RV Lifestyle RV Podcast

In this episode of the Roadtreking RV Lifestyle Podcast, we talk about how RV Travel in our motorhome has spoiled us, especially when it comes to automobile travel. Ten reasons immediately come to mind. Plus, we have reader questions about emptying RV waste water tanks, a tip on a way to sanitize and clean them, traveling tech info, RV news of the week and a great off the beaten path report. Click the player to Listen Now or scroll down through the show note details and resources and click the player below to start listening. When you see a time code hyperlink, you can click it to jump directly to that segment of the podcast. [spp-player] We’ve just driven about 1,000 miles in an automobile instead of our RV. And we can’t believe how much we disliked it. Traveling by motorhome has spoiled us. The trip, from our Michigan home to Atlanta, was unplanned and very quick, made necessary by a family medical emergency. Because we were going to be in downtown Atlanta around the Grady Memorial Hospital medical complex, we only had parking garage space available. Same with the downtown hotel where our other family members were staying: There was only underground parking available. Our Roadtrek CS Adventurous XL motorhome was too tall to bring. So we drove. By car. First, let me say that the medical emergency passed and had an excellent outcome. We had hundreds of people praying, many connected to me from Facebook and many part of our Roadtreking Facebook Group. The Roadtreking community support was so comforting. But the drive down and back in our personal vehicle was anything but comforting and made us really miss the motorhome. To that end, Jennifer and I have identified 10 ways Motorhome Travel has spoiled us. Here’s what we missed: [spp-timestamp time="5:50"] The high seats in the motorhome – We love sitting up high, over the road, with a huge panoramic windshield that lets us see the road, traffic, the conditions around us from a position much higher than that in our car. We feel more “on top of things” in the motorhome, better able to see road conditions and traffic and anticipate corrective moves when needed. The refrigerator – In the motorhome, the fridge is always on, always cool and we have lots of water, snacks, fruit and refreshments on hand. A great road snack is sliced apples and cheese. I suppose we could have packed a cooler for the car. But the fridge in the RV is much more convenient. The bathroom – Have you stopped at gasoline station rest rooms or interstate rest areas lately? Most all leave something to be desired in the cleanliness department. Our own bathroom in the RV is clean. Always. The kitchen – Eating on the road while driving in a car almost invariably means fast food or lots of online searching and review checking to find nice places to eat on route. In our motorhome, we can quickly prepare anything – breakfast, lunch, dinner. We just pull over and eat off our own plates, with our own utensils and always, the food we prepare ourselves in the RV is cleaner, healthier and better tasting than what we’d find at a roadside diner or fast food joint. Being in control – This is a real intangible. But it provides a great sense of security. We are not dependent on anything other than fuel as we travel. We are self-contained. Everything we need is with us. This has to truly be one of the nicest things about RV travel. Closets – We have plenty of extra clothes with us in the RV. If the weather turns suddenly cooler, we can go to the closet and replace shorts and T-shirts with long pants and sweaters. We have extra shoes on board the RV. Raincoats, jackets, hats and gloves. We are ready for most anything Mother Nature delivers. For a trip by automobile, where you have to pack everything in suitcases, it’s difficult to be prepared for different weather conditions. A bed – I cannot begin to say how nice it is while traveling long distances to pull over and lay down in the motorhome’s bed for...

