RV Lifestyle RV Podcast

It’s RV shopping season and for a lot of shoppers, finding used RVs can be a daunting experience, especially for the high demand Class B campervan style motorhomes. But once you locate one, how do you make sure you are getting a good deal? What are the things that need to be carefully checked out? What red flag warning signs should you look for? That’s what we talk about this week in our interview of the week. Plus your RV questions, RV tips involving travel, technology and your pets, news of the week and a great off the beaten path report all coming up in this episode of The RV Lifestyle Podcast. [spp-player]  Complete shownotes for Episode 122 of the Roadtreking RV Lifestyle Podcast JENNIFER'S TIP OF THE WEEK This is the time of year when people are shopping and buying their RVs. That means they are also buying the things they need for that RV, like pots and pans and plates and silverware. [spp-timestamp time="7:40"] When I meet new RVers, one of the first questions I usually get is how much of all that do need to bring and store in the RV? The answer is not as much as you may think. How much entertaining do you plan to do? By that, I mean how often will you have people in your RV for dinner or lunch? Mike and I travel with four placesettings. That’s it. Just four. Same with glasses and cutlery. By the way, we often of paper plates and disposable cups, especially on winter campouts. Why make more work and spend all your time washing dishes? As far as pots and pans goes. That depends on your cooking style and how much food preparation you plan to do. We grill out as much as possible. All I have in our RV is a fry pan and a sauce pan. Now if you love Italian cooking, you’ll need something for pasta. You may want to steam your veggies and will need something for that. But our style is fast and easy. We prepare and freeze meals in advance that just need to be thawed. Or, as I said, we cook out on a grill. Again, we all have different RVing styles. Ours is keep it simple…less is always best and do whatever we can to make cleanup as easy as possible. After all, RVing is supposed to be a break from the routine. How about you? I’m interested in hearing about your RV style and 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 T RadPower Bikes (www.RadPowerBikes.com_… an electric bike manufacturer offering direct to consumer pricing on powerful premium electric bikes. LISTENER QUESTIONS OF THE WEEK: Terri asks about getting a better cellular signal inside her RV. Mike suggests a cellphone booster.  [spp-timestamp time="12:09"] The one Mike uses is the the  Professional Grade weBoost Drive 4G-X + RV Trucker Essentials Kit – 470510-RV. It comes with a big external antenna. It is most powerful in-vehicle booster certified in the US and Canada and enhances 4G LTE, as well as 3G and 2G network signals, up to 32x. That is probably overkill for most RVers at more than $500. Wilson makes much more affordable ones for single devices starting at around $100. Phil asks Mike and Jen about the gravity chair/loungers they take with them in their Roadtrek CS Adventurous XL. [spp-timestamp time="15:52"] The brand we use is the Best Choice brand. They are available on Amazon at $64.99 for a set of two. When we bought them we found them at a Kmart in Missouri on sale for about the same price. And listener Debbie reacts to last week’s travel suggestion for fans of the Sheriff Longmire novels and TV show and plans for Longmire Days in Wyoming this summer. The dates haven’t been set yet but should be in June or early July. [spp-timestamp time="19:46"]

It’s a New Year and RVers have made their bucket lists and are ready to take on 2017. And in this episode of the podcast. We hear from lots of our fellow RV travelers who share what’s on their bucket list for this year. And in the process, they offer all of us plenty of ideas for places and events that wemay not have been aware of. Plus tech tips, your questions and much more. Click the player below to Listen Now or scroll down through the show note details. When you see a time code hyperlink, you can click it to jump directly to that segment of the podcast. [spp-player] Shownotes for Episode 121 of the Roadtreking RV Lifestyle Podcast JENNIFER'S TIP OF THE WEEK There are lots of ways to use a Roadtrek besides camping and boondocking. [spp-timestamp time="7:18"] You can driveway camp at the homes of friends and relatives, use it to stay in the parking lot of a hospital, use it as a moving van or as a second vehicle for errands around town. Meanwhile… We have follow up report from Steve Dodd, a Roadtreker we met and interviewed last summer in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Steve shares a most unusual second use for his Roadtrek…. As Santa’s delivery van. He gives us this update on how it worked out for him this past Christmastime. 