RV Lifestyle RV Podcast

Joe Murray has seen a lot in his 40 years of being in the RV business, but the current market is among the best he can remember. It only took one look around the floor at the Grand Rapids Camper, Travel & RV Show this past weekend to see why – the packed aisles were full of potential buyers, from millennials to baby boomers. And to Murray, regional sales manager for Roadtrek, packed shows like this – and RV horns sounding a sale just about every five minutes – signify a great start to the year after a stellar 2014. “There’s an awful lot of money in this economy and there’s a lot of interest in mobility, camping and travel,” Murray told Roadtreking in Grand Rapids. “I think we’re going to have another banner year.” Murray talked to us for episode 19 of the Roadtreking RV Podcast, addressing all-things-RV, from how use of RVs has evolved in the last 15 years (less camping, more touring) and who the typical customer is to what you should hope to take away from your RV show experiences – just in time for the busy RV show season. Murray, with the help of other show attendees, help you understand: What are some questions you need to answer about buying an RV that might not be so obvious Should you even touch anything when checking out RVs at the show Whether you should buy from inventory or special order to get the best price Whether the prices at RV shows really are rock bottom How to "try on an RV" for size at the show, making sure it works for you and your RVing style What is the most important question that you should ask an RV dealer before you buy What kind of RVs have the hands down highest resale value, year in and year out How are today's RV buyers different from those of year's past [spp-tweet "Secrets of buying at an RV show"] [spp-player] Shownotes for Episode 19 of Roadtreking The RV Podcast First Things First: Florida RV SuperShow Sets the Tone The Florida RV SuperShow from Tampa, Fla. sets the tone for the entire year when it comes to all-things-RV. Roadtreking's Campskunk was there for day one and two of the show last week that set attendance records, further distancing us from the dark days of the late aughts. Need further proof? A surprising number of units were actually sold during the show.  But is an RV show the best place to buy an RV? It's the focus of this week's show. Interviews: How to Shop for an RV at an RV Show We were at the Grand Rapids Camper, Travel & RV Show this past weekend and talked to several experts to gain super-insider info on how to shop for and buy an RV and how to use and RV show to find the best deal on the best unit. Questions of the Week: Grilling and Organizing A listener shared feedback on the George Foreman Grill and how much she loves us after reading a post where we shared our use of it. We responded to her feedback with an update about the new grill we use after our old one fell off a table last year. We now use the Cuisinart GR-150 Griddler Deluxe  $159 We then took a question from a reader named Don who wondered about cabinet and drawer dividers to keep things in place in the RV. We  suggested a visit to Bed Bath & Beyond and Walmart for starters, or any Camping world store. TV shows all have lots of vendors who sell such items, too. Travel Tech of the Week: Password Management and Hacker Protection The massive theft of over a BILLION email accounts by a Russian hacker gang has Internet security experts scrambling and ordinary online users wondering what they can do to protect themselves. But there are ways to protection yourselves. The very first thing Internet users need to do is change their passwords. Use a program called LastPass to manage all your passwords. It keeps track of your user names and passwords for you and logins in automatically with them. This is how passwords should be -- very complex. The program will generate secure passwords like fshsgRHF#1kaj# .... just try and remember that one on your own!

