Episodes

Good morning, and welcome to the RV Lifestyle Podcast Monday News Edition. I'm Mike Wendland - journalist, multi-Emmy Award-winning reporter, and a guy who's been living the RV lifestyle for more than 15 years. This week, something a little different. Over the past few months, we've been getting a steady stream of listener questions and feedback about some bigger, harder topics. Not just "where should I camp next" stuff. Real questions about the state of the RV industry, about prices, about qu...

Last week, Jennifer and I got brutally honest about some of the dumbest, most expensive, and most embarrassing mistakes we've made in 15 years of RVing. We talked about broken gear, costly blunders, rookie mistakes, and the kind of RV disasters that make you want to crawl under the camper and hide. And wow... did that strike a nerve. RVers from all over the country wrote in with stories of their own. Bent tailgates. Sewage explosions. Torn awnings. Backing disasters. Fuel mistakes. Near misses...

Most RV buyers think the negotiation is over when they sign the paperwork. It’s not. In this week’s RV Podcast News Edition, Mike exposes the hidden RV sales tax trap that can cost owners thousands of dollars for years after buying their rig, even if they negotiated a huge discount. Some states tax you on the ORIGINAL MSRP, not what you actually paid. And almost nobody warns buyers before they sign. But that’s just the beginning. Also in this episode: • A new bipartisan bill in Congress cou...

We’ve made a lot of RV mistakes over the years… but these eight? They cost us a jaw-dropping $26,000. In this episode, we’re getting real and sharing the costly, embarrassing, and sometimes downright scary mistakes we’ve made on the road, from a $16,000 fuel disaster to a tailgate crunch, a campsite mishap, and one very icy near-disaster that could have ended much worse. The truth is, none of these were bad luck. Every single one was preventable. If you’re new to RVing, or even if you’ve been...

Travel season is here — and so is $6 diesel. This week's Monday News Edition covers five stories that every RV traveler needs to hear before they hitch up and head out. What we cover this week: Fuel Prices: The Surge That Could Change Your Summer Plans National diesel is at $5.62 and climbing. Regular gas jumped 34 cents in a single week — the biggest weekly run-up of the year. Real RVers are already shortening trips and canceling plans. Mike breaks down the numbers and gives practical advice ...

What happens between the big RV rallies? That is where the real magic often begins. In this episode, we talk with RVer Jeff Neumann about the growing trend of mini meetups, those small, informal gatherings organized by everyday RVers that are quietly transforming the lifestyle. These casual get-togethers are helping people build deeper friendships, stay connected on the road, and turn quick festival encounters into lasting relationships. We will explore how mini meetups work, why they are beco...

This week's RV news is big. A congressional hearing reveals what really happened when the Grand Canyon burned. A potential mega-merger could reshape every RV on the road. Bears are attacking hikers at the most visited park in America. And the national parks are opening - with some major changes you need to know before you go. In this episode: The Dragon Bravo Fire scandal: did the NPS let it burn on purpose? Congress wants answers. Fire season is already here - Southeast RVers, there are camp...

Ever wonder what really goes on behind the scenes at an RV dealership? This week, Mike and Jennifer sit down with Nick Schmidt of Sunshine State RVs for a hilarious and eye-opening conversation about the wildest, most unbelievable customer stories you'll ever hear. "Crazy RV Buyers" - you have to hear these to believe them. Plus: Jennifer shares practical tips on keeping your RV bathroom fresh (hint: it all starts with water). Mike and Jennifer highlight one of America's most peaceful and histo...

Jennifer and I just spent a week doing hands-on reviews of six small motorhomes - Class Bs and compact Class Cs. And I have some things to say about what they cost. Strong things. Things that have been building for a while. We are going there today - including a hard look at the manufacturers who are trying to capture the low end of this market with rigs that are, frankly, not worth what people are paying for them. Then - tariffs. On April 6th, new steel and aluminum duties took effect. And if...

Episode 600 of the RV Podcast is here, and we are marking the milestone with a packed episode. Mike and Jennifer are on the road near Gainesville, Florida, prepping for their spring rally with RVCommunity.com members in St. Augustine, and they have a lot to share. First, Love's Travel Stops has been quietly building something big for RVers. Full hookups, dog parks, and campgrounds were just the start. Now Love's is offering tires and batteries to RVers who need them on the road. Jim Wheeler, L...

Is glamping quietly pushing RVers out of campgrounds? That is the question we are tackling in this week’s RV Lifestyle Podcast News Edition, and the answer may change how you plan your next trip. Across North America, more campgrounds are replacing traditional RV sites with cabins, yurts, and high-end glamping units. It is changing availability, pricing, and even the overall camping experience. We break down what is really happening and what it means for RVers. But that is just one of the big...

They thought RV life would be freedom and adventure… Instead, they got breakdowns, detours, and the kind of bad luck you can’t make up. In this episode, we talk with a full-time RV couple who say they have the “best bad luck” of anyone they’ve ever met. From mechanical failures to unexpected setbacks, their journey is filled with moments most influencers never show. But here’s what makes their story powerful… They didn’t quit. They adapted. They laughed. And they kept going. This is the si...