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! 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. LISTENER QUESTIONS OF THE WEEK: A listener named Donna put her RV under cover and in storage. When she checked it the other day, the carbon monoxide alarm was chirping. She wonders what’s wrong…[spp-timestamp time="14:24"] Carbon monoxide detectors and alarms are designed to alert you to unsafe levels of carbon monoxide.  They do this by making noise and flashing lights.  However, they also make noise and flash lights under other conditions.  The noise that they make has been described as beeping, chirping, and even squeaking.  Most detectors will make two sounds: a “beep” and a much shorter “chirp”.  The beeping noise is used to alert you to unsafe CO levels.  It is usually in the form of 4 beeps, a pause, then 4 more beeps.  This pattern is repeated continuously until the CO level drops or until you press the “mute” button. On the other hand, the chirping sound is used to report some problem with the detector.  It is not as critical as the beeping alarm, but it should be addressed.  The chirping is telling you that the detector may not be functioning or may fail soon. It may be reporting a low battery, an internal error, a unit malfunction, or the end of the internal sensors useful life. If you do not have it plugged in, your batteries will drain down. If the CO detector and/or the smoke alarms notice low batteries, they will beep to warn you the batteries are low.  That is most likely what is happening. My gut feeling is that your C0 detector is probably fine; but your batteries might need looking at and or replacing if they been drained down too often. Sponsoring this part of the podcast is Van City RV in St. Louis, and their Partner Dealerships Creston RV in Kalispell, Montana, and Wagon Trail RV in Las Vegas. Bringing You the largest INTERVIEW OF THE WEEK – Bucket Lists for 2017 Jennifer and I have a bunch of trips on our 2017 bucket list, too. We’ve shared many on the blog (see https://rvlifestyle.com/2017-schedule-roadtreking-gatherings/). Mike and Jen’s big trips include: January 20-22:  January Freezeout, Tahquamenon State Park, Michigan February 24-27,

When it comes to snowbird getaways, one place stands out… Quartzsite, AZ. It is a gathering spot so huge that sometimes – and we are not exaggerating - as many as 100,000 RVers set up camp there. Some think attendance is often even more than that. It is easily the biggest RV gathering in the world and it happens every January and February. It belongs on every RVers bucket list, with a sort of a Woodstock/Burning Man/carnival atmosphere built around flea markets, RV displays and boondocking fun in the desert. This week, we learn all about Quartzsite from Shanana Rain Golden-Bear, publisher of Quartssite’s community newspaper the Desert Messenger, and the Marketing Director at Quartzsite Area Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Plus RV new, RV tips and much more! Click the player below to Listen Now or scroll down through the show note details. When you see a time code hyperlink, you can click it to jump directly to that segment of the podcast. [spp-player] Show Notes for Episode #120 Dec. 28, 2016 of Roadtreking - The RV Lifestyle Podcast: JENNIFER'S TIP OF THE WEEK Jennifer On our Roadtreking.com blog this week, RV Recipes Chef Mary Jane Curry has shared some tips about the convection oven that comes pretty standard on most RVs these days. For many RVers, it’s an appliance seldom used. We know how the microwave part of it works but are often perplexed by the convection oven part. Fear not! Mary Jane shares some more tips for us this week! [spp-timestamp time="5:26"] Check out:  https://rvlifestyle.com/convection-oven-tips/ 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. If I use your tip in the podcast, we’ll send you a free Roadtreking hat! I love hearing from you! Jennifer's tip of the week is brought to you by RadPower Bikes (www.RadPowerBikes.com_… an electric bike manufacturer offering direct to consumer pricing on powerful premium electric bikes. LISTENER QUESTIONS OF THE WEEK: This week, we answer five email questions sent to Jennifer. Mike has been saving these or several months and this podcast is where Jennifer answers them: [spp-timestamp time="11:22"] We wonder about how much Jennifer drives while you are on the road. We’ve heard her say before but my wife is afraid to do so and perhaps we could hear from Jennifer on her perspective of driving the RV. – Dick from St. Paul We’d like to hear from Jennifer about how she makes up the bed in your Roadtrek…. As two singles or king, whether