In this episode of Roadtreking the RV Podcast I share tips on how to camp all-year-round. It's easier than you think! Plus, lots of RV news and traveling tips to make your RV adventures more enjoyable. [spp-player] Shownotes for episode 17 of Roadtreking the RV Podcast I start out by recapping our recent trip to Florida and a shakedown cruise for our new RV - a 2015 Roadtrek CS Adventurous XL RV Shows This Month Then we recap the big RV shows that will be happing in various parts of the country over the next couple of weeks, including: The Florida RV Supershow in Tampa , Fla., Jan. 14-18 The Grand Rapids RV Show, in Grand Rapids Mich., Jan. 15-18 The St. Louis RV Show in St. Louis, Mo., Jan. 29-Feb 1 When is the Best Time to Buy an RV? Need help in making up your mind to buy an RV? Listen to Roadtrek Motorhome President Jim Hammill share his Yardstick Lifeline illustration on when to take the plunge. No Drones on in National Parks I share U. S. Park Service rules on flying drones on National Park properties, why they are prohibited and why he took down drone video of his recent visit to the Gulf Islands National Seashore. Here's a news release about the problem. Working From an RV on the Road In the Question of the Week, I answer a listener question on working from the road in a camper van. I use Verizon Wireless and a Mi-Fi card for Internet connectivity. Traveling Tech Tip of the Week Smart Receipts -  With this app I just gather up my receipts, take a photo of them with my smartphone, entering the details and everything is totaled and categorized. I have copies of every receipt electronically stored and safe and secure and I can then print out a report covering whatever time period I want that can be stored on a computer or emailed. It’s great for expense reports for work. No more piles of papers and shoeboxes. Also, it keeps track of mileage rates. Best of all, the Smart Receipts app is free and works with all Apple and Android devices. Off the Beaten Path - Boondocking in Oregon In the Off the Beaten Path report, Campkunk shares an amazing place he calls Lupine Meadows in the wilderness near Hood Rover, Ore. The GPS coordinates are45.3.221 N, 121.635.6 W RV Destination of the Week The RV Destination of the week is Tahquamenon Falls, in Michigan's UP, where Roadtreking Reporter Yan Seimer and I  will be hosting a winter campout Jan 23-25. If you're thinking about trying this, I got some insight and winter camping tips from RV technician Hank Nuiiver. Many of you ask how you can subscribe, review and rate the Roadtreking Podcast on iTunes. With a new podcast like this, those reviews and ratings are really important to be able to show well in the iTunes listings. So if you can, I'd sure appreciate it if you'd subscribe and leave me your review. Here's how: How to subscribe, rate and review a podcast First, open up the iTunes app on your computer or mobile device. Click on Podcasts up on the top > From the iTunes Podcasts page, use the “Search Store” field up at the top right corner of the page. Type in Mike Wendland or Roadtreking RV Podcast. > Click on the logo image of the Roadtreking RV Podcast on the search return page > From there (see photo above), you can... 1) Subscribe 2) Choose and Click on a star (1-5) that reflects your rating. Five stars means you really like it, one star not so much. 3) Leave a written review. Thanks to all for the kind reviews we’ve received so far. That got us noticed by Apple/iTunes as “New and Noteworthy.” I appreciate every review! And remember, you can appear in future episodes. Ask a question or voice your comments about RV topics by clicking the Leave Voicemail tab on the right side of this page here at Roadtreking.com. You can then use the microphone on your computer to record your words.

Welcome to a brand new and jam-packed episode of the Roadtreking RV Podcast. In this week's podcast, I have news and tips about a wide variety of topics related to RVers looking for places to go and things to do. And I reveal the best Christmas present ever, our brand new RV loaded with technology features so secret that if I told you about them, I'd have to .... well, you know. Well, maybe not that secret. But pretty secret anyways. [spp-player] Here are the shownotes for this episode. Our New RV and its Top Secret Features Yes, we have a new RV - the Roadtrek CS Adventurous XL. But I can't tell you everything I'd like to about it just yet. That's because we're testing out certain features that will one day be options but for now, have to be kept under wraps. I’m asked to not publicize details as I am testing this out for them. Several features on our new unit are not yet available for production models. Things like the air conditioning system. Yes, I do have one. No, it is not on the roof. It is somewhere else. Can't say more just yet. But not having the air conditioner topside means some valuable rooftop real estate has opened up and my roof is now totally covered with solar panels. The same "no comment" rule must be followed regarding  details on the lithium-ion battery system I have. Here is all I can publicly say about the batteries: https://rvlifestyle.com/rv-lithium-batteries/ It's not that I am being deliberately coy. It's just that these features are not yet available.  