RV Podcast

In this episode we meet a couple who have been RVing for 40 years! They started in a popup and now have a Class B RV and they share how RVing has allowed them to enhance and enjoy other interests and hobbies, like discovering antiques, old cars, trains, planes and all things mechanical. Also this week, lots of reader comments and questions, traveling technology tips and a special off the beaten path report about an amazing natural phenomenon you need to see. Click the player below to Listen Now or scroll down through the show note details. When you see a time code hyperlink, you can click it to jump directly to that segment of the podcast. [spp-player] Show Notes for Episode #136 April 19,2017 of Roadtreking - The RV Podcast: What Mike and Jennifer are up to this week: [spp-timestamp time="2:04"] * Mike is awaiting the arrival of the brand new Samsung Galaxy 8 Plus smartphone, coming this week. He’s also been working on the RV Podcast and Blog You Tube channel – You can sign up at: https://www.youtube.com/user/roadtrekingmike * Jennifer is working on a video on how to keep the cushions in the RV from sliding off while driving, turning corners, etc. * Next week, we’re heading to Arizona, Phoenix area for The Super B RV Show April 26-30 at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, AZ. Jennifer and Mike will be there! Come meet them, ask questions. Roadtrek will also be conducting seminars. And there will be representatives on hand form all of the major Class B motorhome manufacturers. JENNIFER'S TIP OF THE WEEK I get so many of my tips from friends we meet on the road, in campgrounds at our Roadtreking gatherings. So it was not long ago when we met our friend Kiki around a campfire. She was wearing a Onesie. You know what a Onesie is… its those one piece jumpsuit-like coveralls that we buy toddlers and infants to keep them all warm and cozy. Well, Kiki was indeed that, in an adult Onesie… perfect for hanging around a campfire. [spp-timestamp time="5:50"] Kiki got hers from a local store in northern Michigan. But you can also find a wide variety of them in all different sizes on Amazon. And be sure to send me your tips and suggestions for the RV lifestyle. You can use the “Leave Voicemail” link at Roadtreking.com. Just click it and then use the built-in microphone on your computer or mobile devise to record a message to me. You can do it over as many times as you want, until you are satisfied. And then you just click a button and it comes right to my email inbox. I love hearing from you! Jennifer's tip of the week is brought to you by RadPower Bikes (www.RadPowerBikes.com_… an electric bike manufacturer offering direct to consumer pricing on powerful premium electric bikes. Now with free shipping! LISTENER QUESTIONS OF THE WEEK: Jan is a new RVer and wonders why the monitors inside her RV are so bright and how they can be dimmed so the panel lights are not as jarring at night. [spp-timestamp time="10:41"] Arvid has an alternative to the Lynx Leveling blocks many of us use for our RVs. The curved device he suggests is the Anderson Hitches 3604 x 2 2 Pack Camper Leveler and chock set. I warn you, it’s expensive. $82 on Amazon. A cheaper alternative for just $17 is the Camco Yellow Tri-Leveler. The Tri-Leveler features a gradient of three levels for simple, customizable leveling up to 3-7/8-inch. [spp-timestamp time="17:06"] Craig wants to know of a good exterior wax for his RV. We suggest Turtle Wax paste, available in most stores.

