RV Lifestyle RV Podcast

As winter loses its grip over the country, RV season is here and in this episode of the Roadtreking RV Podcast we talk about the many different trends that are driving the industry and, in particular, why small motorhomes are so hot right now. We also have a great Off-the-Beaten-Path Report from Billy Cochrane this week on a truly unique cemetery he found for us in rural Alabama. And we have lots of RV news, traveling tech tips and reader comments and questions. [spp-player] Here are the shownotes: Reader Questions and Comments Bob, from Maine, asks about undercoating to prevent rust on his Class B RV, particularly in northern states where they use a lot of salt on the roads. We recommend a company called Krown for rust proofing, Check out their website at http://krown.com Listener Mike asks a question about tire pressure on his RV. I share how the suggested pressure for his unit (a Roadtrek 190 on the Chevy chassis) is 50 psi for the front, and 80 0si for the back. All RVs should have a sticker mounted just inside the driver’s side door that list the ratings for tire pressure. Don’t mess with the back one. If it says 80, leave it there as that is calculated based on the weight that an RV carries at the back of the vehicle. The front tire number can be adjusted up to about 65psi. Experiment a bit, in 5 psi increments. Never go below the rating on the door. Generally, the closer you are to that front rating on the door sticker, the smoother the ride will be. Here’s a suggested tire pressure guide for RVers - http://www.goodyearrvtires.com/tire-inflation-loading.aspx. And here’s one that offers a different approach using the maximum numbers stamped on the sidewall of the tires. http://www.thefitrv.com/rv-tips/how-to-set-the-tire-pressure-in-your-rv/ Our friends Chris and Jim Guld - the "Geeks on Tour" couple - commented on our recent podcast episode about the differences between an Android and Apple smartphone or tablet. They noted that while most apps now run on each platform, they often operate very differently. They also invited us to join them in their weekly "What Does This Button Do?"  program seen live  every Sunday at 2 PM EST [spp-player] Sponsoring this part of the podcast is Van City RV in St. Louis, Mo. Van City RV only sells Class B. RVs. Owner Ray Dwyer has been in the RV business for 44 years and is considered the dead of Class B RVs. Nobody knows more about small motorhomes that Ray and his crew. They have new and used Class B motorhomes in stock from the major manufacturers. When you fly in to buy your RV from Van City, they'll arrange to have you picked up from the airport and will reimburse you $500 toward your airfare. Then, your RV will be fully prepared for travel, complete with full tanks of fuel and propane. After a complete orientation with their staff on your new RV, you can take delivery and set out for home. Dan the Van Man gives the week's specials on the podcast. RV News of the Week: There's a sure sign of Spring - Glacier National Park is starting to open for the new season (Read More) Maybe because of the TV servies Breaking Bad but more and more drug dealers seem tousing RVs as their base of operations. In Maryland, police made a pretty big bust involving an RV (Read More) Elgin Ill. RVers are starting a petition drive to get the city to allow RVs to be kept on private property (Read More) Traveling Tech Tip: Don’t run out of power for your gadgets while on the road. Power. We all need more of it. I used to run out of juice about 4 p.m. most days on my iPhone. About an hour later, the tablet died. No longer. I carry back-up. That’s because with so many of us using smartphones and tablets all day long and more and more USB devices becoming “necessities” for daily life, the standard batteries that accompany our gadgets just don’t cut it for all-day use. I talk about why I always carry the Mophie Powerstation Duo External 12000 mAh Battery.