What we're testing is a prototype. But just as solar power revolutionized RV technology a few years ago, lithium-ion batteries will soon be the next Big Thing for recreational vehicles. Undoubtedly, the system I have will change and have different configurations available when it finally becomes available as an option. But because of rampant and erroneous speculation distributed on other boards and forums and because Roadtrek competitors rush to try and copy their technology, I have been asked to keep these details confidential from public disclosure until final details are decided. As soon as I can say or show more, I will. But that said, there is a lot we can say. Click the link to a post and video I did that shows off our new Roadtrek CS Adventurous XL New National Historical Park Draws Controversy A measure designating Samuel Colt's 19th-century gun factory in Connecticut as a national historical park has been signed into law by President Barack Obama. State elected officials have hailed the project as a way to boost one of Hartford's poorest neighborhoods and honor the revolver as a marvel of manufacturing. But notably absent from the celebrating is Colt's Manufacturing Co. The company remains based in Connecticut, where it and other gun makers have said they were left feeling unwelcome by a strict gun control law adopted after of the 2012 Newtown elementary school shooting. A gun industry association withdrew its support for the park project. Executives at Colt have declined to discuss the project. Why Diesel Fuel Costs More Than Gasoline We had a listener question about why diesel fuel now costs more than gasoline. It's not always been that way. Turns out there are a variety of reasons, as explained by the National Association for Convenience & Fuel Retailing. A Great App for RVers Who Want the Latest News on a Variety of Topics If you are a news junkie like me, you will love the SmartNews app - the fastest, most comprehensive, and always up-to-date news reader I’ve seen. It scours more than 10 million articles daily and delivers a customized reading list to your mobile device, categorized just the way you want them and easily stored for later reading or shared on social media. It works on Apple and Android devices. Off the Beaten Path - The Gunflint Trail National Scenic Byway in Minnesota Tom Hopkins from Davenport, Iowa, wins a Roadtreking hat for suggesting the Gunflint Trail along the Lake Superior north shore as our Off the ...

We continue our special coverage of the 2014 National RV Trade Show in Louisville, KY with a series of interviews and reports about the latest trends in the RV industry. In Episode 12 we learn a lot about the Class B motorhome market, and get a special one-on-one your of the new Leisure Travel Vans B+ models by none other than Dean Corrigal, who has developed a loyal following for his very enthusiastic videos about the LTV motorhome lineup. We hear from Roadtrek Motorhome experts Joe "Roadtrek Joe" Morales and Billy Cochrane who shed some insight into the booming B market. And, of course, we answer your questions and much more. [spp-player] Covered in Episode 012 of the podcast: LISTENER QUESTION OF THE WEEK: Jerry Yeatts (left) and FMCA representatives heling answer RV questions at the National RV Trade Show in Louisville, KY A listener asked how to find people to travel to Alaska with this year. We referred the question to Jerry Yeatts, the executive director of the Family Motor Coach Association, who told us about various trips and tours scheduled for next year, including a big Alaska trip Fantasy hosts exciting member-only tours to some of the most sought-after vacation destinations. Each tour is professionally planned and includes many organized activities and events. Guests simply show up, take in the sights and enjoy the experience ... all in the company of fellow RVers. NEWS OF THE WEEK The RV owner demographics are changing. To get a handle on the new breed of RVers, we talked to Billy Cochrane, a regional manager for Roadtrek Motorhomes. Billy says new RV buyers are entering the marketplace demanding more hand-on exploration and adventure. He described some of his favorite trips off the beaten pathway. Among them: National Voting Rights Museum in Sela, AL The Mississippi River scale model in Memphis, TN The Birthplace of country music in Bristol TN The Galax Fddlers Convention in VA Sun Record Studios , Memphis TN "Roadtrek Joe" Morales MORE INTERVIEWS: “Roadtrek Joe” Morales Joe takes many of the “beauty shot” photos of Roadtrek Motorhomes  seen at Roadtrek.com  I asked and he shared the three elements that make for a great RV photo. Joe answers the "Ask Roadtrek" area of the Roadtreking blog forum. Then we talked about a Class B motorhome: •    What it is •    How many miles a Class B is often are driven •    How Class B RVs hold their value Next, we met Dean Corrigal of Leisure Travel Vans Dean talks about: •    What is a Type B+ RV? •    The features of a Type B+ RV •    The major differences between a Type B and a B+ RV •    Mileage that can be expected with a Type B+ RV •    Trends and demographics of Type B and Type B+ RVs Here's a video of Dean as he gave us a tour of some of Leisure Travel Van's B+ units: Many of you ask how you can subscribe, review and rate the Roadtreking Podcast on iTunes. With a new podcast like this, those reviews and ratings are really important to be able to show well in the iTunes listings. So if you can, I'd sure appreciate it if you'd subscribe and leave me your review. Here's how: How to subscribe, rate and review a podcast First, open up the iTunes app on your computer or mobile device. Click on Podcasts up on the top > From the iTunes Podcasts page, use the “Search Store” field up at the top right corner of the page. Type in Mike Wendland or Roadtreking RV Podcast. > Click on the logo image of the Roadtreking RV Podcast on the search return page > From there (see photo above), you can... 1) Subscribe 2) Choose and Click on a star (1-5) that reflects your rating. Five stars means you really like it, one star not so much. 3) Leave a written review. Thanks to all for the kind reviews we’ve received so far. That got us noticed by Apple/iTunes as “New and Noteworthy.” I appreciate every review! And remember, you can appear in future episodes. Ask a question or voice your comments about RV topics by clicking the Leave Voicemail tab on the right si...