Our longtime boondocking buddy Campskunk has shared lots of information on the blog and podcast about traveling North America as a fulltime RVer. But he’s now expanding his territory and is about to embark on a six month RV tour of Europe. His RV is now on a ship somewhere in the mid Atlantic. In a week or so, Campskunk and his wife, Sharon, and their cat, Fiona, will fly to Belgium and pick their RVup at the dock and begin the tour. In this episode of the RV Podcast, Campskunk shares what you need to do to take your RV to Europe. And he tells us the places he’ll go, where he’ll boondock and how much it will cost. Plus your RV questions, RV news and lots of tips and helpful RV information. [spp-player] Show Notes for Episode #135 April 12, 2017 of Roadtreking - The RV Lifestyle Podcast: JENNIFER'S TIP OF THE WEEK One frustration many RVers have is not having enough room to take all the things they’d like in those small RV refrigerators. Our friends Tom Burkett and his wife, Patti, have found an innovate way to get more food in the RV freezer   Tom shares his idea with us at [spp-timestamp time="5:20"] And be sure to send me your tips and suggestions for the RV lifestyle. You can use the “Leave Voicemail” link at Roadtreking.com. Just click it and then use the built-in microphone on your computer or mobile devise to record a message to me. You can do it over as many times as you want, until you are satisfied. And then you just click a button and it comes right to my email inbox.I love hearing from you! Jennifer's tip of the week is brought to you by RadPower Bikes (www.RadPowerBikes.com_… an electric bike manufacturer offering direct to consumer pricing on powerful premium electric bikes. Now with free shipping! LISTENER QUESTIONS OF THE WEEK: * Rosie asks for advice in cleaning the little fuzzies and stuff that accumulates on the window screens of her RV. We answer, noting that clean screens produce more efficient air flow through your windows and will make you breathe better. Normally, to meticulously clean your RV screens, you remove them and wash them off with soap and water. But if they are just dusty, a microfiber towel which you can buy at WalMart or in auto stores can do the trick even without water. You will be surprised how it can do wonders to your screen. A small battery operated vacuum like the Dirt Devil also helps. [spp-timestamp time="9:04"] * Pam wants to remodel her older RV. One such place is focalwood.com in Indiana. They specialize in RV makeovers and amish-crafted RV furniture like tables, desk units, headboards, window treatments and much more. Another is RVMakeovers in Wheat Ridge, CO. They do all sorts of projects on RV kitchens, baths, flooring and more on Sprinters, campervans and lots of Class A, B and C motorhomes. [spp-timestamp time="12:08"] 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. PET TIP OF THE WEEK We’ve heard of jobs for volunteer campground hosts at RV parks. But here’s one for you dog owners. You and your pet can become “Bark Rangers.” [spp-timestamp time="17:58"] Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore in Michigan is hosting an orientation meeting for anyone interested in volunteering to serve as a “Bark Ranger.”

In Episode 134 of the RV Podcast, we talk about Blacktop Boondocking, free or very low cost self-contained overnight camping on blacktop, specifically parking lots at businesses and places that welcome RVer, like casinos, Walmarts, Cracker Barrel restaurants and many others. Unlike traditional boondocking in wild places that allow dispersed camping like national and state forests or Bureau of Land Management holdings out West, Blacktop Boondocking has its own distinctive rules. This week, we talk to an expert who sets us right on the benefits and etiquette of Blacktop Boondocking. Plus, as always, your tips, suggestions questions, as well as RV news, the RV calendar and a great off-the-beaten path report. Click the player below to Listen Now or scroll down through the show note details. When you see a time code hyperlink, you can click it to jump directly to that segment of the podcast. [spp-player] Show Notes for Episode #134 April 5, 2017 of The RV Podcast: JENNIFER'S TIP OF THE WEEK Well, it’s April and for most RVers who live in the Midwest, mountain and northern states, that means it’s time to de-winterize their rigs, draining out all that sticky, sweet-smelling pink antifreeze, sanitizing and filling their fresh water tanks for a new RV season. For a lot of folks, one of the hardest things about dewinterizing is to make that water taste clean, without that bleach odor or aftertaste that seems to linger from the sanitizing process. A listener of the RV Podcast named Bob from the state of Arkansas has sent in a great tip about how to get rid of that chlorine or bleach taste. Bob suggests using one cup of white vinegar for every 15 gallons of fresh water. You can her him at [spp-timestamp time="6:37"] into the interview. We love to get your tips and suggestions for the RV lifestyle. You can use the “Leave Voicemail” link at Roadtreking.com. Just click it