it stays made all the time and if you put it away where al the bedding goes when you use it in the original sofa configuration. Ron and Marta How do you two handle chores in the RV… like cooking, cleaning, dog walking, etc. – Beth, from Metaire, LA Jennifer… how much stuff do you leave in the RV when you return from a trip? What do you take out (besides refrigerator items, of course) and what do you leave in? It seems packing and unpacking our Roadtrek takes way too much time. My wife brings everything in and I have to believe you two have figured out a better way. Howard, from Ames, Iowa. Dear Jennifer: What’s your favorite accessories that you have added to your Roadtrek? We’re getting our new CS Adventurous in early spring and I am hoping you can save me some time so I can get them all ahead of time. Christy Sponsoring this part of the podcast is Van City RV in St. Louis, and their Partner Dealerships Creston RV in Kalispell, Montana, and Wagon Trail RV in Las Vegas. Bringing You the largest Inventory of class B’s from three locations. INTERVIEW OF THE WEEK – Quartzsite, Arizona Shanana Rain Golden-Bear When it comes to snowbird getaways, one place stands out… Quartzsite, AZ.

Modern campgrounds are replete with delightful irony: an increasingly sophisticated range of utilities and conveniences services them, yet they are marketed to perpetuate the cherished American ideal of the backwoods camp.   This week, we meet Martin Hogue, a landscape architect and professor who has studied the emergence of the American campground. Hogue has produced a coffee table book, called Thirty-Four Campgrounds, that traces the history of modern campground and looks at thousands of campsites from an academician’s viewpoint. Also in this weeks podcast, major RV News for those who love National Parks, your questions and answers, RV tips and much more. Click the player below to Listen Now or scroll down through the show note details. When you see a time code hyperlink, you can click it to jump directly to that segment of the podcast. [spp-player] Show Notes for Episode #119 Dec. 21 2016 of Roadtreking - The RV Lifestyle Podcast: JENNIFER'S TIP OF THE WEEK Well, as we said, we’re about to hit the road for several weeks and that means, we’ll be camping out in some cold conditions until we get far down south for Florida’s sunshime. [spp-timestamp time="8:50"] And in a little less than a month’s time, we’ll have made out way back to the cold and to Tahquamenon Falls, in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, for our annual Roadtreking January Freezeout winter camping trip. People ask how we stay warm and we love to tell them about Reflectix. Reflectix looks like bubble wrap between two layers of aluminum foil. It is available in rolls at Lowes or Home Depot. Reflectix is very helpful in the winter to prevent heat loss around the windows. You can easily use scissors to cut it in any shape you want. The first thing you should do is to cut pieces that fit the windows tightly. Most of the time you can press them into the window and they will stay in place. Put it on every window. For us, we use one of those aluminum-sided sun shields for the massive front window. Instead of putting the aluminum facing out, as we do in the summer to keep the heat out, we place it so the aluminum side faces inward, to keep the heart in. We also stuff a big piece of Reflectix around the tops and bottoms of the center and rear doors, temporarily holding in in place with duct tape. If you like cold weather camping, try it. Reflectix will be one of your best tools to keep warm and comfy. For more about Reflectix check out these stories from Roadtreking Reporters Roger and Lynn Brucker: https://rvlifestyle.com/winter-roadtreking/ https://rvlifestyle.com/keeping-cool-in-rv-reflectix/ 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 (www.RadPowerBikes.com_… an electric bike manufacturer offering direct to consumer pricing on powerful premium electric bikes. LISTENER QUESTIONS OF THE WEEK: A listener named Mavis lives in Virginia and wonders I she needs to winterize when the weather only occasionally gets below 30. The catch is, she sometimes travels to New Jersey in the winter. [spp-timestamp time="14:00"] And a reader named Jim called in to offer a resource for those whose RVs are made by Omnistor. RV dealers tell him parts are no longer available but he found a website in the UK that shipped him what he needs. [spp-timestamp time="17:44"]  The address is: http://www.omnistorawnings.co.uk/ Sponsoring this part of the podcast is Van City RV in St. Louis, and their Partner Dealerships Creston RV in Kalispell, Montana, and Wagon Trail RV in Las Vegas. Bringing You the largest Inventory of class B’s from three locations.