This is the 100th episode of the Roadtreking RV Podcast and in it, Mike and Jennifer reflect on what they’ve learned in putting the hour-long program together each week. Jennifer shares a secret – namely, that she didn’t think it would last or be popular.  [spp-timestamp time="1:30"] As we look ahead to the next 100 episodes we feel very blessed in traveling North America by RV, seeing so much and meeting such interesting people. Click the player to Listen Now or scroll down through the show note details and resources and click the player below to start listening. When you see a time code hyperlink, you can click it to jump directly to that segment of the podcast. [spp-player] Michgan Governor Honors Roadtreking Podcast Besides well-wishes from listeners, we were very honored to receive a special tribute from Michigan Governor Rick Snyder. honoring us for the 100th Episode of the Roadtreking RV Podcast. Here's an excerpt from  the document: "Through an informative and entertaining production, Mike and his wife Jennifer show the world the wit, wisdom and sense of adventure that many Michiganders share. Throughout history, our state's residents have led the nation in ingenuity, entrepreneurship and determination to succeed. With production of the 100th episode of Roadtreking, Mike has shown that steadfast commitment to success. "In special tribute, therefore, this document is signed and dedicated to Mike Wendland as a symbol of appreciation for his work in journalism, and on the Roadtreking podcast as a true representative of the Pure Michigan spirit." Signed, Rick Snyder Governor Jennifer and I were so honored to receive this and also want to thank Ari Adler, the governor's director of communication and a fellow Roadtreker, for making Gov. Snyder aware of the program. But to all of you who listen each week and have been so kind to us.... we are humbled and blessed that you choose to "put us in your ears" each week! JENNIFER'S TIP OF THE WEEK It’s the time of year that stargazers have been waiting for: the Perseid meteor shower. On the night of August 11th and the morning of August 12th, hundreds of tiny meteors will dart through Earth’s night sky, putting on a spectacular light show for late-night viewers. And those who stay up for the shower this year may be rewarded with a particularly special cosmic performance. Experts suspect there will be even more shooting stars than average in this year’s shower. [spp-timestamp time="10:37"] If you want to catch the Perseid meteor shower, the best time to start watching is after midnight local time. If you aren’t able to watch on the 11th, the shower may still be visible on the night of August 12th and the morning of the 13th. And remember, to see lights in the sky, you’ll want to get away from lights on Earth. To learn more about the Perseids and other summer meteor showers, we’ll ut a link to Space.com’s Best Summer Meteor Showers Guide on our shownotes page at Roadtreking-dot-com-forward slash-100. The tip of the week is brought to you by Good Sam, the world's most popular RV organization, now celebrating its 50th year. LISTENER QUESTIONS OF THE WEEK: We had two questions this week from listeners about the Roadtrek Roadtrek CS Adventurous XL, the RV Mike and Jennifer use.[spp-timestamp time="16:15"] David wanted to know if there was a way to increase counter space, something Mike and Jennifer discouraged because it would do away with what they think is extremely useful – the large pantry in the CS.[spp-timestamp time="17:08"] And Listener Daryl likes the idea of an undermounted air conditioner, as Mike and Jennifer have, but he is concerned about getting it serviced. [spp-timestamp time="21:14"] Mike and Jennifer note how the new undermounts from ProAir come on easy to access drawers that sort of drop down for easy access. And they share how impressed with were by ProAir, the maker of the undermount on their RV. In email this week,

The hot and humid days of summer are coinciding with peak RV travel time and one thing almost ever RVer out there is keenly interested in this time of year if the air conditioning unit for their rig. In this episode, we talk about the latest innovations in RV AC - smaller, quieter, stealthier and more efficient. Plus lots of listener comments and suggestions, tech tips, an off-the-beaten-path report and some helpful RV Basic Training for those who travel with small children. Click the player to Listen Now or scroll down through the show note details and resources and click the player below to start listening. When you see a time code hyperlink, you can click it to jump directly to that segment of the podcast. [spp-player] Complete shownotes for episode 99 of the Roadtreking RV Travel Podcast Mike and Jennifer are coming to you this week from their sticks and bricks home in Michigan, afer being on the road for the past six weeks. They pan to hit the road again in mid August and are using their time to catch up on some home maintenance and plan the rest of their travels for the year. People have asked what we do with our home as we travel so much.  