Mar 05 2025 46 mins 32
This week on Episode 537 of the RV Podcast:
* Why truck stop camping should be in your overnight travel plans this year
* Your RV's Pre-Season Checklist - the things that must be replaced at the start of a new camping season
* The Trump administration’s continuing budget cutting and the dwindling workforce may result in reduced hours and early closures for our National Parks.
* And in Mike & Jen’s Storytime, The Rooster's Revenge, or Why Bo Doesn't Chase Chickens Anymore
To see the YouTube video version of the podcast, click below:
For the audio version, download on your favorite podcast app or click the player below:
RV CONVERSATION OF THE WEEK -Truck Stop Camping
By popular request, we bring back a conversation we had last spring with Jim Wheeler, director of hospitality of Loves Travel Spots. Since then, Loves has greatly increased the number of RV camping spots at almost 90 locations around the country, totaling over 1,400 individual camping spots.
They are adding 17 more locations this year.
The company clearly sees an opportunity to bring in more RVers and is offering full hookups and lots more.
As you plan your spring and summer travels, this interview may convince you that a truck stop may now be in your overnight plans.
SOCIAL MEDIA BUZZ - Wendy Bowyer
Wendy Bowyer reports on the hot issues most talked about this past week on social media and our RV Lifestyle Community group.
Over in our private RVLifestyle Community, it is now officially March Meetup month! You've heard of March Madness; well, in our community, it is March Meetup time! We have volunteer hosts organizing get-togethers all around the country, inviting others to join them for a meal to connect! Some are meeting at restaurants, others a winery, another a Cracker Barrel and one even at someone's home. Locations so far include Tennessee, southwest Michigan, North Carolina, and the Florida panhandle. It is going to be so much fun!
Then over in our RVLifestyle Facebook Group, the interesting conversations continue. Janice wrote: What are your thoughts of staying overnight at a rest area?
This post had more than 400 responses with some people saying don't do it because it is not safe - and many of these "don't do it" folks seemed very adamant.
But by far, the majority of the folks said DO IT and they, too, were very adamant and had some great tips.
First know the local law - make sure it is legal to do this. Second, know the location - is it generally safe? Leon was one of many who said to listen to your gut and if you have a bad feeling, don't stay.
Christy reads reviews on the rest stop on some apps she has before deciding to overnight. But overall she said she prefers them to a Walmart parking lot because most have security cameras and feel safer. In fact many said they felt safer at a rest area, saying the number of truck drivers around added a level of safety.
Another Facebook post that caught my eye was from Dwight who asked:
https://rvlifestyle.com/slides-solar-and-snakes/
RV Slides: A Top Expert shares what can go wrong with them and how to maintain them
The Trump Tariff Threats against Canada are Disrupting the RV Business Big Time
Want to run your RV and AC all night long off solar and lithium batteries? You better count the cost first
And in Mike and Jen’s Storytime, the time a live rattlesnake dropped on Mike’s foot.
All this plus the RV News of the Week and your questions coming up in Episode #536 of the RV Podcast
This week on Episode 536 of the RV Podcast:
* RV Slides: A Top Expert shares what can go wrong with them and how to maintain them
* The Trump Tariff Threats against Canada are Disrupting the RV Business Big Time
* Want to run your RV and AC all night long off solar and lithium batteries? You better count the cost first
* And in Mike and Jen’s Storytime, the time a live rattlesnake dropped on Mike’s foot.
* All this plus the RV News of the Week and your questions coming up in Episode #536 of the RV Podcast
You can watch the video version from our RV Lifestyle YouTube Channel by clicking the player below.
If you prefer an audio-only podcast, you can listen to us through your favorite podcast app or the player below.
RV CONVERSATION OF THE WEEK - Slides
In our RV Conversation of the Week, we sit down with a Master RV Technician to discuss the intricacies of slide-out technology in today’s recreational vehicles. These expandable rooms have transformed the industry by creating dramatically more living space while maintaining the same exterior footprint, allowing manufacturers to offer spacious interiors that were previously impossible in traditional designs.
Despite their popularity, however, RV slides remain a source of confusion for many owners. Our guest is Master RV Technician Bart Taylor of Keystone RV, who will help us understand the mechanical systems behind these innovative features, address common operational mistakes, and share essential maintenance tips to prevent costly repairs.
Whether you're a seasoned RVer or considering your first purchase, this conversation provides valuable insights into maximizing the benefits of slide technology while avoiding potential pitfalls.
Catch it in either player above.
SOCIAL MEDIA BUZZ - Wendy Bowyer
Wendy Bowyer reports on the hot issues most talked about this past week on social media and our RV Lifestyle Community group.
In our private RVLifestyle Community, we are just having a blast coming online together every Thursday night for our virtual campfire. Lots of conversations and great sharing going on, and I love seeing all the connections!
But the big buzz this week in our private Community is we opened registration for our fall 2025 rally in the Texas Hill Country - we are so excited! We are camping in Fredericksburg, a cute town with German roots in a simply beautiful corner of Texas. We are going to have a great time this October exploring the area, enjoying some Texas BBQ, going to a dance hall to do a little Texas two-stepping - can't wait.
Then over at our RVLifestyle Facebook Group, Donna shared a picture recently of the entire space she has for clothes in her RV and asked for ideas on how to make the space work better. She said she was tired of emptying it out to find something like a pair of undies and to be honest, she had very little space.
Picture the bed of a rig, then over to one side is a cupboard that stretches from the ceiling to the bed opening as a short hanging closet - and that is ALL the space Donna had. (Not much space at all!)
Thankfully many in the community had ideas for h...