An autonomous or self-driving RV may be in your future. And not that far off, either. That’s what we learn this week from Joel Adams, Director of Engineering and Innovation for the Erwin Hymer Group of North America, who talks with us about self-driving RV’s and what that will mean for the typical RVer. Plus we offer up winter tips for clearing off the snow and ice from your windshield, answer your RV questions, gave RV news of the week and Christmas tech gift ideas under $100 Click the player below to Listen Now or scroll down through the show note details. When you see a time code hyperlink, you can click it to jump directly to that segment of the podcast. [spp-player] Show Notes for Episode #118 December 14, 2016 of Roadtreking - The RV Lifestyle Podcast: JENNIFER'S TIP OF THE WEEK Well, it is almost officially winter. And for those in all but the warmest southern states, it can be a real chore to get all the ice and frost and snow off your windshield before heading out in the morning. Keeping the snow and ice off your windshield in the first place makes getting on the road that much easier. So I have a bunch of tips, collected from our Roadtreking Facebook Group and gathered from our own experience and that of our friends. [spp-timestamp time="10:14"] Tip #1: Use an old set of car floor mats to cover your car's windshield in the evening and you won't have any ice or snow to scrape in the morning. Carpet remnants also work. Others use clear plastic shower curtains or old table cloths or old bed sheets. You just put it across your windshield, covering wiper blades so they don’t freeze. Open one front door and put it inside the vehicle; and then stretch it and do the same on the other side. In the morning, just slide them off the windshield and have clear vision with no scraping and defrosting. Tip #2: Spray a 3 to 1 solution of water and vinegar on your vehicle's windows the night before. It keeps them ice proof. It is necessary to dilute the vinegar lest it harm your windshield wipers or the rubber around the windows If it is really cold, like in the single digits, vinegar may not be as effective as rubbing alcohol. You need to prepare a solution by mixing two parts rubbing alcohol and one part water. Tip #3:     To keep your windshield wipers from freezing to the windshield overnight, pull your wiper blades away from the windshield during winter months to prevent ice build up on the rubber squeegee and to prevent them from sticking to the windshield. Tip #4: If you forgot to do these things the night before and you come out to find a frozen windshield, try this: Fill a small spray bottle with windshield washer solvent. When your windshield is iced over spray beginning at the top of the windshield and work down towards the midway point. This starts a melting process and the top area will loosen up by time you get to the other side of your car. Tip #5 Visibility is fundamental to safe driving. Although drivers depend on their vehicles’ wiper blades to clear away rain, sleet and snow, many wait to replace them until they need them the most. You should change your wiper blades every six months. or as soon as you notice a difference in driving visibility.  Edit When wiper blades no longer make proper contact with the windshield surface, they can begin to squeak, skip, smear or streak reducing driving visibility. And the worst thing you can do with your wipers is to use your windshield wipers to de-ice your windshield. Instead, either use an ice scraper or use your defroster to melt snow and ice So there you go, winter tips for your RV or your car. Be sure to send me your tips and suggestions for the RV lifestyle. You can use the “Send 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 ...