We are in the road about half the year. While we're away we: [spp-timestamp time="1:57"] Pay all our bills online - Credit cards, utilities and more all have e-pay services. PayPal is great for sending money to friends or family. Mike uses Quickbooks Online for his business accounts. Jen uses online banking to manage our personal accounts. Stop mail - We have the post office hold all our mail Lawn Service - We pay a lawn service to cut our lawn each week Get friends to visit - We have friends regularly stop buy and check on the house and property. Neighbors know when we are gone and when we are back and to report suspicious vehicles Alarm system - We use the SimplySafe alarm system. It's a DIY system that costs a fraction of what the competition does and provides very reliable 24x7 monitoring Whole house generator - We have invested in a whole house generator to protect our appliances and home in the event of a power loss This part of the podcast brought to you by RadPower Bikes JENNIFER'S TIP OF THE WEEK - Tips on Getting Older Today’s tip came from our Facebook Group and was posted by my friend Cindy Larsen. It’s actually a whole bunch of tips about getting older. Cindy also fond this on Facebook and was unable to trace it back to the original source. [spp-timestamp time="9:12"] We don’t have time to read off of them, but here are a few of the best. It’s time to use the money you saved up. Use it and enjoy it. Don’t just keep it for those who may have no notion of the sacrifices you made to get it. Remember there is nothing more dangerous than a son or daughter-in-law with big ideas for your hard-earned capital. Stop worrying about the financial situation of your children and grandchildren, and don’t feel bad spending your money on yourself. You’ve taken care of them for many years, and you’ve taught them what you could. You gave them an education, food, shelter and support. The responsibility is now theirs to earn their own money. Keep a healthy life, without great physical effort. Do moderate exercise (like walking every day), eat well and get your sleep. It’s easy to become sick, and it gets harder to remain healthy. That is why you need to keep yourself in good shape and be aware of your medical and physical needs. Keep in touch with your doctor, do tests even when you’re feeling well. Stay informed. Don’t stress over the little things. You’ve already overcome so much in your life. You have good memories and bad ones, but the important thing is the present. Don’t let the past drag you down and don’t let the future frighten you. Feel good in the now. Small issues will soon be forgotten. ALWAYS stay up-to-date. Read newspapers, watch the news. Go online and read what people are saying. Make sure you have an active email account and try to use som...

In this week's podcast, we tackle the question of  just what it costs for enjoying the RV lifestyle. What should you budget for fuel? Food? Fun? Mike and Jennifer, aided by lots of input from the Roadtreking Facebook community, share their experience. Also this week, lots of reader questions, tech tips, how to earn a living while traveling and an off the beaten path report that will have you longing for the Florida keys. Click the player to Listen Now or scroll down through the show note details and resources and click the player below to start listening. 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 98: This week we come to you from Memphis, TN. Mike and Jennifer update the audience on  their travels, the hot weather gripping the country and how Bo is doing on his first extended road trip. [spp-timestamp time="2:45"] We've been on the road now for six weeks! This part of the podcast brought to you by RadPower Bikes, an electric bike manufacturer offering direct to consumer pricing on powerful premium electric bikes. Mention Roadtreking for $75 off your purchase price. JENNIFER'S TIP OF THE WEEK - Furminator Pet De-Shedding Tool [spp-timestamp time="9:05"] Many of you know that we have been traveling this summer with Bo, our new Norwegian Elkhound puppy. Bo is just 8 months old and a bundle of energy. Mike and I call him “Mr. Enthusiasm.” He loves the Roadtreking lifestyle and he brings us a lot of joy as we watch him take to life on the road and all the adventures he’s having. But there is one thing we are not happy with about Bo. His fur. In other words, he’s shedding. He is a big dog with a thick, healthy double coat of long hair and with the heat and humidity we’ve been experiencing lately, Bo is leaving lots of very visible traces of his presence behind. That’s why we are so glad to have discovered the Furminator Pet De-Shedding Tool. This is a very special brush. It is expensive. It’s $45 on Amazon. Well over $50 in pet stores. But we think it’s worth every bit of that. The Stainless steel deShedding edge reaches deep beneath his topcoat to gently remove loose hair. One swipe and it makes you a believer. It reduces shedding better than any brush, rake or comb we’ve tried. The manufacturer says it reduces shedding by up to 