Day two of coverage from the 2014 National RV Trade Show in Louisville, Ky. looks at "E-Treknology" and the way it is revolutionizing RV travel.  Plus, we expose the biggest secret in the RV world -- how Park units are becoming a hot new trend of "camping without a camper." Jennifer and I are in Louisville and in our continuing coverage of the National RV Trade show, we interview a slew of experts for inside info on the trends that will be shaping your RV travel for months to come Here are the shownotes from Episode 11 of Roadtreking the Podcast: [spp-player] After answering a reader question about credit card security while on the road, they tap into the latest in RV trends by interviewing Bill Sheffer, of the Michigan Association of Recreational Vehicles and Campsites, one of the largest and mst influential such groups in the county. Sheffer tells us: Why RV sales are continuing to boom The latest trends he's seeing in RV demographics Why so-called "Park Units" may be the next big trend in RVs. The control console on the Roadtrek TS Adventurous is one example of "E-Treknology" My next interview is with Yan Seiner, a Roadtreking Reporter on the Roadtreking.com RV Travel blog and an engineer at Roadtrek Motorhomes. Yan explain how "E-Treknology "is finding its way into the Class B small motorhome market, the evolution of electronic and green energy systems first introduced in Roadtrek's Etrek model two years ago. Seiner explains: How power management systems in modern motorhomes now involve sophisticated systems like solor power, engine generators and on-board high tech monitoring systems. How an iPad or Android tablet or a smartphone can now remotely control and monitor critical RV energy, lighting, security and comfort featur And finally, I interview RV industry veterans Bob Zagami… John DiPietro RV Insights, who discuss: The use of Park models for extended stay camping, sometimes called Destination Camping A Park model offers 400 square feet of living. It's classified as an RV because it was on wheels. Lots of different companies are now selling them and campgrounds are setting up special areas for them How you can get two of them for price of a used motorhome, one for up north in the summer, one in the south for wintertime Why RVing is experiencing a huge resurgence because it connects people to places and each other Younger families are rapidly becoming a major demographic Cabin and “yurt” rentals are the biggest income producers for many campgrounds these days, “camping without a camper.” We'll be back with another bonus episode of the podcast tomorrow as Day Three of the National RV Trade Show ends. Many of you ask how you can subscribe, review and rate the Roadtreking Podcast on iTunes. With a new podcast like this, those reviews and ratings are really important to be able to show well in the iTunes listings. So if you can, I'd sure appreciate it if you'd subscribe and leave me your review. Here's how: How to subscribe, rate and review a podcast First, open up the iTunes app on your computer or mobile device. Click on Podcasts up on the top > From the iTunes Podcasts page, use the “Search Store” field up at the top right corner of the page. Type in Mike Wendland or Roadtreking RV Podcast. > Click on the logo image of the Roadtreking RV Podcast on the search return page > From there (see photo above), you can... 1) Subscribe 2) Choose and Click on a star (1-5) that reflects your rating. Five stars means you really like it, one star not so much. 3) Leave a written review. Thanks to all for the kind reviews we’ve received so far. That got us noticed by Apple/iTunes as “New and Noteworthy.” I appreciate every review! And remember, you can appear in future episodes. Ask a question or voice your comments about RV topics by clicking the Leave Voicemail tab on the right side of this page here at Roadtreking.com. You can then use the microphone on your computer to record your words.