and then use the built-in microphone on your computer or mobile devise to record a message to me. You can do it over as many times as you want, until you are satisfied. And then you just click a button and it comes right to my email inbox. Jennifer's tip of the week is brought to you by RadPower Bikes (www.RadPowerBikes.com_… an electric bike manufacturer offering direct to consumer pricing on powerful premium electric bikes. Now with free shipping! LISTENER QUESTIONS OF THE WEEK: * Yvonne is a new RVer and she hates laundromats but asks what we do about washing clothes on the road. [spp-timestamp time="10:31"] * Trish asks what was the follow up to the break in we had a couple of years ago, as discussed in the RV Podcast Episode 36  [spp-timestamp time="13:57"] * And a new RVer named Sharon is headed to Yellowstone National park with her husband on what will be their first big camping adventure. She asks for our recommendations. [spp-timestamp time="22:35"] 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. PET TIP OF THE WEEK If you are a regular listener, you’ve heard us talk a lot about our dog Bo and how much energy he has. Bo is 16 months old this week which, in dog years, makes him a very active teenager. We’ve shared before about finding places to exercise Bo as we travel. We love to find various off leash dog parks and have found it’s also a great way to get to know the towns and places we’re traveling through. [spp-timestamp time="29:20"]

In this episode of the Roadtreking RV Lifestyle Podcast we answer one of the most asked questions we get – what are our sleeping arrangements in the RV? We talk about how we set up our RV bed, what we use for bedding and comfort and how and where we store it. This is a question we get in several variations a couple of times each week so in this episode, we go into great detail. And we’ll share resources on the gear we use for our RV bed. Also this week, a very interesting interview with Charlie Adcock, the President of the Family Motorcoach Association. Charlie talks candidly about the future of this very influential organization and how to survive, the FMCA needs to reach out to other RVers, specifically those who have towables – travel trailers and fifth wheels. You’ll also want to learn about the FMCA’s Member Assist Program, which offers what I think is the most essential peace of mind an RVer can have if, while traveling, the worst happens – a heart attack, or death or being stranded on the road because of an incapacitating injury or illness. Also in this episode, as always, RV News, traveling, tech and pet tips and a great off-the-beaten-path report. [spp-player] Show Notes for Episode #133 March 29,2017 of Roadtreking - The RV Lifestyle Podcast: JENNIFER'S TIP OF THE WEEK When you go on a long trip and leave your sticks and bricks home, one of the worries is that there will be a power outage while you are gone. The nation’s electric grid and infrastructure is in decline and outages happen more and more. [spp-timestamp time="8:30"] So maybe you get home and see the clocks all blinking – a sure sign of an outage. What you don’t know is how long there was no electricity. Maybe it’s been just a few hours, but also there is a possibility it’s been for days. In this case, the food in your refrigerator have been defrosted and spoiled. Now if you see that happened – that the frozen food is all squishy soft, the best thing to do is to throw it out right away. But even if it’s frozen solid when you check, that doesn’t mean you’re in the clear. That’s because food freezes again when electricity comes back. So you can’t notice it was thawed. This can be a major threat to your health because the food may spread salmonella and other bacteria. The food can stay safe without power at least 4 hours, only if the fridge is left unopened. The door of the fridge should be closed as much as possible to keep the cold temperature. The food in the freezer can stay safe without power for 48 hours, but only if it is full. The food is safe in the freezer for 24 hours if it is half-full. But if it’s re-frozen, how do you know? Here is a trick you can use to find out how long your freezer was without any power. This way you will discover if your food may be consumed or it spent too much time being warm. Pour some water into a cup and place it in the freezer. When there is only ice in the cup, place the coin on the top of the cup and put it back into the freezer. Next time you come back from a long trip, take a look at the coin. If the coin is still at the top or in the middle of the ice cubes in the cup, there was no electricity, but only for a short period, which is why the water was only partly melted. In addition, if the coin is at the bottom of the cup, it shows that there was no electricity for a long period, which caused the water to dissolve completely and thus the coin sank to the bottom. If this is the case for your freezer, do not consume the food that is in your freezer. That’s this week’s tip. Do you have an RV tip or suggestion for me? You can use the “Leave Voicemail” link at Roadtreking.com.