90% and we believe it. The tool comes with a great ejector button that cleans and removes loose hair from the tool with ease. And Bo actually seems to like it. In this heat, getting rid of all that excess fur and hair makes for a very happy puppy. Mike and I like it because there is much less dog hair in the RV. The Furminator makes us all happy campers. The tip of the week is brought to you by Good Sam, the world's most popular RV organization, now celebrating its 50th year. LISTENER QUESTIONS OF THE WEEK  Lisa asks if we have any plans for something special for the 100th episode…coming in just two weeks. [spp-timestamp time="13:38"] Dorinda asks about replacing and installing a new side window for her Roadtrek campervan. [spp-timestamp time="15:49"] Rebecca is considering a Class B motorhome and wonders about getting a diesel unit and asks Mike and Jennifer to share their experience.[spp-timestamp time="19:29"] And Barak asks Mike and Jennifer to share a budgeting breakdown for living the Roadtreking lifestyle. We share our experience and also those from our Roadtreking Facebook Group [spp-timestamp time="23:05"] 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 BASIC TRAINING [spp-timestamp time="37:50"] Even if your work doesn’t need to be done in an office, it can be very hard to work when you travel. You may be a freelancer, you may own your business, or you may telecommute,

We meet a lot of interesting people out on the road. Not long ago, we met Santa, in the form of a super nice guy named Steve Dodd. Santa drives (besides the sleigh, of course) a Roadtrek. Listen to Steve’s interview in this episode of the podcast, along with lots of listener questions, RV Basic Training, Traveling Tech Tips, RV News of the Week and a great Off-The-Beaten-Path report. Scroll down for show note details and resources and click the player below to start listening. 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 #96 July 13, 2016 of Roadtreking - The RV Lifestyle Podcast: JENNIFER'S TIP OF THE WEEK [spp-timestamp time="6:06"] This week’s tip would come from our Norwegian Elkhound puppy, Bo… if he could give it. As many of you know, Bo has been traveling with us this summer and having a great time. He loves everything about RVing… except for one thing: The heat. Bo on his cooling pad Right now, we’re in the deep south, near the Florida/Alabama border and the daytime temperatures have been over 100 degrees a couple of days over the past week. We spend as much time on the Gulf shore, where there’s always a nice cooling breeze off the water. But dogs are not allowed n the beach and Bo needs a little help. So we got him a cooling pad. It’s a matt made out of cold gel. We bought it at a pet store and Amazon has a whole bunch of them in different sizes. [spp-timestamp time="6:05"] The pad is soft and the gel inside is noticeably cool to the touch. Bo loves it. He finds it very comfy and in this hot weather, prefers it to the thick cloth bed he usually sleeps in. We put it on the floor of our Roadtrek for him at night and while we’re driving and, when we are at a campsite, we put it down on top of the ground pad under the awning. The pads are around $30 or so and they are very easy to clean. My only suggestion is to get one big enough for your pet to fully stretch out on. Bo loves his. I bet your pet would as well. That’s my tip this week. If you have a traveling tip to share, either e-mail me at Jennifer At Roadtreking Dot Com or use the “Leave Voicemail” link on the Roatreking Dot Com blog to record one and send it to me by using the built in microphone on your computer, tablet or smartphone. I love getting your tips… so let me hear from you! The tip of the week is brought to you by Good Sam, the world's most popular RV organization, now celebrating its 50th year. LISTENER QUESTIONS OF THE WEEK:[spp-timestamp time="9:52"] Listener Lee is shopping for an RV. But with six kids who he plans to “roadschool,” he’s wondering what size RV he needs. [spp-timestamp time="9:51"] Rob from Fairbanks, Alaska, is also shopping for an RV. He has it narrowed down between a Class B campervan and a travel trailer and wants to know how challenging it is to “decamp” with an RV and whether a travel trailer is easier. [spp-timestamp time="13:36"] e-mail questions: Just wondering if you or Jennifer could give us more information on the bed pads that you're using now and where you purchased them. Thanks. - Gary and Carol [spp-timestamp time="17:09"] Thanks for this website and your experiences How do you Wifi from an RV? I am about to retire and am thinking of buying a New Road Trek and traveling the USA on and off the grid. 1) Can you tell me the downside of Living for months at a time in a Road Trek class B RV? 2) What do RV parks typically cost when traveling? Any tips on negotiating the price of a new RV? Thank you. I Hope to meet you on the road someday. -Al [spp-timestamp time="20:30"] 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 BASIC TRAINING - [spp-timestamp time="25:57"] How to sanitize your RV’s fresh water tank.