As you spend more and more time on the road - either full-timing or heading into the brunt of the travel season - you're going be relying on your mobile devices to stay in touch and that raises one big question: should RVers use smartphones and tablets running the Apple or Android platform? Apple offers iOS and that's the system behind iPhones. Android is the Google-based platform used on devices made by the likes of Samsung. And sure, you can make calls and use the Internet with both just fine - but it's the nuances that will probably have top mobile platform RVers differ from one person to the next. That's why for the big, 30th(!!) episode of the Roadtreking RV Lifestyle podcast, we talk to Paul Ulreich, the Verizon Wireless “Uber User” on choosing between Android and Apple. Among other things, we talk: What platform is simpler? What platform is more flexible? What platform is better for listening to podcasts? What platform is best for listening to audiobooks? Best for app use? Which platform is winning the overall war? Also on this episode we offer up a great excuse to go camping this month - International Dark Sky Week, an event aimed at getting people outside and marveling at the night sky. Plus, we have lots of listener feedback, RV News and a great bucket list RV destination - in fact, it was ranked the best destination in a recent poll! [spp-player] Complete shownotes for episode 30 of the Roadtreking RV Lifestyle podcast Listener Question: Can You Make the Roadtreking Podcast Longer? A listener named Mike advocates for a longer podcast. He loves the hour-long format. We're delighted, because we love doing these shows. We tell him how he can find a list of all the Roadtreking RV podcasts we do at https://rvlifestyle.com/category/podcasts/ Listener Question: Looking for State-by-State Camping Info - Help! Bob checks in asking for how to find state-by-state camping info. We tell him where to find it, on the blog and our Facebook Group. https://www.facebook.com/groups/roadtreking/ Listener Question: I Need Help With These Mosquitoes! Listener Darlene has an older Roadtrek on the Chevrolet chassis and is looking for screens because “mosquitoes are coming!” We tell her about the "Skeeter Beaters" window screens at https://roadtrekingstore.com/skbervwisc.html   Listener Question: Tell Me More Volunteering While RVing Vinnie from Long Island wants to get an RV soon and is offering to be a volunteer driver for those needing a helping hand. We urge him to check with the Family Motor Coach Association at https://fmca.com  Listener Question: Tell Me More About Your Dash Cam Kathy asks about the Windshield Witness camera we use as a dash cam to record our travels, asking if users should hide it at night. I tell her I leave mine in and on all the time, using it as a security camera. https://rvlifestyle.com/windshieldwitness RV News of the Week: Parks in Wrong Place, Battery Breakthrough, Dark Sky Week Are National Parks in the Wrong Place? There’s a lot of grumbling from some conservation groups that America’s National Parks are putting too much emphasis on the wrong animals in the wrong places… neglecting endangered species not as sexy as moose, bear and wolves. A new study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences finds there is a mismatch between the lands incorporated into protected areas and the habitats of the estimated 1,000 species of mammals, birds, reptiles, fish and plants most in need of protection. Most protected lands are in the West, the authors said, while many of these species are found in the Southeast and the southern Appalachians, which lack adequate protections. The study calls for increased levels of protection for the Blue Ridge Mountains, Tennessee, Alabama, northern Georgia watersheds, the Florida panhandle and the Florida Keys. http://www.cbsnews.com/news/protected-areas-united-states-endangered-species/ Aluminum battery breakthrough?

Judging by the amount of listener questions we're getting these days it's clear that many are getting ready for the best time of the year: RV season! Don't worry, we have you covered in the latest Roadtreking RV Lifestyle podcast, telling you what you need to know by answering as many listener questions as we can - and then some. In fact, we talk everything from eating healthy on the road and keeping insects away to amateur radio and speed traps. And wait until you hear our main interview! Charlie Adcock, president of the Family Motor Coach Association, tells us how RVers are finding places to stay overnight free and about a program in place that definitely should alleviate fears of an emergency happening - to you OR your rig - while travelling. Plus, we have a lot of RV news this week, from a false rumor that Walmart is considering a ban on RV parking across the country, to a KOA workamping couple in Georgia who turned out to be murder fugitives and the woeful state of disrepair affecting many of our national parks. [spp-player] Listener Question: Eating Healthy on the Road Listener Diane wants to know how we eat healthy on the road. Jennifer joins me to talk about what it takes to make it happen. Among other tips, you MUST plan ahead BEFORE leaving your sticks-and-bricks base. Listener Question: Let's Talk Amateur Radio Listener