On August 21, 2017, millions of people across the United States will see nature's most wondrous spectacle — a total eclipse of the Sun. It is a scene of unimaginable beauty; the Moon completely blocks the Sun, daytime becomes a deep twilight, and the Sun’s corona shimmers in the darkened sky. In this week’s podcast, we offer a guide to understand, prepare for, and view this rare celestial event. We interview Michael Zeiler, the founder of the Great American Eclipse website, who tells us why RVers are in the best position to view this stupendous event. That interview is coming up in just a few minutes, along with audience Q&A, lots of RV News and tips and an off the beaten path report. Click the player below to Listen Now or scroll down through the show note details. When you see a time code hyperlink, you can click it to jump directly to that segment of the podcast. [spp-player] Show Notes for Episode #32 March 22, 2017 of Roadtreking - The RV Lifestyle Podcast: MONOLOGUE Here’s the link to the post from our Facebook Group that Jennifer and Mike talked about, the story of the snakeskin in the RV: [spp-timestamp time="4:22"] https://www.facebook.com/groups/roadtreking/permalink/775652012593780/  JENNIFER'S TIP OF THE WEEK Have you ever had trouble sleeping in your RV at night because it’s too bright? Then listen to listener Nancy Richardson’s tip on making your own black out curtains. [spp-timestamp time="9:29"] Great tip! Do you have one? Well consider this an invitation send me your tips and suggestions for the RV lifestyle. You can use the “Leave Voicemail” link at Roadtreking.com. Just click it and then use the built-in microphone on your computer or mobile devise to record a message to me. You can do it over as many times as you want, until you are satisfied. And then you just click a button and it comes right to my email inbox. I love hearing from you! Jennifer's tip of the week is brought to you by RadPower Bikes (www.RadPowerBikes.com_… an electric bike manufacturer offering direct to consumer pricing on powerful premium electric bikes. Now with free shipping! LISTENER QUESTIONS OF THE WEEK: Kevin asks about the Volcano Grill… Mike shares his thoughts about this $145 three-fuel portable camping grill. [spp-timestamp time="14:24"] Two email questions this week: From Neal: Just wondering if you have encountered any problems with using BioDiesel in your Roadtreck.  I have the same chassis with a Winnebago unit and I’m planning a cross country trip this Summer.  Did you encounter places where you could not find regular diesel and if so, were there any problems using BioDiesel? [spp-timestamp time="17:30"] From Anette: Greetings! I have recently found your website and can't stay long enough to hear enough! I am in the process of purchasing my first Roadtrek! It is a 2009 170 popular with 25,000 miles, one owner. Your podcasts have been soooo very helpful. I have wanted a Roadtrek for the last ten years and have been actively been look for 3 years. My question is do you have any recommendations for a company for extended warranties? You might talk about it on one of your shows, but I have a ton to listen to. Thank you very much for your helpful tips and information. [spp-timestamp time="21:25"] 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.