The RV and camping lifestyle sure brings families together and creates some great memories and an enduring love for the outdoors. To explore some of the ramifications of that, Jennifer and I introduce you to our three grown kids – Wendy, Scott and Jeff, who share what camping and RVing has done for our family and now theirs. Plus we have lots of great reader tips and suggestions, an awesome tech app that lets you stream video on your devices without gobbling up data, and a coast to coast backroads route perfect for RVers. Scroll down for show note details and resources and click the player below to start listening. 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 #95 July 6, 2016 of Roadtreking - The RV Lifestyle Podcast: JENNIFER'S TIP OF THE WEEK - Cleaning Aluminum Wheels Sharon Burgess and her cleaning kit One of the great things about the RV lifestyle is all the friendly advice and tips you can get from the folks you meet along the road. It seems everybody has a tip, something special that they do that makes things easier or more efficient. So it was at a campground in South Carolina the other day when we came upon RVer Sharon Burgess cleaning the aluminum wheels on her RV. We dug out the recorder and asked her to share it with us [spp-timestamp time="6:30"] The tip of the week is brought to you by Good Sam, the world's most popular RV organization, now celebrating its 50th year. LISTENER QUESTIONS OF THE WEEK: Don and Cheryl pass along a suggestion on how not to get lost, or at leas be found when you need to be, using something called the Spot GPS system [spp-timestamp time="11:20"] Steve Dodd shares a story about some people he met from Australia who bought an RV in the states so, every time them come here, they have an RV waiting for them. [spp-timestamp time="16:09"] Listener Jean has a great suggestion on how to really connect with the local community – by visiting the local library. You will be amazed at all the things you can learn about there to enhance your RV travels. [spp-timestamp time="20:30"] 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 BASIC TRAINING Here are my five suggestions on how to make sure your RV has a good mechanic. [spp-timestamp time="25:40"] Search for shops that are certified to do repairs on your engine and/or chassis. Check the manufacturer’s website, look for local dealers and ask the service manager what certifications and specialties their techs have. Check review websites. Ask your RV dealer for recommendations on where to have the vehicle’s engine serviced. They should be able to steer you to the place they use. Try to meet the tech who will be working on your vehicle personally. Ask questions. Most like sharing knowledge and since you are going to be building a long term relationship, familiarty brings respect. Make sure you have your vehicle maintained and serviced as per the manufacturer’s instructions. Tell them where your next trip will be, what the terrain and dust conditions will be like. They’ll know what to inspect for and may have some great suggestions on how to operate your RV in those areas. Call for an appointment instead of just showing up and demanding service. In an emergency, of course, a reputable place will gladly check things out. But even then, try to call ahead of time and give them as much advance notice so they know what’s coming in. Keep all your documents and service records. A good shop, of course, will have them on their computer. But if you find you need service on the road, being able to show vehicle records will help avoid unnecessary repairs and save time with a new mechanic or service center. This part of the podcast is brought to you by Campers Inn,

In this episode of Roadtreking the RV Podcast we meet a newbie RVer named Shane Pena, whose first journey was one to remember, a cross-country trip that saw him having to outrun a tornado, among other adventures. Jennifer and I tell of our experience last week battling 103 degree heat without air conditioning as we travel with our dog, Bo. And we have lots of traveling tips, RV news and a fun off the beaten path report. Scroll down for show note details and resources and click the player below to start listening. 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 #94, June 29, 2016 of Roadtreking - The RV Lifestyle Podcast: JENNIFER'S TIP OF THE WEEK As we’ve been traveling around this summer, I’ve started asking the folks we meet at campgrounds and while boondocking to tell me one of their favorite tips, something they have discovered to make thngs a little easier or more efficient. Andrea's coozi ankle protectors Well, during our Smoky Mountains gathering last week we were all noting that, camped in the woods like we were, there were lots of bugs and mosquitos. Andrea Barker, who was camped a coupe spots down from us, said she had particularly been bothered by bugs that were biting her ankles. But she said she solved that problem…using something intended for something else. Her bug fighting tip has to do