Dave, an amateur radio operator, wants Mike to talk more about ham radio and RVing. He does. For folks interested in amateur radio, go to http://arrl.org Listener Question: R-Pod Solo Traveler Seeks Roadtrekers Listener Kassie, a solo traveler, shares her love of traveling in a small R-Pod, a teardrop-shaped towable trailer and wants to find other Roadtrekers to hang out with. She’s invited! Listener Question: Tell Me More About Insect Screens Listener Cindy asks about the screens we use on our motorhome. We tell her how many make their own. For Sprinters, we send her to http://sprinterstore.com/insect_screens.htm Here’s a video on the screens we use - https://rvlifestyle.com/how-we-roll-in-our-rv-keeping-insects-out/ The Skeeter Beaters we use are available at https://roadtrekingstore.com/skbervwisc.html Listener Question: Don't Fall Into This Trap! Listener Mike, a Canadian Roadtreker on the way into the U.S., asks about rumors of "overzealous" police shaking down travelers. Well, we've never heard of that, but you do need to be aware of speed traps. Mike refers him to the National Speed Trap Exchange at www.speedtrap.org RV News of the Week: Walmart Shooting Fallout, Arrests at KOA, Rocky Mountain Probs Walmart Lot Shooting Fallout - There’s a lot of fallout over that wild shootout in the parking lot of an Arizona Walmart last week, a part of the lpt where RVers park. Some pundits on the Internet are claiming Walmart is about to ban all overnight parking at all its store…. Not true. That one in Arizona, though, may do so as it apparently has become a sort of mecca for the homeless who are even camping out in cars. (Read more) KOA Camper Caper - A couple working at a KOA in Georgia have been arrested for a 13-year-old murder. The KOA is north of Macon off Interstate 75. (Read more) Rocky Mountain Help - Rocky Mountain National Park is in need of some major repairs - to the tune of $67 million. (Read more) Traveling Tech Guide: Get Hip with This Website There’s a pretty cool new website for finding campgrounds and searching for specific things – it’s called Hipcamp - http://www.hipcamp.com/ If you’re like me and travel a lot, you probably have a plan to keep your home safe and secure while you’re on the road—including keeping your lights on a timer. But, the problem with timers is that they can only be set to one time. And, if someone is watching your house, they’ll quickly figure out that your lights turn off and on at the same time every day—an indication that you’re not home. Enter the Philips Hue Connected Light Bulbs! They can be controlled from anywhere you have Internet access—...

Every wonder how cool it would be like to spend a day at an RV dealer - the amazing stories and experiences that you would get from customers and staff alike? Well, so did we! That's what Jennifer and I experienced after spending St. Patrick's Day at Leisure Time RV in Winter Garden, Fla. during our recent March trip south. The photo is some of the people who came from all over Florida to meet and greet us and tell us their stories. See the photo of this stained glass window? That's what one of the Florida RVers had added to his motorhome. And there were lots of stories. You can hear the results of our visit during our main interview of the newest Roadtreking podcast during which we talk to customers who provide insight into WHY and WHERE they roll as well as Leisure Time staff on WHAT and HOW those same customers get - and stay - rolling. (You will never guess what the most frequently ordered part is for Roadtreks.) The bottom line? It's an important part of the RV lifestyle that helps get you out to those exceptional destinations and meeting so many great RVers like you! Also in this episode, we talk: RV Weights RV Tires Winnebago Recalls Walmart Shootouts Retired Hangouts Florida's Rookery Bay All that and more on episode 28 of the Roadtreking podcast! [spp-player] Listener Question: Weighting Your RV Listener Rob sent in a question about weighing an RV. I address why weight matters and how it can change depending on certain factors, such as what you pack and who travels with you. The Family Motorcoach Association (FMCA) has a great guide (Read more) The guide elaborates on the following: Why to Weigh Before You Pay Why to Weigh by Wheel Position Why to Use a Certified Scale How to Determining the Wheel Loads The Importance of Tire Ratings What to Know About Towed Vehicle Weight Listener Question: Tired Out Listener Ken calls with a question about replacing tires. He's had his Roadtrek four years and wants to know where to start. I give him some suggestions.  