There's a new motorhome on the Class B market, with one of the lowest MSRP pricetags on the market. This podcast is from the 2014 National RV Trade Show in Louisville, Ky. This is where all the 2015 RVs, travel trailers, pop-ups and RV accessories are introduced to the industry and RV press. It is not open to the public, but we were there to report on the latest in RVs, starting with the unveiling of the the brand new Roadtrek Zion, a new model built on the Dodge ProMaster chassis. [spp-player]   In this episode, I interview Roadtrek Motorhome President Jim Hammill, who talked about: The Zion dimensions The Zion's solar power and engine generator The 50 cubic feet of storage The price of the new unit It's production schedule and availability Here's a video I did of the interview I did with Jim Hammill, as Jennifer checked out the more than 50 cubic feet of cabinet storage in the Zion. I also interviewed Steve Fretz, from Fretz RV in Pennsylvania, one of the nation's biggest dealers. Steve talked about: Industry trends Changing RV demographics Why Class B RVs are so popular The new technology in RVs All this  was was from Day One. I'll be covering the show all week. Please listen to the podcast for complete info. Here are the stats for the Roadtrek Zion, from the official Product Review sheet handed out by Roadtrek at the show: Exterior length - 20'11" Exterior width - 6' 11" Interior aisle width - 29" Exterior height - 9' 5" Interior standing height - 6' 2" Wheelbase - 159" Gross vehicle weight rating - 9,350 pounds Occupant and cargo carrying capacity - 1,250 pounds Gross combined weight rating - 11,500 pounds Fuel type - Gas 24 US gal Fresh water capacity - 35 US gal Black holding tank capacity - 19 US gal Gray holding tank capacity - 20 US gal Rear king sleeping max width and length - 74'"x 76" Here are some photos I snapped Roadtrek's display at the 2014 National RV Trade Show in Louisville, with the new Zion shown on the right     Front view of the Zion Looking forward at the Zion, from rear doors. The king sized bed expands sideways to fill up the space Lots of storage in the Zion   More storage The Zion has a full bath A side view of the Zion Many of you ask how you can subscribe, review and rate the Roadtreking Podcast on iTunes. With a new podcast like this, those reviews and ratings are really important to be able to show well in the iTunes listings. So if you can, I'd sure appreciate it if you'd subscribe and leave me your review. Here's how: How to subscribe, rate and review a podcast First, open up the iTunes app on your computer or mobile device. Click on Podcasts up on the top > From the iTunes Podcasts page, use the “Search Store” field up at the top right corner of the page. Type in Mike Wendland or Roadtreking RV Podcast. > Click on the logo image of the Roadtreking RV Podcast on the search return page > From there (see photo above), you can... 1) Subscribe 2) Choose and Click on a star (1-5) that reflects your rating. Five stars means you really like it, one star not so much. 3) Leave a written review. Thanks to all for the kind reviews we’ve received so far. That got us noticed by Apple/iTunes as “New and Noteworthy.” I appreciate every review! And remember, you can appear in future episodes. Ask a question or voice your comments about RV topics by clicking the Leave Voicemail tab on the right side of this page here at Roadtreking.com. You can then use the microphone on your computer to record your words.