About 70% of all RVers travel with pets and while they bring great joy to us, taking care of them on the road presents some unique challenges. This week we talk to a certified Pet Detective who offers us some critical tips for pet safety. Plus RV News, RV travel tips, technology suggestions and a great off the beaten path report. Click the player below to Listen Now or scroll down through the show note details. When you see a time code hyperlink, you can click it to jump directly to that segment of the podcast. [spp-player] Show Notes for Roadtreking Episode 117: JENNIFER'S TIP OF THE WEEK – Wine in a Bag We RVers all have our own ideas and tips and little things that make life on the road a little easier. So it was with a couple of newbies we met not long ago… Doug and Glenda McLendon from Texas. If you drink wine and are always worried about breaking a bottle while you’re on the road, then you'll want to listen to the McLendons. [spp-timestamp time="8:07"]  We hunted around Amazon and found these wine bags like the McLendons showed us. Each wine pouch carries one full bottle of wine. They are leakproof, reuseable and you get two for $18.98. They come with a collapsible funnel and corkscrew bottle opener. (http://amzn.to/2gMV0Pu) We also found the unbreakable rubber glasses. A set of four costs $22.98. http://amzn.to/2gN6B0W Glenda and Doug McLendon show their wine bag and unbreakable glasses 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. If I use your tip in the podcast, we’ll send you a free Roadtreking hat! I love hearing from you! Jennifer's Tip is brought to you by Rad Power Bikes www.RadPowerBikes.com, an electric bike manufacturer offering direct to consumer pricing on powerful premium electric bikes. LISTENER QUESTION OF THE WEEK: A couple with a 43-foot Class A are thinking about downsizing and want to know how Mike and Jennifer get around in their Class B, especially when it comes to driving around town and parking. [spp-timestamp time="13:57"] Sponsoring this part of the podcast is Van City RV in St. Louis, and their Partner Dealerships Creston RV in Kalispell, Montana, and Wagon Trail RV in Las Vegas. Bringing You the largest Inventory of class B’s from three locations. INTERVIEW OF THE WEEK – Cindy Gordon, Pet Detective Cindy Gordon, Pet Detective  This week we interview Texas-based Pet Detective Cindy Gordon. She has some very practical advice for all RVers who travel with pets. You need to listen to ther whole interview for details, but here are some highlights and resources that she mentioned. [spp-timestamp time="26:48"]  5 Critical Tips for RV Pet Safety: 1.Microchip your pets, and immediately REGISTER the microchip with your personal information. A great tip is to keep all of the microchip information for each pet as a contact on your own phone. Keep the chip number, and the phone number for the chip company. Immediately report as lost if they escape, and call them and be sure the chip info is up to date. 2. Identification collar embroidered with your phone number: https://www.etsy.com/shop/ThreeLittleIglets Tammy has been kind enough to offer a discount for Roadtreking listeners. Enter in the discount code RVLIFE for $3 off through the end of December 2016. 3. Kennel your pet during transport. If you want to read more about the kind of crates that are available, there’s a good Facebook group called “Dog Sport Vehicle Ideas & Set-ups” that has a lot of reviews and specifics about different brands, etc. Here's the link to that page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/DogSportVehicleIdeas/ 4. Harnesslead for walking pets:  Lisa at www.harnesslead.