Campgrounds are pulling tricks you need to know about. A California RV fraud case just got a lot bigger - and a lot worse. Diesel prices are doing something that historically makes RVers cancel trips. A state just tried to quietly hit motorhome buyers with a tax that has nothing to do with luxury. And there's a new campervan from the other side of the world that might just change how you think about where this industry is heading. Cuttrnt RV stories that matter because they affect your life o...

What if one simple weekend could completely change the direction of your life? That is exactly what happened to Julio and his family. In this episode of the RV Podcast, we share the incredible true story of a couple who had never RVed before, took one short weekend trip… and came back completely transformed. Today, they own a Class A motorhome and are building a whole new lifestyle around travel, family, and freedom. If you have ever wondered whether the RV lifestyle is really worth it, this ...

Gas prices are spiking - but are RV travelers actually cutting back? We asked our community, got more than 300 responses, and the numbers tell a surprising story. Plus: the RV loan trap that is costing buyers thousands without them knowing it, why Winnebago's latest earnings report matters to every RV owner and buyer, a behind-the-scenes look at the company that builds the insides of your RV and just invested seven figures in a giant design studio, and a new Washington State law that finally cle...

Are long RV drives putting your health at risk? In this episode of the RV Podcast, we take a closer look at something most RVers never think about... the hidden dangers of long driving days. From circulation issues to fatigue, we share practical, real-world tips to help you stay safe and feel better behind the wheel. But that is just part of the story. We also take you along on a beautiful Michigan Lower Peninsula RV adventure, one of our favorite trips. From the Detroit area and world-class ...

This week on the RV Lifestyle Podcast News Edition, we are covering the stories that actually matter to your life on the road - and we are not pulling punches. TARIFF CHAOS IS HITTING YOUR NEXT RV We dig deep into the regulatory whiplash that is hammering RV manufacturers right now. It starts with a piece of wood you have never heard of - lauan plywood - and expands into a full picture of how cascading tariffs on steel, aluminum, and imported materials are forcing manufacturers to make pricing ...

Buying a new RV is exciting, but according to veteran RVer Janice Smith, your first stop shouldn't be a cross-country trek. With 34 years of experience and **16 different RVs** under her belt, Janice joins Mike and Jen to reveal her "must-do" ritual for every new rig: the **Shakedown Trip**. In this episode of *The RV Podcast*, we dive into why this short initial trip is the single most important thing you can do to save your future vacation (and your sanity). Janice shares exactly what she loo...

Fuel prices are skyrocketing, a roadside favorite is under fire, and the RV industry just saw a massive sales drop. In this Monday News Edition, Mike Wendland breaks down the massive jump in diesel and gasoline prices following military strikes in the Middle East. What does a $5.00/gallon reality mean for your summer road trip? We do the math so you don’t have to. Plus, we look at why Buc-ee’s—the "king of the road stop"—has been handed a failing grade by the Better Business Bureau. Is the bra...

Episode 590 of the RV Podcast Stories from the Road Edition takes you back in time as we share the story of what may have been the very first RV influencer, from 50 years ago. Long before YouTube, social media, and blogs, there were travelers finding ways to tell the story of life on the road, and in this episode, we look at one of those pioneers and why his story still matters today. We also share our RV Trip of the Week to Colorado, one of the most beautiful summer RV destinations in America,...

What is really happening in the RV dealership world right now, and what does it mean for RV buyers and owners? We call it The Great RV Dealership Land Grab... Why Bigger isn't Necessarily Better. In Episode 589 of the RV Podcast News Edition, we breakdown the dealership consolidation wave reshaping the RV industry, from Camping World's financial struggles and leadership shakeup to the rapid expansion of Blue Compass, General RV, and Campers Inn. We explain who is winning, who is hurting, and w...

If you have ever spent time in campgrounds, you have probably seen them, the friendly “campground cats” who wander from site to site, charming travelers along the way. But what happens when one of those cats chooses you? In this episode of the RV Podcast Stories from the Road, we share the heartwarming true story of Hitch, an orange tabby who walked into a Kentucky campsite last fall and never really left. Janie and Jeff Green were camping with their 13 year old dog, Newman, when a friendly s...

Campground prices have exploded - and the experience hasn't kept up. In this week's RV Podcast News Edition, we're calling it what it is: the Campground Quality Collapse. A brand-new analysis of 609,000 pricing data points across 2,100+ private campgrounds shows the national median nightly RV site rate is now $62.10, up dramatically from pre-pandemic prices of $35 to $45. We'll tell you who's behind it, what corporate consolidation and dynamic pricing mean for your travel budget, and what you ca...

Some journeys change your destination. Others change your life. In this deeply encouraging episode, we share a powerful Story from the Road that reminds us why the RV lifestyle is about more than travel, it is about purpose, healing, and discovering what is still possible. We share Janet McKinney’s remarkable journey after losing her husband and lifelong RV travel partner. Together, they built a life around adventure and the freedom of the road. But when tragedy struck, Janet faced overwhelmin...