with those Coozis people use to keep beer or cans of soft drink cold. You can hear her tip at [spp-timestamp time="8:26"] The tip of the week is brought to you by Good Sam, the world's most popular RV organization, now celebrating its 50th year. LISTENER QUESTIONS OF THE WEEK: Listener Bill asks for Mikes recommendation for a surge protector. [spp-timestamp time="13:40"]   Mike explains that newer Roadtreks have them built in. Older ones, though, do not. Surge protectors are expensive. But bad power from a campground pedestal can sure wreak havoc in a motorhome. The one Mike recommends is the Progressive Industries PT30C 30 Amp Portable Electrical Management System. It costs $237. Class A’s would need a 50 Amp unit. RVing newbies Nick and Jeanette wanted to know how they can find out the tire inflation they need for their RV. [spp-timestamp time="19:01"]    Mike says read the recommended tire inflation tag inside the driver’s side post. 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 BASIC TRAINING Why you need a Dash Cam Mike explains at [spp-timestamp time="23:44"].Here’s a link to the info Mike shared on why RVers will want to use a dash cam - https://rvlifestyle.com/windshieldwitness/ This part of the podcast is brought to you by Campers Inn, the nation’s largest family-operated RV dealership with 15 locations on the East Coast  RV NEWS OF THE WEEK: [spp-timestamp time="30:30"] RV Care-A-Vanners build homes for Habitat for Humanity RVs in Marin County CA prompting community outrage Dutchman buys Closed Evergreen plan in Elkhart This portion of the podcast is brought to you by Alde  the only name in heat that you need to know for your RV TRAVELING TECH TIP: [spp-timestamp time="37:42"] Verizon's Steve Van Dinter reports on three gadgets that travelers can use to keep track of pets, property and help you control what’s going on back at your sticks and bricks house. Summer is a busy time of year for everyone. And sometimes that means forgetting where you’ve placed a much-needed item or losing touch with what’s at home when you’re on the road. Verizon has some great summer gadgets that are all under $100 that can bring about priceless piece of mind. First up Tile – this is a small Bluetooth chip that lets you find your missing key chain, golf bag, back pack, wallet or purse.

It's a sad fact that so many RVers travel so fast that they miss so much. That's because they travel the interstates, where the country whizzes past in a blur. In this episode of Roadtreing: The RV Lifestyle Podcast, we suggest a better way, through the backroads, the two lane state and county highways. In the interview segment towards the end of the program, Mike interviews RVers Jerry Pavlat [spp-timestamp time="58:32"], who reveals how he makes sure he spends as little time as possible on the Interstate. Then, in an off-the-beaten-path report [spp-timestamp time="51:30"], Tom and Patti Burkett take us to Western Oklahoma and an event far from the Interstate that is worth traveling to just to getthe T-Shirt. Plus your comments, questions and lots of tips.Scroll down for show note details and resources and click the player below to start listening. 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 #92 June 15, 2016 of Roadtreking - The RV Lifestyle Podcast: JENNIFER'S TIP OF THE WEEK [spp-timestamp time="5:10"] This week’s tip is a follow up to the suggestion I made last week about using Zip Lock bags to store all sorts of stuff, from food to spare parts to things like cereal which can be emptied out of those big bulky boxes and stored in much less space. A listener named Diane offers up an alternative suggestion. The system Diane suggested is called Thrifty Vac. It seals all kinds of foods in vacuum bags.. It is very inexpensive, less that $2 . The bags cost about 17-cents each. I’ll put a link on the shownotes page for this episode at Roadtreking-dot-com-forward slash-92. If you have a tip you’d like to share with our RVing audience, use the “Send Voicemail” link on the right side of the Roadtreking.com blog. You can use the built-in microphone on your computer or smartphone to record the tip and send it directly to me. You can also reach me at Jennifer@roadtreking com The tip of the week is brought to you by Good Sam, the world's most popular RV organization, now celebrating its 50th year. LISTENER QUESTIONS OF THE WEEK: [spp-timestamp time="9:31"] ===Maribeth asks about hooking her RV up to the house current while its parked in her driveway. Mike recommends a 30 AMP system, especially if she wasn’t to run her air conditioning. For the fridge and to charge the house batteries, the normal house system of 20 Amps will work but you will not be able to run the same amount of appliances inside the RV as you could if you were getting power from a 30A or, for the bigger RVs, a 50 A system ===Ann asks about the proper tire pressure in her RV. She checked the door post panels but found a suggestion on the Internet that recommended different settings. The recommended maximum