Episodes

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...

This week's RV Podcast News Edition tackles five stories that cover a lot of ground, starting with a topic the rest of the RV media won't touch: the growing RV homelessness crisis. From Michigan lawmakers debating whether campgrounds can serve as housing solutions, to San Francisco banning large vehicles from city streets, to the quiet erosion of overnight parking at places like Cracker Barrel, this issue is reshaping public policy in ways that affect every RVer on the road. We also dig into a...

What happens when kids grow up traveling full-time in an RV? At this year’s Florida RV Supershow in Tampa, we met the youngest RV YouTubers we’ve ever encountered, Dean and Gertie from the Dean and Gertie Explore the World YouTube channel. Their story is inspiring, eye-opening, and a powerful example of how the RV lifestyle can transform a family. In this episode of the RV Podcast, we talk with Dean and Gertie about life on the road, roadschooling, and what it is really like growing up in an R...

The RV industry saw major developments this week — including a shocking leadership change at Tiffin Motorhomes, new RV manufacturer acquisitions, widespread truck and chassis recalls, and growing confusion about national park access. In this week’s RV Podcast News Edition, Mike breaks down what these stories mean for RV owners, buyers, and travelers heading into the 2026 camping season. ???? This Week’s RV News:???? Leigh Tiffin resigns from Tiffin Motorhomes — what it means for the brand ???...

Traveling full-time in your RV doesn't mean your mail has to vanish into thin air. In this episode, we break down exactly how experienced RVers handle mail forwarding so you never miss important documents, packages, or correspondence while you're on the road. In This Episode: How RV mail forwarding services actually work (and which ones to watch iout for) The real costs and logistics you need to know before signing up Tips for managing important mail, bills, and packages while traveling You...

This week’s podcast delivers a hard-hitting reality check for RVers.: - We break down a viral insider video from a top RV dealer CEO who openly calls out price gouging, overproduction, copycat designs, and why so many buyers end up upside down faster than they expect. If you are shopping, or even thinking about it, this one matters. - We also cover an RV recall blitz affecting more than 18,000 RVs across multiple brands, including fire risks, fuel leaks, and labeling errors that should have ne...

In this episode, we sit down with Geneva Long, CEO of Bowlus, to talk about legacy, passion, and the unexpected path that led her to revive one of America’s most iconic RV brands. Nearly 100 years ago, the original Bowlus Road Chief helped inspire Airstream and changed the way the world thought about travel trailers. For decades, Bowlus existed mostly as legend. Today, it has been reborn as a luxury, design driven, off grid capable trailer that honors its past while embracing the future. Genev...

Starlink has quietly changed its privacy policy, and RVers are pushing back. In this RV Podcast News Edition, we break down what the update means, why it matters, and what RVers should know. We also cover Yosemite’s Firefall without reservations, flat RV industry sales and what that means for buyers, important RV recalls, shifting RV travel trends, Michigan reopening 10 state campgrounds, Costco’s RV buying confusion, and the rise of dynamic pricing at campgrounds. No hype. No influencer drama...

As he approaches his 91st birthday, legendary broadcaster Mort Crim proves that curiosity and adventure do not retire. Last summer, while in the middle of a cross-country RV journey, we caught up with Mort as he traveled America in his Class B Winnebago Travato with his cat Groucho. That journey is now complete, and in this follow-up conversation in RV Podcast Episode 578, Mort reflects on what the road revealed about America, aging, grief, and healing. Mort shares how seeing the country first...

RV PODCAST NEWS EDITIONEpisode 586 - January 26, 2026 Hey everybody, welcome to the RV Podcast News Edition. I’m Mike Wendland, and this is where we cut through the press releases, the hype, and the corporate spin to talk about what is really happening in the RV world. Now, quick programming note. If you are listening to this later in the week, we are watching a massive winter snow and ice storm that has affected campgrounds, travel plans, and even caused park closures across large parts of th...

They planned a short RV adventure. It turned into a life-changing journey. In this episode of The RV Podcast, we sit down with the Shinpaugh family, a family of four who hit the road in 2016 thinking they would travel for a few years. Instead, they quietly built a whole new life on wheels, homeschooling their kids, running their businesses remotely, and making the road their normal. They share the real story behind going full-time as a family, including: What surprised them most after their “...

Hey everybody, welcome to the RV Podcast News Edition for Monday, January 19, 2026. I’m Mike Wendland. This is where we cut through the noise and bring you what’s really happening right now in the RV lifestyle and the RV industry. Five stories this week, and taken together they paint a clear picture. The RV world is not just changing. It is restructuring. Let’s get started. STORY 1. TAMPA SUPERSHOW AND THE MEGA-DEALERS GET EVEN BIGGER The Florida RV SuperShow wrapped up this weekend in Tamp...

Most RVers are doing it wrong. They're tripping breakers, wasting propane, and turning out mediocre meals because nobody ever taught them how to actually use their RV kitchen. In this week's conversation, RV Kitchen Expert Evada Cooper cuts through the confusion and delivers the insider knowledge you need. Discover which appliances are actually worth upgrading (and which ones are just marketing hype), learn the proven techniques for cooking restaurant-quality meals in your rig, and finally unde...