In this episode of the podcast we talk about one of the best kept secrets in the nationwide system of hiking trails – the Florida Trail, a 1,300 mile trail that runs across the state and is very accessible to RVers. Plus news about a rowdy bull moose in Montana, self-driving RVs and an update on the devastating fires around the Great Smoky Mountains National park. Click the player below to Listen Now or scroll down through the show note details. When you see a time code hyperlink, you can click it to jump directly to that segment of the podcast. [spp-player] Complete Show Notes for Episode #116 Dec. 1, 2016 of Roadtreking - The RV Lifestyle Podcast: JENNIFER'S TIP OF THE WEEK In small RV’s, storage is always at a premium. Where do we keep all the things we need? Listen up.. here’s one idea: Peggy Bechtel suggests using a shoe bag attached by a tension rod for extra storage for pockets to store small items. [spp-timestamp time="6:05"] You can find these shoe bags at WalMart, on Amazon or, as Peggy suggested, at Camping World stores. Another great idea we all can use!   The shoebag used to store small items, held in place by tension bars. 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. If I use your tip in the podcast, we’ll send you a free Roadtreking hat! I love hearing from you! Jennifer's tip of the week is brought to you by RadPower Bikes (www.RadPowerBikes.com_… an electric bike manufacturer offering direct to consumer pricing on powerful premium electric bikes. LISTENER QUESTIONS OF THE WEEK: A listener asks about RV shows and which ones we think are the best. [spp-timestamp time="11:29"] A listener asks about winterizing his RV and whether be should run antifreeze through his water heater or bypass it [spp-timestamp time="17:24"] A listener offers a suggestion about using an extra solar panel when its cloudy out or the RV is parked under trees. [spp-timestamp time="19:23"] Sponsoring this part of the podcast is Van City RV in St. Louis, and their Partner Dealerships Creston RV in Kalispell, Montana, and Wagon Trail RV in Las Vegas. Bringing You the largest Inventory of class B’s from three locations. INTERVIEW OF THE WEEK The Florida Trail (FNST) is a congressionally designated National Scenic Trail.  It is approximately 1,300-miles long, and is intended to offer a continuous, permanent non-motorized recreation opportunity for hiking and other compatible activities.  Over its length, it showcases the incredible biodiversity, history, and rich culture of Florida. The Florida Trail begins on the edge of the everglades ecosystem in Big Cypress National Preserve.  It’s end point lies in the white sands of Gulf Islands National Seashoreat historic Fort Pickens. The Florida Trail is one of the United States 11 National Scenic Trails, and offers an experience that is unique to Florida. No other trail in the world compares to the Florida Trail. In this week’s episode, Mike interviews Alex Stigliano, the trail program director, who tells the Roatreking audience about how hiking this trail can enhance your RV experience the next time you visit Florida. [spp-timestamp time="22:52"] A great guide and app for hiking the trail can be found at floridahikes.com RV NEWS OF THE WEEK: We have four stories for you this week: [spp-timestamp time="38:56"] Devastating fires hit Great Smoky Mountains National Park area Erwin Hymer Group NA announces pilot program for autonomous RVs RVIA Show in Louisville highlights booming industry nearing 40 year high Bull Moose Rattles Montana Camper This portion of the podcast is brought to you by Alde  the only name in heat that you need ...

It's Thanksgiving Week in the U.S. and the roads are full with lots of travelers heading home for the big holiday. In this Thanksgiving edition of the podcast we’re joined by a whole bunch of our friends from the Roadtreking community and RV industry who share the things they’re most thankful for this year. Besides or regular tips, news and RV questions and answers, you’ll hear the Roadtreking community marvelously underscore just how awesome the Roadtreking lifestyle truly is and how it brings people together in truly inspiring ways. Click the player below to Listen Now or scroll down through the show note details. When you see a time code hyperlink, you can click it to jump directly to that segment of the podcast. [spp-player] Show Notes for Episode #115 Nov. 23, 2016 of Roadtreking - The RV Lifestyle Podcast: Mike and Jennifer begin by sharing the many things they are thankful for this Thanksgiving [spp-timestamp time="2:47"] JENNIFER’S TIP OF THE WEEK We all love cooking out on the road… but sometimes, those grills we use can be a real mess. On a recent Roadtreking gathering, we saw how a friend of ours from Texas does it. [spp-timestamp time="7:57"] Doug McClendon shares how he uses half a lemon to scour and clean dirty grills. And for all of you, 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. If I use your tip in the podcast, we’ll send you a free Roadtreking hat! I love hearing from you! Here's a photo of Doug cleaning a grill with an onion. Jennifer's tip of the week is brought to you by RadPower Bikes (www.RadPowerBikes.com_… an electric bike manufacturer offering direct to consumer pricing on powerful premium electric bikes. LISTENER QUESTIONS OF THE WEEK: Two questions this week: [spp-timestamp time="12:54"] A listener asks about screens to cover the opening in