Episode 136: How the RV Lifestyle Enhances Your Favorite Interests and Activities

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 Kiki in her Onesie 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. Here’s a handy article we found that recommends other waxes, all of which is fine - http://www.doityourselfrv.com/what-is-the-best-product-to-use-for-waxing-your-rv/[spp-timestamp time="20:20"] Laura was interested in Campskunk’s planned RV trip to Europe, which we talked about in Episode 135 of the RV Podcast. She shared how years ago she and her husband took advantage of a unique way to buy a new RV in Europe from Volkswagon and then ship it back here as a used vehicle. She wonders if, now that Roadtrek is owned by the German-based Hymer group, whether it will be possible to do such a program under Hymer. [spp-timestamp time="22:10"] 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 One question a lot of dog owners have is how much water do they need? [spp-timestamp time="26:36"] You may be surprised to now that your dog should drink about as much as a human is supposed to drink, namely about ½ t 1 ounce of water for every pound of body weight each day. So a healthy 65-pound Labrador Retriever should be drinking between about 33 and 65 ounces, or about ¼ to ½ gallon of water daily. To determine if your dog may need more water, lift some skin at the back of her neck and let it go. If your dog is well hydrated, the skin will fall quickly back into place. The skin of a dehydrated dog will fall more slowly and form sort of a tent. Another method is to check your dog’s gums. Moist, slick gums indicate a good level of hydration; dry or sticky gums mean your pet’s body needs more water. One important note here: The amount of water your dog drinks can be an indicator of an underlying illness. Dogs with pancreatitis or parvovirus, tend suddenly not drink much water, but a brewing bladder infection, or other types of infection can cause excessive thirst and water consumption. So if your pet is drinking less or more water than normal, you should have her checked by your veterinarian to rule out an underlying condition. What about cats? A normal cat's daily water requirement ranges from 5 to 10 fluid ounces per day. Cats eating canned food will receive much of their needs from its food, since canned food is about 70 to 80 percent water. In contrast, dry food is only 7 to 10 percent water. So… whether a dog or a cat…lets keep our pets well hydrated, especially as the weather is starting to warm up and they can easily overheat. This part of the podcast is brought to you by Dozers Dental Chews, an all natural and healthy treat your dog will love. Available direct through Amazon , Retailers and Pet Shops across the USA INTERVIEW OF THE WEEK The Richardsons Our guests today are John and Nancy Richardson, an RVing couple we have met several times in our travels around the country attending various gatherings. [spp-timestamp time="30:32"] The Richardson’s have been RVing for four decades now. They’ve been everywhere. And they have a lot of things to share, from doing your old maintenance – which John does – to their unique traveling style and how it enriches their various hobbies and special interests. The interview of the week is brought to you by http://sunshinestatervs.com/, where every new or used Roadtrek motorhome is delivered to the customer free, anywhere in the country RV NEWS OF THE WEEK: Three stories this week… [spp-timestamp time="40:27"] National Park advocates say $12 billion needed for park maintenance ranging from neglected roads to sewage issues to broken water lines and more. Read more Virginia woman converts RV to a hair salon on wheels. Read more Yellowstone National Park euthanized often-photographed white wolf after hikers find her with unknown injuries. Read more This portion of the podcast is brought to you by Alde the only name in heat that you need to know for your RV TRAVELING TECH TIP: Steve Van Dinter By Steve Van Dinter Verizon Wireless In today’s power-hungry world, the thought of running out of juice for any of our gadgets is enough to send shivers down your spine. [spp-timestamp time="47:18"] And it’s not just maximizing battery life we worry about…it’s also remembering to bring along the right chargers and wondering if there will be enough outlets to cover them all. That’s why to save some sanity when I travel, I bring along a power inverter like the Energizer Cup Inverter. What I like about this inverter is it plugs into your vehicle’s cigarette lighter then sits snugly in a cup holder so it’s not moving about. Then on the top you have 4 USB ports and 1 standard AC outlet – yes that means you can plug in a laptop in addition to 4 smartphones! Also, while we’re talking about power, if you have a Mophie Charge Force case for your phone, you’re going to want to pick up the Charge Force Vent Mount. This mount plugs into your vehicle’s power port and hangs on your vents. Your phone magnetically attaches to it and begins charging wirelessly! Use it in portrait or landscape mode for easy Google Maps viewing and never worry about draining your phone’s battery because it’s charging the whole time it’s mounted. So what does saving all this power get you – more battery for more selfies! Take your selfie game to the next level with a PopSocket. These ultra-portable accessories stick to the back of your phone giving you more stability when holding your smartphone or tablet. Pop it out and set your phone on a table to use it as a kickstand when watching a video or wrap your headphones around it for easy storage. With their reusable adhesive and wide selection, switch them out anytime you’re looking for a different pop of color. This part of the podcast is brought to you by Verizon, which operates America’s most reliable wireless network, with more than 112 million retail connections nationwide. OFF THE BEATEN PATH REPORT By Tom and Patti Burkett Patti and Tom Burkett One of nature’s most unusual spectacles is on offer during the month of June, and it’s a good idea to plan ahead if you want to see it. Many folks think the Great Smoky Mountains are the only place to see synchronous fireflies, but they can be found in several other places as well. There are more than a dozen species of fireflies, and three are known to show this unusual behavior. [spp-timestamp time="49:42"]