I like the Michelin LTXMS2. Further, I share details from a post by Roadtreking Reporter Campskunk, specific to small motorhomes and Class B RV’s (Read More) RV News of the Week: Winnebago Recall, Walmart Chaos, Where to Retire Winnebago Recall - Winnebago Industries is recalling 519 model year 2015 Winnebago ERA, View, and Itasca Navion vehicles manufactured Sept. 11, 2014, to Feb. 27, 2015 and built on a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Chassis. The abutting wedge, a component attached to the door jam to make opening the door easier after a severe frontal impact, may have been installed incorrectly. A greater force may be necessary to open the doors, increasing the risk of injury. Mercedes-Benz will notify owners, and their dealers will check the installation of the abutting wedge, correcting it as necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin in March 2015. Owners may contact Mercedes-Benz Sprinter customer service at 1-877-762-8267. (Read the recall notice) Walmart Lot Shootout - Eight officers and a Walmart employee were assaulted in a Cottonwood, Ariz. parking lot Saturday night in a fight that left one suspect dead, another wounded and seven in custody, officials said. The fight happened Saturday night, according to the Arizona Department of Public Safety. When officers arrived, the suspects were in the parking lot and attacked officers, DPS said. One suspect was shot and killed during the fight, another was shot in the abdomen, and a total of seven others were taken into custody, DPS said. The suspects had been staying in a Suburban vehicle for at least four days in the parking lot, according to a man camping out in an RV in the parking lot. The man said he looked out of his RV's window after the brawl and shootout woke him up Saturday night. He heard screaming and saw people running around and firing guns. (Read More) Best Place to Retire? - Florida and Hawaii may be dream retirement spots for some,

In this episode we answer lots of reader questions, check out the RV news of the week, offer some tech tips and learn all about the many benefits of having a dash cam in your RV. Our guest in the second half of the show is Dewey DeVane, the owner of Windshield Witness, the company that makes the dash cam I use in our RV to document our travels and capture the beautiful scenery Jennifer and I encounter as we travel North America. [spp-player] Shownotes for Roadtreking Podcast Episode 36 First, though, Jennifer and I answer a bunch of listener questions aimed at Jennifer, on topics about what items we permanently keep in the Roadtrek, what pots and pans she takes on our trips and how we share the driving and the chores in our RV. Come meet Jennifer and me in Florida next Week The notice Leisure Time RV in Winter Garden, FL has on its website about our visit next week We share how we are about to head fown to Florida for a week and invite podcast listeners to come meet us on Tuesday, March 17, from 3-7 p.m. at Leisure Travel RV in Winter Garden, Fla. We'll be there with our brand new Roadtrek CS Adventurous XL, which has some top secret experimental features that we are testing. We can't talk publicly about them but if you happen to stop by, I can at least point out the things we, ahem, can't talk about. As an extra incentive for Roadtrek shoppers, Jim Hammill, President of Roadtrek Motorhomes, will offer anyone who comes by and is a member of our Facebook Group a check for $2,500 if they buy a Roadtrek from Leisure Time's current inventory. You can find details of our meet-and-greet and the special deal on the Leisure Time RV website. The GreenPan non-stock ceramic pan we use   The GreenPan The non-stick ceramic pans we use for cooking that Jennifer talked about are called GreenPans. This is one of the pans we use in the RV Mosquito Jacket and head covering Mosquito Jacket She also talked about some mosquito jackets we were planning to get to protect us from biting and stinging insects. Here's what we are ordering. SuperHealthyme The podcast and blog I do about eating healthy and losing weight is called SuperHealthyMe. RV News of the Week Arsonists torch RVs at two Florida lots http://www.myfoxorlando.com/story/28295343/sanford-rv-business-catches-fire Missing Boy found in Colorado http://denver.cbslocal.com/2015/03/09/missing-6-year-old-boy-found-at-great-sand-dunes-national-park/ Gas price hikes tapering off again http://www.upi.com/Business_News/Energy-Resources/2015/03/10/US-gasoline-prices-tapering-off/5651425982243/ RV Bucket List Destination - the Beartooth Mountains of Montana I talk about the Roadtreking Boondocking Montana Mountains Photo Safari, scheduled for June 8-11 in the Beartooth Mountains, just north of Yellowstone National Park. Traveling Tech News - the Apple Watch and the Belkin Net Cam I offer my take on the Apple Watch. Suffice it to say, I'm trying to find a reason to buy one. But as I say in this post, I'm not having much success - http://pcmike.com/has-apple-finally-become-too-elitist/ I also talk about the Belkin Net Cam. Being an RV owner, I spend a lot of time on the road. However, I still like to keep tabs on what’s going on at home. With the Belkin NetCam HD Plus, I can check in on the house while I’m gone. With the Belkin NetCam HD Plus, you can literally watch your home from anywhere. The device delivers 720p HD live streaming video straight to your smartphone or tablet and sends you automated alerts whenever the camera detects motion in your home. What’s even cooler is that the Belkin NetCam HD Plus also works with other devices in the WeMo family so you can program home automation triggers like turning on your lights when someone walks through the door. But that’s not all! The push-to-talk feature lets you communicate directly with anyone on the screen, such as a house sitter or family member who couldn’t join the trip. Visit your local Verizon retailer today to pick up you...