Are you planning your 2017 RV travels? Be sure to include Canada this year. There’s no better time to visit our neighbor to the north as the nation proudly celebrates its 150th birthday. And Canada’s amazing National Parks are making it particularly attractive for RVers this year with a pass that allows free entrance all year long, no matter where you’re from, Canada, the U.S. or anywhere else. We’ll tell you how to get one and offer lots of suggestions on what to see and where to go in Canada this year….coming up in our interview segment of the podcast. Plus tips for you, your pets and your on the go technology, as well as audience questions, RV news of the week and the RV calendar… all this coming up in episode 131 of the Roadtreking RV Lifestyle podcast. Click the player below to Listen Now or scroll down through the show note details. When you see a time code hyperlink, you can click it to jump directly to that segment of the podcast. [spp-player] Complete Show Notes for Episode #131 March 15, 2017 of Roadtreking - The RV Lifestyle Podcast: Save the Date! Mark down April 27-29 if you are in the American Southwest within driving distance of Phoenix, AZ. Jennifer and I will be there that weekend making personal appearances, meeting and greeting folks at the big Class B RV show and expo sponsored by the good folks at La Mesa RV. [spp-timestamp time="8:29"] There’s a free BBQ that Saturday, demos of the latest in Class B technology and displays featuring the latest models from Roadtrek and others. We’ll have more to say about this but for now, if you can get there, put it on your calendar…April 27-29, 2017 in the Phoenix AZ area. JENNIFER'S TIP OF THE WEEK Our Roadtreking friend Mary Z recently shared a fascinating article from Outdoor magazine that notes sixteen hundred people go missing from our public lands each year. They’re on a hike or jogging or exploring, usually not from camp or a road and they are never seen again. We’ll put a link to the article from the magazine on the Roadtreking-dot-com blog but Mary, who used to work for the Forest Service posted this on our Roadtreking Facebook Group that I think is worth passing along here on the podcast. [spp-timestamp time="10:55"] Says Mary: “I am retired Forest Service and I have seen this happen so many times people disappear without a trace. If you are solo make sure people know where you are headed. I witnessed people disappear on Forest Service roads, and no one had an inkling they where they were. We found several dead in unexpected locations. Let your family know your plans and if you hike solo, as I do, take less risk and sign in to those trail head logs, your life may depend on it.” Mary’s post brought some good responses and even more tips: Said Rick: “Always carry a little, but loud, whistle. I include one in my first aid kit, camera bag and glove compartment” Another Facebook reader noted: “My husband always lets me know which trail he is taking and what time he should be back by.” And Connie added: “Be very cautious following your GPS. More than once we have been directed to forest service or Township roads totally unsuitable for a vehicle, especially a Roadtrek. Keep road maps up front (along with common sense). “ Good tips all! And be sure to send me your tips and suggestions for the RV lifestyle. You can use the “Leave Voicemail” link at Roadtreking.com. Just click it and then use the built-in microphone on your computer or mobile devise to record a message to me.

On everyone’s bucket list is Yellowstone National Park. But after record crowds and a series of unfortunate incidents last year, this year, before you go, park officials are asking you to take the “Yellowstone Pledge.” What is it? Listen to our interview of the week, as we learn about the pledge and what else is new for 2017 at Yellowstone. Plus, an important update to our recent report on Ticks and Lyme disease that shows a just released report predicting an epidemic of tick infestations, particularly on the eastern seaboard. And we have RV questions, tips and a great off the beaten path report. Click the player below to Listen Now or scroll down through the show note details. When you see a time code hyperlink, you can click it to jump directly to that segment of the podcast. [spp-player] Show Notes for Episode #130 March 8, 2017 of Roadtreking - The RV Lifestyle Podcast: OPENING MONOLOGUE I've written before about the dangers of truck tire retreads and the shredded parts left on the road when they blow out and how the tire remnants cause damage and sometimes injuries. [spp-timestamp time="2:31 "] It happened to us on I-75 just north of Chattanooga over the weekend. A part of a truck tire was hit by a vehicle in front of us and flew up and took out my side mirror. We are very glad it wasn't the window it hit as that would have injured Jennifer in the passenger seat. Nasty. Truck retreads and the "gators" they leave are