RVers sure have a lot of questions. We answer a bunch of them in this edition of the podcast. When it comes to technology questions, nobody answers them better than Jim and Chris Guld, the Geeks on Tour, a husband-wife team who travel full-time across North America giving technology seminars to RVers and rallies and campground gatherings all year long. You’ll hear them in our featured interview this week. Plus we have a great tech gadget to recommend, an especially beautiful bucket list destination of the week, and news and reader feedback [spp-player]   Here are the shownotes from Episode 9 of Roadtreking: The RV Podcast This episode released on Thanksgiving week 2014 and we have Thanksgiving greetings from our team of Roadtreking Reporters, the great group of talented RVers who join me in blogging on the Roadtreking.com website. TRAVELING TECH TIP: The Mophie The Mophie Powerstation Duo External 12000 mAh Battery With more and more USB devices becoming “necessities” for daily life, the powerstation duo was developed to ensure you have enough power to keep them fully charged when you need it most. Charge your phone and tablet together or share a port with a friend in need when outlets aren't an option. You can get eight phone chargings from a single charge to the Mophie. RV BUCKET LIST DESTINATION: Florida’s Emerald Coast - Our destination of the week is the Florida Panhandle, and specifically the Emerald Coast, which has perhaps the finest beaches we have found anywhere in America. Here’s a link to Emerald Cost photos and video and a look at a cool wait =to catch bait for fishermen. Jim and Chris Guld, the "Geeks on Tour" Interview of the Week In our interview with the Geeks on Tour, Jim and Chris Guld talk about the top three questions asked by RVers. What to do about bad campground Wi-Fi? How do RVers handle mail while they are on the road? What’s a good way for RVers to organize and share the photos they take while traveling? Big RV rallies coming up in 2015 Resources and websites mentioned by Jim and Chris Guld: Geeks on Tour Good Sam Rally, Phoenix, AZ Feb.26-Mar. 1, 2015 Escapes Escapade Rally, Tucson AZ March 8-13, 2015 Family Motorcoach Association Rally, Pomona, CA March 26-19. 2015 St. Brendan’s Isle Mail Forwarding Service Picassa Photo software Many of you ask how you can subscribe, review and rate the Roadtreking Podcast on iTunes. With a new podcast like this, those reviews and ratings are really important to be able to show well in the iTunes listings. So if you can, I'd sure appreciate it if you'd subscribe and leave me your review. Here's how: How to subscribe, rate and review a podcast First, open up the iTunes app on your computer or mobile device. Click on Podcasts up on the top > From the iTunes Podcasts page, use the “Search Store” field up at the top right corner of the page. Type in Mike Wendland or Roadtreking RV Podcast. > Click on the logo image of the Roadtreking RV Podcast on the search return page > From there (see photo above), you can... 1) Subscribe 2) Choose and Click on a star (1-5) that reflects your rating. Five stars means you really like it, one star not so much. 3) Leave a written review. Thanks to all for the kind reviews we’ve received so far. That got us noticed by Apple/iTunes as “New and Noteworthy.” I appreciate every review! And remember, you can appear in future episodes. Ask a question or voice your comments about RV topics by clicking the Leave Voicemail tab on the right side of this page here at Roadtreking.com. You can then use the microphone on your computer to record your words.

Here it is, Episode 008 of the Podcast. We cover a lot of ground this week, including a couple of reports from Kitchener, ON Canada, and the headquarters of Roadtrek Motorhomes, But along with reader feedback, a review of a great tech gizmo for RVers, some Q&A about batteries and our bucket list destination of the week, we also take an in-depth look at the growing phenomenon of workamping. [spp-player] Here are the show Notes for Episode #008 of Roadtreking - The RV Lifestyle Podcast: This week we look at.... A new RV about to be debuted on the Ram ProMaster chassis This unit will be officially released at the Recreational Vehicles Industry Association annual trade show the week after Thanksgiving. But you can hear a description of the one I found under construction at the factory last week. To see it, here's my video of the new Roadtrek to be built on the Ram ProMaster chassis. Cool flashlight technology perfect for campers on dark and stormy nights The Nightstick is one uber cool flashlight. And this coming from me, a bit of a flashlight junkie. I love flashlights, especially the new high tech ones using LED bulbs. This one s perfect for boondocking. The Nightstick is a dual-light flahlight. It has a CREE LED rated at 130 lumens along with with a high-efficiency deep parabolic reflector. This creates a flashlight beam with an effective range of almost 600 feet, or 181 meters  Additionally, built into the handle is a 110 lumen floodlight. Unlike the flashlight beam, the light coming out of the floodlight does not have a reflector so the light spreads out in a wide, even, unfocused pattern of light...perfect for lighting up things that are close. Additionally, both the flashlight and the floodlight can be turned on at the same time for even more versatile lighting options. The waterproof design, in combination with an impact and chemical resistant engineered polymer housing, make these tough little lights, one of the best values around. Additionally, the integrated magnets located in the base of the handle and the pocket clip, provide for almost limitless hands-free usage. Like I say, it's perfect for a dark and scary night out boondocking somewhere. The company that makes them has given me five that I in turn can giveaway. They'll go to the first five people who email me. If you're not one of the five, you can get it through my affiliate link with Amazon for $32. Workamping: Working while your camping. Is it for you? In our Roadtreking interview feature this week, we talk to 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. If you work as an employee, operate a business, or donate your time as a volunteer, AND you sleep in an RV (or on-site housing), you are a Workamper. As many as half a million RVers fit that definition. What do you need to do to get such a job? How much does it pay? What sort of work is involved? We answer all these questions and more. Bucket List Destination of the Week This week, Jennifer and I profile the Colorado National Monument, It is nothing short of stupendously beautiful, a long stretch of spectacular rock monoliths cut deep into the sandstone and even granite rock formations that make for sheer-walled, red rock canyons following the undulating twists and turns of the Rim Rock Drive that traverses up and down and through the preserve for 24 miles. We tell you what to know about this awesome place, including where to stay and what you'll see. But Wait, there's more Among other topics we cover in this episode... Some pesky bears at Yosemite National Park that are being affixed with GPS collars A plan by Glacier National Park officials to raise their admission and camping rates for 201 What to do when your coach batteries won't hold a char...