a sliding door on a Roadtrek. A listener asks about whether he can order a Roadtrek with a different floorplan. Sponsoring this part of the podcast is Van City RV in St. Louis, and their Partner Dealerships Creston RV in Kalispell, Montana, and Wagon Trail RV in Las Vegas. Bringing You the largest Inventory of class B’s from three locations. RV NEWS OF THE WEEK: We have six stories for you this week: [spp-timestamp time="21:36"] Number of entrance fee-free days in national parks system dropping by 40 percent in 2017. Read more Woman sexually assaulted in southern California campground's restroom. Read more. Trail Ridge Road at Rocky Mountain National Park closed for winter. Read more Wayward elk, seen wandering around homes in South Carolina, tranquilized and taken out to mountains. Read more Ten new national historic landmarks announced. Read more Maryland woman mauled by bear in her own driveway. Read more This portion of the podcast is brought to you by Alde  the only name in heat that you need to know for your RV INTERVIEW OF THE WEEK: Listen to a wide assortment of readers, listeners, members of our Facebook Roadtreking Group and industry leaders share their Thanksgiving wishes and the travel highlights they are most thankful for this past year. It’s a very inspiring and comprehensive string of messages that marvelously underscores just how awesome the Roadtreking lifestyle truly is.[spp-timestamp time="31:27"] TRAVELING TECH TIP: Steve Van Dinter Verizon's Steve Van Dinter reports [spp-timestamp time="53:45"] Thanksgiving is a time when all of us slow down just a little, gather with family and friends, talk about what we’re thankful for, and share stories about fond memories from the past. And if that past happened more than about 10 years ago chances are we don’t have digital ph...

Had it with overcrowded campgrounds? Looking for something more unique and scenic? Then listen up to this week’s podcast as we learn about Harvest Hosts, a membership service that lets you camp for free overnight at some of the most beautiful wineries, farms, ranches and special attractions that you can find anywhere in North America. You can get 15% off the Harvest Host annual membership ($79) using the discount code: HHFriends15 Plus RV tips, travel suggestions news and much more. Click the player below to Listen Now or scroll down through the show note details. When you see a time code hyperlink, you can click it to jump directly to that segment of the podcast. [spp-player] Show Notes for Episode #114 Nov. 16 2016 of Roadtreking - The RV Lifestyle Podcast: JENNIFER'S TIP OF THE WEEK – Kitchen Anti-Fatigue Mats One of the favorite things we do when we meet folks in campgrounds and at R gatherings across the country is see how they have customized their motorhomes and RVs… adding little finishing touches or accessories that meet their needs. [spp-timestamp time="9:37"] So it was with the couple I want you to meet this week… Ari and Jessie Adler. They share how kitchen anti fatigue mats are a great addition to their mototrhome. I’ll put a link to a whole bunch of anti-fatigue floor mats that I found on Amazon. They come in different sizes and colors and range in price from $19 to a little over $40. I love hearing from 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. The Adlers Jennifer's tip of the week is brought to you by  RadPower Bikes (www.RadPowerBikes.com_… an electric bike manufacturer offering direct to consumer pricing on powerful premium electric bikes. LISTENER QUESTIONS OF THE WEEK: A listener wants to be able to use his Direct TV account in his RV, instead of paying for two connections.[spp-timestamp time="13:53"] Direct TV has a service called Direct TV for Travelers that lets enjoy your favorite TV entertainment wherever you go. Multiple homes require another account if you want service at both homes at the same time. Mobile accounts are not permanent fixtures and may be used part-time, so using one account is acceptable... Here’s a link on how our friend Campskunk does it - https://rvlifestyle.com/how-to-take-directv-on-road/ A woman who just bought a used RV notes that it came with solar panels. Some are on the room. But one if just sitting in the front seat. She wonders what she is supposed to do with it as it gets in the way. [spp-timestamp time="16:29"] Sponsoring this part of the podcast is Van City RV in St. Louis, and their Partner Dealerships Creston RV in Kalispell, Montana, and Wagon Trail RV in Las Vegas. Bringing You the largest Inventory of class B’s from three locations. INTERVIEW OF THE WEEK – Camp overnight for free at wineries, farms and attractions This week we interview Kim Greene of Harvest Hosts, a membership service that allows RVers to camp overnight for free at wineries, farms and special attractions. [spp-timestamp time="21:27"] While there is no charge for camping, you are asked to purchase a bottle of wine or some produce or items grown on the property. They have more than 540 beautiful places around North America are part of Harvest Hosts, located in all the lower 48 states, Canada, Alaska, and Baja California. Harvest Hosts locations across North America Kim and her husband Don had been traveling for many years in their motorhome, when in 2008, while traveling across Europe, they were introduced to France Passion, an RV visitation network that invites RV owners to visit farms and wineries and stay for 24 hours.