real hazard on the roads! They cause over 25,000 accidents and at least 100 deaths each year in the United States and Canada. JENNIFER’S TIP OF THE WEEK - Tick Prediction Update We’ve talked on this podcast before about how bad Lyme Disease has become. As we reported in Episode 128 a couple of weeks ago, Lyme Disease s contracted in humans primarily through ticks. Officially, the Centers for Disease Control report 30,000 cases are diagnosed every year. [spp-timestamp time="7:20"] They actually suspect the real number is 10 times that! That means 300,000 people come down with this very serious illness every year in the U.S. alone. The reason we’re revisiting this as a tip this week is because officials have come up with a way to estimate how bad tick infestations and Lyme disease will be in any given year. And the prognosis for 2017 is grim. They are predicting an epidemic. NPR recently did a major story on this. We will link to it on the podcast. but, essentially, scientists who have studied Lyme for more than 20 years, have come up with an early warning system for the disease. They can predict how many cases there will be a year in advance by looking at one key measurement: Count the mice the year before. The explanation is simple: Mice are highly efficient transmitters of Lyme. They infect up to 95 percent of ticks that feed on them. Mice are responsible for infecting the majority of ticks carrying Lyme in the Northeast. And ticks love mice. An individual mouse might have 50, 60, even 100 ticks covering its ears and face. The warm winter has led to an explosion of mice, killed off much fewer ticks than usual and, as a result, 2017 is predicted to be the worse year yet. The disease shows up in Maine, swoops down the East Coast into Washington, D.C.,

We love hearing how other people use their RV. In this episode of the Roadtreking RV Podcast we meet Jim and Carolyn Diepenbruck who have one of the most inspirational stories we’ve ever encountered about how they use their RV to help them bring support and encouragement to Gold Star families who have lost loved ones to conflict in the armed services. You’ll definitely want to tune in to meet the Diepenbrucks, subjects of our interview of the week. Plus, lots of email questions, reader tips and helpful RV news and information. Click the player below to Listen Now or scroll down through the show note details. When you see a time code hyperlink, you can click it to jump directly to that segment of the podcast. [spp-player] Show Notes for Episode #129 March 1, 2017 of Roadtreking - The RV Lifestyle Podcast: JENNIFER'S TIP OF THE WEEK Today’s tip is a fun one… and tasty, at that! [spp-timestamp time="11:12"] Quick now: What do you roast around a campfire at night? Marshmallows, sure. We all love gooey marshmallows and s’mores. But there’s another treat you can put on that marshmallow stick. Listen up as our friend Rhonda Phipps shares an alternative – Star Burst candy! Thanks Rhonda! And be sure to send me your tips and suggestions for the RV lifestyle. You can use the “Leave Voicemail” link at Roadtreking.com. Just click it and then use the built-in microphone on your computer or mobile devise to record a message to me. You can do it over as many times as you want, until you are satisfied. And then you just click a button and it comes right to my email inbox. I love hearing from you! Jennifer's tip of the week is brought to you by RadPower Bikes (www.RadPowerBikes.com_… an electric bike manufacturer offering direct to consumer pricing on powerful premium electric bikes. Now with free shipping! And if you are attending the Portland RV show March 8-12 be sure to see Rad Power Bikes on display! LISTENER QUESTIONS OF THE WEEK: Listener Don has a question about the new Hymer Activ RV, a relative new Class B in the North American market. You can find more info at http://www.gohymer.com/ [spp-timestamp time="15:13"] Here’s a list of where you can see the Activ at an upcoming RV show - http://www.gohymer.com/upcoming-tradeshows-and-events/ Here’s an Activ dealer list http://www.gohymer.com/dealer-locator/ Meanwhile, here are some email questions that came in this week: * From Alan: Newbie question. If I park my RV at home and it has a 30amp cord, how do I plug it in to a cord from my house? [spp-timestamp time="17:40"] * From Nancy: This question is for Jennifer. Please talk about driving your motorhome. I know my husband wishes I would drive more but, frankly, it scares me. I know you drive. I guess I need a little female persuasion that tells it like it really is, rather than my husband’s advice to “just get behind the wheel and do it!” Do you know what I mean? Men! Thanks in advance. [spp-timestamp time="18:53"] 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. PET TIP OF THE WEEK This week’s pet tip is for those of you who travel with cats, although I would think those who have very small dogs will al...