It's time for the Connected RV. You've no doubt had it with campground WiFi. Useless. There must be a better way. And in this episode of the podcast, we talk all about it: Using a small gizmo the size of a deck of cards to create, via a cellular connection to the Internet, your own WiFi network in your RV. We brought in Paul Ulreich, a wireless technology expert, to help you understand (in no geek-speak terms) what you need to know to get full benefits from your rolling WiFi network. Confused about wireless data plans and just what you can do with the various usage tiers? We sort it out. Wondering what you can do with that RV Hotspot? You'll be ready to rush out and get one, especially if you hand pets with you and a sticks and bricks home back  wherever you came from. Also in this episode, we hear from a listener in Australia, Jennifer returns to help me discuss some of the most memorable people we've met out there, our plans for 2015, tips for staying warm (still), signs of spring at Yellowstone (at last!), an Off the Beaten Path report from the Alabama and Mississippi Gulf shores and a lot more! [spp-player] First Things First: Jennifer Returns! Jennifer returns to help me kick off the show after being pretty swamped recently with a big pending event for our family. Plus, a quick update on our immediate plans involving some shopping, final accessorizing of our new Roadtrek CS Adventurous XL motorhome, a trip I'm taking Grand Rapids, Mich. to install a VHF/UHF amateur radio transceiver in it then and - next week -  Florida for a couple of weeks. Check-in of the Week: Roadtreking Fan Wayne from Australia A listener named Wayne calls from Australia to check-in and let us that our fans can be found well beyond our North American base. You'll recall a couple weeks ago we had a listener named Jose check-in from Spain. Any other international fans out there? Let's keep adding to the list! Record a quick message by clicking the tab on the right. We would love to hear from you! Listener Feedback: 1991 Roadtrek at 100,000 Miles and Going Listener Dave from Kitchener, Ontario calls to let us know his 1991 Roadtrek just hit 100,000 miles and is still going strong. Reminder of the Week: Stay Warm with Full Propane Tanks Listener Mike checks in to remind RVers to keep their propane tanks full if you want to stay warm in cold weather camping. Less full tanks can leave you shivering, Mike says. [spp-tweet "If you want your RV to put put maximum heat in cold weather, keep the propane tank filled."] Question: Can you talk about 4x4 RVing? Listener Andrew calls to ask about 4x4 RVing. Flashback: Memorable Encounters A listener named Van calls to ask us about some of the more memorable folks we've met out there on the road. Jennifer and I recall a few: The former hospital CEO who left a high powered well-paying job to make hand crafted wooden canoes on the Mississippi (https://rvlifestyle.com/todays-baby-boomer-retirees-arent-sitting-around/) Deby Dixon, a renowned wildlife photographer, who lives full-time in and around Yellowstone to be near the wolves and other wildlife (https://rvlifestyle.com/deby-dixon-yellowstone/) And the Wyoming cowboy who leads wagon trail campouts along the original Oregon Trail (https://rvlifestyle.com/rv-sidetrip-ride-covered-wagon-along-oregon-trail) RV News of the Week: Airstream Recalling, Park Models Rising, Yellowstone Plowing Recall - Airstream is recalling certain model year 2015-15 Land Yacht, Eddie Bauer, International, Flying Cloud, and Sport travel trailers manufactured Aug. 1, 2013, through Feb. 4, 2015 (Read more) Park Model Sales Up - The Recreation Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA) reported January’s park model RV shipments totaled 261 units, up 4 percent from the 227 units in the same month of 2014. By state, the largest number of park model units were shipped to Arizona, followed by Texas, then Maine, Wisconsin, Minnesota and California, according to RVIA figures. (Read more)

It's always hard to come up with a catchy title for these Roadtreking RV Podcast episodes. But if I had to summarize what we talk about most this week I'd say it's all about creating the lives we have been dreaming about. Whether you are a retiree, about to retire, or just long to get out there in an RV as a full-timer or half-timer and are trying to figure out how you can still earn some money, this episode is for you. It's all about pursuing your passions in your RV. Know this: you can do it! And get paid. In answering one of our listener questions this week, I offer a great resource to finding work on the road. And then there's my interview with Mark Rickert, a thrill-seeking techy and founder of Off the Grid Apps. That's him pictured up above with his RV. Rickert is in his early 30's and travels around the country pursuing his passion of skydiving, all while making a living and fulltiming in his RV. He was a six-figure a year software developer who decided he wanted his office to be a 1998 Roadtrek 190 Popular. Since August he has been to 11 states, making many of the more than 200 skydiving jumps he does annually. Most nights, he boondocks, paying nothing or very little for a camping spot. On this week's show, Mark offers valuable tips on how to truly follow your dreams, see the country, enjoy