If you camp in bear country, you need to listen to this interview. So much that has been written about bear safety is wrong. In this episode we talk to perhaps the foremost expert in bear attacks and he shares foolproof advice on how to stay safe and be bear aware. Also, lots of tips, advise about boondocking and a hilarious off the beaten path report in which our correspondent ended up in a nudist camp! Click the player below to Listen Now or scroll down through the show note details. When you see a time code hyperlink, you can click it to jump directly to that segment of the podcast.  [spp-player] Show Notes for Episode #113 Nov 8 2016 of Roadtreking - The RV Lifestyle Podcast: JENNIFER'S TIP OF THE WEEK One task we RVers all have that is no fun is doing dishes… Anything that can make that chore less time consuming is welcome. So this week, you will love our tip about a product that combines an ultra-durable Bounty paper towel with the grease-fighting power of Dawn dish soap. It comes from our friend Joette George, who we met on a recent camping trip. [spp-timestamp time="8:00"] The product is called “Bounty with Dawn” and the company claims it produces results that are four times cleaner than a used dishcloth. It is the thickest, strongest Bounty available on the market, with 70% more fibers in each sheet and cloth-like durability to stay intact while cleaning. Bounty with Dawn can even be reused—simply rinse and wring the grease out to keep tackling any mess with just one sheet. Designed to leave virtually no streaks behind, Bounty with Dawn can be used on almost any surface. It is especially great for pots, pans, countertops, stovetops, glass, granite, stainless steel and mirrors. It’s widely available in food, grocery and mass retailers all across North America or on Amazon, where you can get a roll of three for a little under $14. 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 (www.RadPowerBikes.com_… an electric bike manufacturer offering direct to consumer pricing on powerful premium electric bikes. LISTENER QUESTIONS OF THE WEEK: A listener wanted to know why Alde hydronic heaters are not available on toy haulers. Mike explains the Alde system is now an aftermarket product; it must be built in to production coach. Right now, on RVs, its primarily available on Roadtreks and Winnebagos…mostly Class Bs. The bigger RVs are really boxes that are just bolted and welded on a frame. Class Bs are custom built. [spp-timestamp time="12:23"] Another listener asks about finding cheap places to boondock. Mike refers him to boondockerswelcome.com, harvesthosts.com and the following stories on the Roadtreking.com RV Travel Blog blog: [spp-timestamp time="15:15"] Campskunk’s Ten Most Breathtaking Boondock RV Spots RV Boondocking in Non Traditional Ways Apps and Websites to find the perfect boondocking spot Boondocking 101: The Basics of Boondocking Podcast Episode Dispersed Camping in National Forests Sponsoring this part of the podcast is Van City RV in St. Louis, and their Partner Dealerships Creston RV in Kalispell, Montana, and Wagon Trail RV in Las Vegas. Bringing You the largest Inventory of class B’s from three locations. INTERVIEW OF THE WEEK - Bear Safety Chuck Bartlebaugh, founder and director of the Be Bear Aware Campaign. This week we talk to perhaps the top expert in Bear Safety and bear/human interactions in North America, Chuck Bartlebaugh, founder and director of the Be Bear Aware Campaign. [spp-timestamp time="27:42"] Chuck has vast experience with bears and how to avoid ...