With warmer weather, we are spending more and more time outdoors again and that means more exposure to a tiny creature that poses big problems. I’m talking about ticks, a biting, blood-sucking bug not much bigger than a pinhead. But they are nothing to take lightly. Ticks are everywhere, increasing in numbers, and spreading a serious illness called Lyme Disease. You need to listen to our interview his week with a top expert on tick infestation and Lyme Disease, a very real threat to any RVer who spends a lot of time outdoors. Also this weeks, lots of tips, listener questions, RV News of the Week, the RV Calendatr and an off the beaten path report Click the player below to Listen Now or scroll down through the show note details. When you see a time code hyperlink, you can click it to jump directly to that segment of the podcast. [spp-player] Show Notes for Episode #128 2/22/17 of Roadtreking - The RV Lifestyle Podcast: JENNIFER'S TIP OF THE WEEK We’ve talked before about a great product called Reflectix, an insulating product that comes in rolls and can be easily cut to fit inside and around your RV’s windows. Most recently, we used it on a winter camping trip in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and it did a great of keeping our Roadtrek motorhome warm by preventing the inside heat from escaping through the windows. But you can also use Reflectix in the summer to keep your air-conditioned coolness in, and the outside heat…out! A listener named Tom tells us the Reflectix should be applied on the outside of the window, not the inside. Don’t put inside the window because it would reflect too much heat onto the window and could damage the glass. Mount it outside, with stick on Velcro, just as Tom suggests! [spp-timestamp time="8:45"] And be sure to send me your tips and suggestions for the RV lifestyle. You can use the “Leave Voicemail” link at Roadtreking.com. Just click it and then use the built-in microphone on your computer or mobile devise to record a message to me. You can do it over as many times as you want, until you are satisfied. And then you just click a button and it comes right to my email inbox. I love hearing from you! Jennifer's tip of the week is brought to you by RadPower Bikes (www.RadPowerBikes.com_… an electric bike manufacturer offering direct to consumer pricing on powerful premium electric bikes. Now with free shipping! LISTENER QUESTIONS OF THE WEEK: * Joyce has air in her water lines and wants to know how to get it out [spp-timestamp time="12:42"] * Bill saw our recent Videoblog about our trip south and through Nashville and wants to know how to beat rush hour traffic in big cities [spp-timestamp time="14:40"] * And Bob asks about amateur radio and RVing. [spp-timestamp time="18:05"] 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. PET TIP OF THE WEEK What could be worse than losing your pet while on an RV trip? [spp-timestamp time="23:26"] It happens and it happens much too often. Our pets can be stressed and confused in new environments and be frightened by those unfamiliar surroundings.

On the Valentine’s Day episode of the Roadtreking RV Podcast, Mike and Jennifer answer your questions about their relationship, living for long periods in a 24-foot camper van and how two people so different can get along so well. I’ve been saving all sorts of questions our audience has been sending Jennifer and me over the years - questions perhaps more personal than practical - and decided this Valentine’s Day week that we’ll use those questions to interview ourselves and answer some of the more revealing questions about us. Plus we have tech and pet tips, RV travel advice and the most romantic RV memories from our Off-the-Beaten-Path reporters Tom and Patti Burkett. Click the player below to Listen Now or scroll down through the show note details. When you see a time code hyperlink, you can click it to jump directly to that segment of the podcast. [spp-player] Show Notes for Episode #127 Feb 15, 2017 of Roadtreking - The RV Lifestyle Podcast: JENNIFER'S TIP OF THE WEEK We love listening to audiobooks as we drive. [spp-timestamp time="8:38"] With CD players now a thing of the past for most new vehicles, downloading them and playing them back through a device is the most common way to get them. But they cost a small fortune from the app stores. That’s where Hoopla (www.hoopladigital.com) comes in. Hoopla is a free app for Android, iOS (Apple) or Kindle that lets you download audiobooks directly to your smartphone or tablet from your home public library. For free. Naturally, you have to belong to a public library and have a valid membership. Besides audiobooks, Hoopla lets you check out movies and TV shows and, of course, ebooks. They download to your device for offline playback, meaning you’re not streaming and thus eating up your data plan, or dependent on wi-fi. There are hundreds of thousands of titles