life to the fullest, and have all the comforts of home with you all the time. Mark shares his nomadic lifestyle with us and offers hints and tips on how you can do it, too. For example, he talks about the need to become a minimalist while full-timing. “You just don’t need nearly as many things as you think you do,” he says. Rickert says money is not his main goal and that enjoying life, traveling, skydiving and making new friends are higher priorities. He says he tries to bill about 20 hours a week to clients, and he has developed a number of his own iPhone apps that he sells through his company appropriately called Off the Grid Apps. [spp-player] First Things First: An Update About Kathy Huggins of Living The RV Dream We start the show this week by providing you with an update on Kathy Huggins of Living the RV Dream. Last week we told you she had a serious medical emergency. I've heard from John Huggins, her husband, since then and he let us know that Kathy continues to get better and that he appreciates everyone's continued thoughts and prayers. She's still in the hospital and a long road to recovery lies ahead but she is now out of ICU, and that is good news. Check-in of the Week: Looking Forward to Full-Timing A listener name Kevin checks in to let us know he wants to make a living out of an RV and wonders how he can do it. I let him know there are many ways there are to do it. I specifically refer him to https://rvlifestyle.com/8 and the interview with Steve Anderson, who runs Workamper.com, which is dedicated to matching employers with RV workampers. As Jim explains, Workampers are adventurous individuals, couples, and families who have chosen a wonderful lifestyle that combines ANY kind of part-time or full-time work with RV camping. Bottom line: [spp-tweet "Workkamping can help pay the bills while you RV."] Question: Can You Tell Me More About E-Treknology and RV Power? A listener named Karl left us a message asking about our “E-Treknology” and power use. [spp-tweet "E-Treknology uses battery and solar innovations to allow RVers to stay boondock longer."] We share how we use power, how long batteries will last, how solar charges the batteries, and how long it takes to charge them with the engne generator on our ClassB van.  I also refer him to https://rvlifestyle.com/11, which was our podcast from the most recent National RV Trade Show in Louisville, Ky. From Our Email: Nice Weather is NOT a Myth and Other RV Tales Craig from North Carolina writes to us with reports of actual nice weather these days somewhere in North America. He also shares with us an "interesting" experience some relatives had of,

No matter where or how you roll, the one thing all RVers have in common is the way the RV lifestyle seems to bring people together - literally and figuratively. For snowbirds, full-timers, near full-timers like Jennifer and me or weekend campers, it's the sheer joy of getting out and meeting new people or simply spending quality time with your spouse or friends. For families with younger children or grandchildren, it means bonding time away from the distractions of day-to-day living, TV, video games, and iPods. Take Stephanie and Jeremy Puglisi, for example. Together with their three children, the Puglisis spend almost 50 nights a year RVing with their children and say they have it down to a science by now. They document their adventures on the RV Family Travel Atlas blog and podcast and join us for episode 23 of the Roadtreking RV Lifestyle podcast with great lessons for parents and grandchildren who RV with childern. In this conversation we learn: How to have a balance between scheduled activities and “down time” Kids never get bored once they are out there, just introduce them to the outdoors Families/grandparents should splurge for kid-friendly campsites, with swimming pools, playgrounds and games Take your kids/grandkids on hikes, challenge them, use it to teach them about the nature and geography You are building amazing memories for your kids and grandkids that they will treasure their entire lives Have a campfire every night. It’s a great family bonding time Kids naturally will gravitate to outdoor activities over screen time in front of a TV or computer Recognize that things will go wrong but “we will get through this.” Learning that when things go wrong, we will solve the problem and then we’ll have great stories to tell makes for a well-adjusted kid. Each night at an RV park, a neighborhood springs up and kids need all of about five minutes to make friends with a pack of kids. Besides the interview with the Puglisis, we take questions and comments from listeners about: Recommended RV-related audiobooks The Roadtreking Song of the Week submitted by the band Swift Creek Talk about getting all of that salt - regardless of source - off of your RV Plus we have tech tips, a bucket list destination of the week and a whole lot more. [spp-player] First Things First: Prayers for Living the RV Dream's Kathy Huggins We kick off the show with a special call to action - pray for Kathy Huggins from Living the RV Dream. Kathy and John Huggins were on the show last week. Kathy began complaining about severe abdominal pain Friday night, and she was transported to Thomas Hospital in Fairhope, Ala. Doctors there discovered a hernia which impeded blood flow to her upper intestines. Surgeons removed 95 percent of her small intestines. John Huggins told our friend Greg Gerber of RV Daily Report that Kathy is in critical condition in the intensive care unit at Thomas Hospital, and on ventilator support. When she is awake, she can recognize those around her and squeeze their hands, which he said is encouraging.  