Half the fun of RVing is personalizing our homes-on-wheels, making them uniquely our own through special mods and customizations. And the best thing about doing-it-ourselves is that it is relatively inexpensive, downright cheap in fact. Ah, but knowing what to do and how to do it - that is often another matter, Amongst a lot of RV news, tips, reviews and bucket list destination suggestions this week, in this episode of Roadtreking: The RV Podcast, we meet two of our Roadtreking Reporter regulars -  Roger and Lynn Brucker, who are our resident DIY experts when it comes to decorating and equipping our RVs with a sort of handy gadgets and do-dads. Listen to this episode by clicking the appropriate button below or by going to iTunes. [spp-player] To download this to your computer just right click the download button. On PCs, that saves to your hard-drive and you can then listen to it any time you want, pausing it and resuming at will. On Macs, Control click the download button and then select "Save Link As" from the little dropdown list to get it on your hard-drive. Kepe reading for the show notes for Episode 007 of Roadtreking - The RV Podcast: Show Notes for Episode # of RoadtreKing - The RV Lifestyle Podcast: LISTENER QUESTIONS OF THE WEEK: A listener wanted to know if I had any suggestions for how she could attach a moped or motorcycle to the back of her Class B Leisure Travel Van motorhome. I suggested she look at the StowAway Swing Away Rear Cargo Rack. It will fit in the two inch receiver at the back of her RV. It can hold up to 250 pounds and the swingaway rack pivots 180 degrees for easy access to the rear cargo doors. The other is  the Rage Alumininum Motorcross and Dirt Bike Hitch mounted carrier for two-inch receivers. It costs $158 and can handle up t400 pounds. Bottom line: [spp-tweet "It's easy to bring along a motor scooter in a small RV."] RV NEWS OF THE WEEK: In our news stories this week, one sure created alot of "buzz." It involves an incredible infestation of bees found in RV. That's right. [spp-tweet "A bee removal expert said the 400,000 bees he found in an RV were the largest such nest ever extracted."] Here's a story and video http://www.abcnews4.com/story/27321033/400000-bees-found-in-infested-summerville-camper-removed TRAVELING TECH TIP: I review the Wilson Sleek 4g Cell Phone booster - http://pcmike.com/review-wilson-cell-phone-booster/ [spp-tweet "This cell phone booster took me from zero bars to three bars."] RV BUCKET LIST DESTINATION: Mammoth Cave National Park in Kentucky – here’s a bunch of photos and our review of Mammoth Cave National Park [spp-tweet "If one place belongs on your RV bucket list, it is the Mammoth Cave National Park."] MAIN INTERVIEW - DIY RV Mods Lynn and Rober Brucker, Roadtreking Reporters who share their favorite inexpensive add-ons and modification to maximize space and convenience in your motorhome.  Here's a link to all the Bruker's how-to articles on Roadtreking.com [spp-tweet "You'd be surprised how easy and inexpensive it is to personalize your RV with cool mods."] Remember, if you would like to have your voice heard and be a part of the podcast, you can record a Voice Mail message by clicking the right hand button on the roadtreking.com website…. Please follow us on Facebook at Facebook.com/roadtreking and if you are on Twitter, follow me @roadtreking. Many of you ask how you can subscribe, review and rate the Roadtreking Podcast on iTunes. With a new podcast like this, those reviews and ratings are really important to be able to show well in the iTunes listings. So if you can, I'd sure appreciate it if you'd subscribe and leave me your review. Here's how: How to subscribe, rate and review a podcast First, open up the iTunes app on your computer or mobile device. Click on Podcasts up on the top > From the iTunes Podcasts page, use the “Search Store” field up at the top right corner of the page.