inflation pressures for your tires are indicated on the certification label or in your owner's manual. Since RVs can be loaded with many different configurations, the load on each tire will vary. For this reason, actual air pressure required should be determined based on the load on each individual tire. Inflation pressure should be adjusted to handle the tire carrying the heaviest load, and all tires on the axle should be adjusted to this standard. Each manufacturer provides load and inflation tables specific to their products to help you determine the correct tire inflation pressure for your vehicle's loading. Under inflation brings a higher risk of susceptibility to damage due to road hazards, reduces casing durability, and causes a loss in fuel economy, plus uneven or irregular tire wear. Severe or prolonged underinflation brings about an increased risk of tread It's a common practice for RV owners to lower tire pressure in their search for a smoother ride. This is not only dangerous, it's relatively ineffective, as the difference in ride quality is not significant. When minimum inflation pressure requirements are not met,

This week, we talk about how to find free or very cheap sites in National Forests and we offer up some major motivation about why you need to get out there RVing. We also report on a study that shows one of the top of the list regrets Baby Boomers have is not traveling more. And we note how the kind of travel that RVing offers builds lasting memories and true contentment. Plus listener questions, comments, lots of tips and an of-the-beaten-path report. Scroll down for show note details and resources and click the player below to start listening. 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 #91 June 8 2016 of Roadtreking - The RV Lifestyle Podcast JENNIFER'S TIP OF THE WEEK [spp-timestamp time="5:12"] Space is always at a premium in an RV so finding ways to maximize storage and take up less room at the same time is quite the balancing act. That’s where Zip Lock Bags come in so handy. Most of us use them for things like sandwiches. And that’s good. But in the RV, we use them for lots more. In the fridge, I use them for leftovers, for veggies, for premade meals. They pack well and don’t roll around or rattle. But in our pantry, they’re great for storing things like cereal and dry goods and things that come with lots of packaging, in big boxes that take up lots of space. Just empty the box into a baggie. You’ve instantly saved at lots of space. And because they seal up tight, things stay fresher than when stored in an open box. Mike uses Zip Lock bags to hold screws, fuses, cables, spare latches for the cabinet doors and various maintenance parts. Because the bags are clear, you instantly know what’s inside. And they come in different sizes. Zip Lock Bags make great space savers! Do you have a tip that we should share on the podcast? Use the Leave Voicemail link on the right side of the screen to send it in. I love hearing from you! The tip of the week is brought to you by Good Sam, the world’s most popular RV organization, now celebrating its 50thyear. LISTENER QUESTIONS OF THE WEEK: [spp-timestamp time="9:04"] Listener Jan has a question about the piece of wood that connects the lower part of the two rear sofa beds at the back of a Roadtrek. Mike and Jennifer share their experience on how to keep it from falling down. Gina asks about the app Roadside America and what mobile platforms it worked on. Alas, as Mike says, it’s only for iOS devices, not Android. The app helps users find all of the oddities across the United States and Canada, from giant twine balls to other off-the-wall attractions like the Cathedral of Junk in Austin, Texas. Search for attractions nearby, where headed – even by theme. The Roadside America app delivers a short description, address, and directions. The app is $2.99 for iOS with in-app purchases available to expand capabilities. By email, reader Loretta asks: Hi!  We are not new to camping, but new to Roadtreking:)  we have a small dog that we need to check on with our iPad using ATT cell data.  Do you know of a compatible 'spy' camera?  I have read so many descriptions on different make cameras, but they always want you to use Wifi - which we will not have on the road.Thanks so much! Loretta Mike shares his solution, Canary, noting that all remote monitoring systems DO require Wi-Fi. But her iPad can set up its own hotspot, which in turn can be used by Canary. The Canary device works through a free app and it provides live, wide angle streaming video and audio. We set it up before we leave the RV and we can use our smartphones to check up on what’s happening and how Bo is doing from anywhere. Something else we really like about the Canary: It provides real time readouts of the temperature, humidity and air quality so we can be sure the AC is working. The cost is $200. There are premium fees that you can upgrade to that archives your video, a feature more suited to fulltime use in a fixe...