Although she is expected to recover, the road ahead will require major adjustment on her part, John explained. “I don’t think either Kathy or I realized just how many lives we have touched,” said John. “The outpouring of support has been humbling and highly encouraging. We really, really appreciate everyone’s prayers and concern.” Check-in of the Week: Roadtreking Fan Jose from Spain A listener named Jose calls from Spain to check-in and let us that our fans definitely are not limited to the United States and Canada. Any other international fans out there? Record a quick message by clicking the tab on the right. We would love to hear from you! Roadtreking Song of the Week: "Wake Me Up to Drive" by Swift Creek Listener and Musician Kevin Brown, of Raleigh, N.C., leaves us a message in response to our recent and ongoing discussion over best songs to listen to while RVing. You can hear it on the podcast.

Whether you're a full-timer or a part-timer, the RV lifestyle is all about freedom: Freedom to explore, meet new people, enjoy God's creation, and find interesting places. In this episode, we talk about all of that as we meet and interview John and Kathy Huggins, of Livin' the RV Lifestyle fame. John and Kathy have been living full-time in their RV since early 2005 and chronicle their adventures and their tips on the livingthervdream.com website and podcast. In this conversation we learn: How to cure "grandparent-itus" The secret to getting RV repair when the big service shops are all booked up Why buying used makes the most sense for many What it's really like being a full-time RVer and why it's not for everyone The best way to stay connected to the Internet while traveling How to decide between a motorhome or a fifth wheel or travel trailer Besides the interview with the Huggins, we answer listener questions about: Gas prices - they're on the rise again but how high will they be during the travel season? Finding campsites that are wheelchair accessible How to learn to make better photographs (or any other skill) through online training that you can take anywhere Plus we have tech tips, a bucket list destination of the week and a great off the beaten path yarn. [spp-player] First Things First: Snowbirds and Gas Prices We kick off the show with an interesting call from a listener named Freddie who has some thoughts about snowbirds "taking advantage" of the beautiful south during this time of year. He also makes a prediction about a rise in gas prices and I bring you up to speed on what's happening with it today. Question: Campsites for People with Disabilities? Listeners Craig and Julie call in with a question about finding more campsites for people with disabilities, also known as adaptive campsites. I explain what these kind of sites encompass, what some of the laws are, and talk about a link to find adaptive sites, which you can find by clicking here. Question: Where Can I Take Online Photography Classes? A listener asks for information about how to find online courses for learning how to use photography software such as Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom CC, which are both on my recently updated list of tech gear. I talk about how I benefited from taking online courses as well as a special deal available only to Roadtreking listeners at roadtreking.com/lynda, where you can even try it free for 10 days and see if online learning works as well for you as it has for me. By the way, they have more than 3,300 courses to pick from - including more than 100,000 video tutorials - in subjects ranging from photography, video and audio to graphic design and web development. RV News of the Week: Bigfoot at Yellowstone? Has Sasquatch been spotted at Yellowstone? You gotta hear this one about what appears to be a family of Bigfoot-like creatures and/or/most likely hikers dressed in winter clothes. And I also talk about my experience covering an actual Bigfoot hunt in northern Michigan. (Read more) Off the Beaten Path: Los Padres National Forest in California Mark shares an unnerving story about a great boondocking spot that was ruined when some armed and inebriated hunters showed up. RV Tech Tip of the Week: Staying on Track with New Year's Resolutions It happens to the best of us: We set a New Year’s resolution and lose sight of it after the first month of the year. So what’s the trick to sticking to your New Year’s resolutions beyond the month of January? The answer may be in the technology you use. Smart accessories, like the Garmin Vivofit fitness band (http://www.verizonwireless.com/accessories/garmin-vivofit-gray/), can provide you with the motivation you need to reach your goals. Not only does it track your sleep patterns, display steps taken and calculate calories burned in real time, it also comes with a sidekick—the Garmin Connect Mobile app. Simply sync your device with the companion app to create a personal p...