It's underway - the annual migration of the Snowbirds , with an estimated 2-5 million RVers  heading to the South and Southwest. That's the featured topic in Episode 006 of Roadtreking the RV Podcast. Snowbirds typically spend three to five months in the warm climates. It's a dream lots of us have. We cover lots of other subjects in this episode, too, from vandalism in our national parks to RV fraud to a list of five awesome places you'll want to add to your bucket list for 2015 RV travel. [spp-player] To download this to your computer just right click the download button. On PCs, that saves to your hard-drive and you can then listen to it any time you want, pausing it and resuming at will. On Macs, Control click the download button and then select "Save Link As" from the little dropdown list to get it on your hard-drive. Here's the show notes for Episode 006 of Roadtreking - The RV Podcast: [spp-tweet "The snowbirds are beginning their great RV migration."] Our interview with Kevin Broom of the Recreational Vehicle Industry Association sheds light on the ins and outs of snowbirding. Also, for reference, Good Sam publishes a snowbird guide  that you can get at  http://bit.ly/1wZpCxC RV NEWS OF THE WEEK: [spp-tweet "Is it art or vandalism that is defacing our National Parks? "]We talk about a wave of weird graffiti drawings showing  at several National Parks being labeled by some as "graffiti art." You can be the judge of that. Here's a story on the problem. And we refer to a story in the Edmonton Journal newspaper about a big RV fraud case in Alberta. TRAVELING TECH TIP: I share an amazing typing shortcut app I use for my Apple MacBook Pro laptop and my home desktop called Text Expander. It lets you quickly type “snippets” of text, whether a full letter or paragraphs or a signature. No more fat fingered typos. I love it for use while traveling because I can respond to email and write faster and more accurately, keeping data charges down while online via my mobile hotspot. But here’s the deal, last week the company provided me five copies that I can give away. They went an hour after the show become available. But I talked to the company this week and they are offering 20% off the #34.95 cost to Roadtreking listeners. Just use this link and you'll get 20% off the normal $34.95 cost. Again, this is for Mac computers and for our blog readers and podcast listeners. Everyone else pays 20% more. I must have 100 or more snippets that I'm using. Everytime I type something that I know I will use again, I make it a snippet. Very handy. I refer to a great online backup service I use called Backblaze. I trust it for all my photos and videos while I'm out on the road. All I need is a Wi-F connection and it automatically backs up every single file and photo I have to the cloud. It's the best peace of mine backup system I've ever used. If you buy using those links, I get a small commission as an affiliate. RV BUCKET LIST DESTINATION: Jennifer and I share [spp-tweet "our top 5 RV destinations in the awesomely beautiful Upper Peninsula of Michigan"]. I also mentioned a Winter camping trip on schedule for Jan. 23-25, 2015 at Tahquamenon Falls in the UP. If you think you'd like to try winter camping, here's the info:- https://rvlifestyle.com/heres-chance-try-winter-camping/ Many of you ask how you can subscribe, review and rate the Roadtreking Podcast on iTunes. With a new podcast like this, those reviews and ratings are really important to be able to show well in the iTunes listings. So if you can, I'd sure appreciate it if you'd subscribe and leave me your review. Here's how: How to subscribe, rate and review a podcast First, open up the iTunes app on your computer or mobile device. Click on Podcasts up on the top > From the iTunes Podcasts page, use the “Search Store” field up at the top right corner of the page. Type in Mike Wendland or Roadtreking RV Podcast. > Click on the logo image of the Roadtreking RV Podcast on the ...