service works: And here’s a transcript of our interview with Austin Green. Mike Wendland:           So one of the problems that people have when we say, "Rent a vehicle first, go out and rent an RV, make sure you're comfortable with it," is finding what,