to choose from, with more being added daily and titles are automatically returned and removed from your device at the end of the lending period, typically after a month. We love this app. It saves us money and makes those miles go by faster. Do you have an RV tip you’d like to share? You can use the “Leave Voicemail” link at Roadtreking.com. Just click it and then use the built-in microphone on your computer or mobile devise to record a message to me. You can do it over as many times as you want, until you are satisfied. And then you just click a button and it comes right to my email inbox. I love hearing from you! Jennifer's tip of the week is brought to you by RadPower Bikes (www.RadPowerBikes.com_… an electric bike manufacturer offering direct to consumer pricing on powerful premium electric bikes. Now with free shipping! LISTENER QUESTIONS OF THE WEEK: We answer three email questions this week: [spp-timestamp time="12:00"] * We were hoping you might have experience with a product that does a good job of removing odor from the soft surfaces. Any ideas? Gary and Carol * My sister and I are getting ready for a cross-country trip -- (a straight shot across via I-80), in my 2014 Ranger RT. I was looking for a list of all your podcasts.....just the number and title, so we could select those of interest and listen to them while on the road. Do you have a Word/PDF document that I could print off giving just the number and title of all 120+ Thanks!!! - Joan * I'm 85 and have some health issues (heart & arthritis). We live in Tampa,FL and hope to leave in April to drive around the country by taking the southern route to San Diego, coast road to Seattle,

One of the biggest fears many RVers have is fire. Each year, RV fires cause deaths, many injuries and tens of millions of dollars in damages. So to help us fireproof our RVs, this week we interview one of our friends, Mark Polk of RVEduction101.com. Mark is a true expert on all aspects of RVs and RV safety and has critical and very practical advice for us in this episode about keeping our RVs safe from fire. Plus we have lots of news, tips, RV information and, as always, your questions and comments about the RV lifestyle. Click the player below to Listen Now or scroll down through the show note details. When you see a time code hyperlink, you can click it to jump directly to that segment of the podcast. [spp-player] Show Notes for Episode #126 Feb. 8, 2017 of Roadtreking - The RV Lifestyle Podcast: JENNIFER'S TIP OF THE WEEK We love to boondock. We also love to camp in the wintertime. Both types of RVing can pose challenges in staying clean. When on long boondocking trips, we try to conserve our water. In the winter, with no water in the fresh water tanks, it’s the same thing. We connected with our Roadtreking friend Jan Mathews on a recent winter campout and she showed us a very handy way to clean and bathe when water is in short supply. Jan suggests cleaning cloths available in pharmacies for bedridden patients. [spp-timestamp time="7:00"] And be sure to send me your tips and suggestions for the RV lifestyle. You can use the “Leave Voicemail” link at Roadtreking.com. Just click it and then use the built-in microphone on your computer or mobile devise to record a message to me. You can do it over as many times as you want, until you are satisfied. And then you just click a button and it comes right to my email inbox. If I use your tip in the podcast, we’ll send you a free Roadtreking hat! I love hearing from you! Jennifer's tip of the week is brought to you by RadPower Bikes (www.RadPowerBikes.com_… an electric bike manufacturer offering direct to consumer pricing on powerful premium electric bikes. Now with free shipping! LISTENER QUESTIONS OF THE WEEK: * Jan in Tucson has a bunch of questions. She wants to know what Jennifer takes in terms of pans and silverware utensils. She asks us about storing a portable BarbeQue. We share our solution - a small Coleman two burner propane stove that cleans up easy and stores in an airtight case [spp-timestamp time="11:20"] * John is coming to the Oregon eclipse gathering in August and wonders if it’s okay to bring a dog. By all means, we tell him! [spp-timestamp time="20:40"] * Bill has a Roadtrek Versatile 190. He’s a trout fisherman and wonders how to stash is fishing rods. He also wonders about a small trailer for his kayaks and bikes. Mike tells him to check out to Yak-Shak Kayak Trailers - https://youtu.be/wEXfBRck8YY [spp-timestamp time="22:28"] 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. PET TIP OF THE WEEK There was a very sad story we came across this week from California. A dog locked in a car died of heat exhaustion on Sunday in Palm Springs. Now no one would think it’s hot out there this time of year. The day this happened, the high only reached 70 degrees. [spp-timestamp time="26:34"] But you get direct sunlight even on cooler days.