In this week’s episode, we report on how Roadtrek's CEO is personally getting involved to help customers save money and we learn of a Uber-like app that will pay RVers to make deliveries across the country Plus RV travel suggestions, audience questions, tech tips and an off the beaten path report. Scroll down for show note details and resources and click the player below to start listening. 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 #90 June 1, 2016 of Roadtreking - The RV Lifestyle Podcast: JENNIFER'S TIP OF THE WEEK [spp-timestamp time="6:20"] My tip this week is about being prepared for emergency repairs while on the road. I share it because of an experience last week. We were in hot and humid Florida and navigating stop and go heavy traffic around Destin, which was getting very crowded with vacationers flocking to the area’s beaches for the big Memorial Day holiday. Anyway, while stuck in traffic, an emergency warning light appeared telling us to pull over and shut down the engine because the coolant was overheating. We did so Mike popped the hood to check on the antifreeze. The level was just fine and as he was scratching his head, he looked around and found that the serpentine belt had shredded and fallen off the pulleys it winds around. The serpentine belt is a single continuous belt used to drive multiple devices in our Roadtrek, such as an alternator, the vehicle air conditioning compressor and the engine generator. Now that’s not a life and death issue. After the engine cooled down, we drove to our campground. But we obviously needed to put a new belt on. Here’s where the being prepared part comes in. We had a replacement belt with us. I was so proud of Mike that he had one because trying to find the right one that would fit our Roadtrek would have been very challenging on a holiday weekend. A friend came by the campground and installed the new one in just a few minutes, showing Mike how to do it. Our Roadtrek will have about 50,000 miles on it after our next trip and we’ve driven it long and hard. So it was time to replace the belt. Doubtless our auto mechanic would have done so at our next service visit. But our belt gave up the ghost before he could get to it. Having that replacement belt with us saved a lot of time. So my tip is find out what size and type of serpentine belt your RV has. Almost all have such a belt and you’ll find the size typically in the manual that came with your vehicle. Or ask your mechanic to get you one and carry it with you. Same with fuses, by the way. Today’s RVs have lots of fuses of all kinds. Stop by an auto supply store and get a bunch of them. Anyone can change a fuse. Be prepared! It’s just a smart thing to do! The tip of the week is brought to you by Good Sam, the world's most popular RV organization, now celebrating its 50th year. LISTENER QUESTIONS OF THE WEEK:  Charles asks about outside tables that attach to a motorhome. [spp-timestamp time="16:00"] There are all sorts of tables that can be useful when you go camping. Portability is an important consideration, but so are size and functionality. Camping World has tables, accessories, and gadgets that will make dining and meal prep fun and easy. When space is at a premium, you want a table that can be attached to your camper or RV. Pick one that can be placed in a hitch or on your steering wheel. Tables which fold flat or which can be used at different heights are also great and can be used for prep or eating. Portable kitchens give you a place to wash dishes, chop ingredients, and store gear. You can even pick up a small table which will attach to your camping chair so you can snack in comfort. Check Camping World. They have a bunch - http://www.campingworld.com/category/tables/1289 Ryan inquires about heavily wooded campgrounds in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula [spp-timestamp time="17:39"]