From bad repairs and overwhelmed service centers to inadequate Wi-Fi, life on the RV roadways can be challenging. For episode 21 of the Roadtreking RV Lifestyle podcast, we talk to Greg Gerber, editor of RV Daily Report – and recently an RV full-timer – about many of the challenges every RVer will likely face at one time or another. "There's always a list of something that needs to be fixed," Gerber says on this Roadtreking podcast. "Hardly a month goes by where we aren't having someone take a peek at something." Gerber has been covering the industry since 2000 and has become widely recognized as one of the top RV industry insiders. He talks about what it took to finally get away from his desk for good and become a full-time RVer - and many of the challenges of which he is experiencing first-hand. Among the many topics covered with Gerber: - Should you buy a new or used RV - Why campground Wi-Fi sucks - Why data card cellular Internet in campgrounds is getting bad - How RV service shops sometimes give second rate service to travelers who bought their rigs elsewhere - Why RV service is so hard to find - Why mobile RV service trucks may be the best way to get your rig fixed in a timely manner [spp-player] Also from episode 21 of the Roadtreking podcast: First Things First: Better Access, Chevy or Sprinter? We kick off the show by drawing on the knowledge of Roadtreking Reporter Campskunk to answer a listener question about what chassis offers easier access - Sprinter or Chevrolet? Specifically, listener Jody is a full-timer who wants to downsize from a 38-foot travel trailer to a Class B yet has concerns about ground clearance because of a disability. Question: When is Roadtreking Going to Talk More Amateur Radio? John, a ham radio operator, suggests we talk more about ham radio. I comment about some of the things we have already done along with my own plans for ham radio. Comment: Stream Roadtreking Through Roku's Private iTunes Channel Dale notes how he listens to the podcast through his Roku Stick, which allows iTunes podcasts to stream through his home entertainment system and TV. Dale fills us in on the free private channel he added to his Roku account to get podcasts like Roadtreking. Question: Can You Tell Us More About Your New RV? Tim asks a bunch of questions about our new RV, including why we're now in the Roadtrek CS Adventurous XL with its propane furnace and gas burners instead of the all-electric eTrek we had been driving. Question: Any Suggestions for Learning More About Dispersed Camping? And a reader asks about suggestions for earning more about dispersed camping across the U.S. I refer him to this post written for the blog - https://rvlifestyle.com/dispersed-camping-in-national-forests/ and the site http://www.forestcamping.com/ RV News of the Week: Las Vegas KOA Moves, Mich. Fees Up, Calif. Parks in Trouble The long time KOA campground on the Las Vegas strip is moving to a new location (Read more) Michigan is raising camping fees at state parks (Read more) A report says California’s state parks are under “serious stress” (Read more) RV Tech Tip of the Week: Apps to Help Split the Bill Sure, meeting other RVers and going out for delicious meals all across the land is fun - except when the bill comes. Worry no more, however, as I offer up three great apps that make splitting the bill way less stressful. I first talked about them for my PC Mike Techcast. The Tip N Split app for Apple perfectly describes what it does. It adds in the tip automatically and then divides it up between those at the table. It splits the tip uniformly, equally among everyone. The Lite version is free. There’s also a similar Tip N Split Caculator for Android on the Google Play store. But if some ordered more expensive stuff, you may want to instead use the Billr app for the iPhone. It splits the bill unevenly, for up to 16 people. It adds the tip, takes into account the cost of each item ordered,