April 24, 2024

RV Camping at a Truck Stop

The player is loading ...
RV Camping at a Truck Stop
This week on the RV Podcast:​ The chain of Love's Travel Centers is opening up more and more space for RV camping at a truck stop, not just overnighting, but multiple night stays if you want. We’ll share the details in our Interview of the Week! What’s up with this? Crackerbarrel is closing some if its restaurants where RVers like to overnight. Where can you get the oil changed on your Class C motorhomes? Our RV Community has some practical suggestions. And answering one of our questions of the week, we tell you just how strong the wind has to be to flip an RV. All this, plus the RV News of the Week and much more coming up in Episode #494 of the RV Podcast
1
00:00:00,265 --> 00:00:01,835
- This week on the RV podcast,

2
00:00:02,695 --> 00:00:06,315
- The chain of love's travel
centers are opening up more

3
00:00:06,375 --> 00:00:10,635
and more of its truck stops
for dedicated RV camping.

4
00:00:11,135 --> 00:00:12,515
Not just overnighting,

5
00:00:12,535 --> 00:00:15,115
but multiple stays, multiple night stays.

6
00:00:15,115 --> 00:00:17,595
If that's what you want. Now,
we'll share the details of

7
00:00:17,595 --> 00:00:19,995
that in our interview
of the week coming up.

8
00:00:20,695 --> 00:00:21,795
- And what's up with this?

9
00:00:22,555 --> 00:00:24,995
Cracker Barrel is closing
some of its restaurants

10
00:00:24,995 --> 00:00:27,035
where RVs like to overnight

11
00:00:27,415 --> 00:00:31,395
- And just where can you
get the oil changed on your

12
00:00:31,395 --> 00:00:32,595
Class C motor homes?

13
00:00:32,935 --> 00:00:36,795
Our RV community weighs in
with some practical suggestions

14
00:00:37,775 --> 00:00:40,555
- And answering One of
our questions of the week

15
00:00:41,265 --> 00:00:43,795
will tell you just how strong the wind has

16
00:00:43,795 --> 00:00:44,995
to be to flip an rv.

17
00:00:45,695 --> 00:00:48,195
- All this bless the RV news of the week

18
00:00:48,535 --> 00:00:52,675
and much more coming up in
episode 4 94 of the RV Podcast.

19
00:01:09,245 --> 00:01:11,195
Hello everybody. I'm Mike Lan in.

20
00:01:11,195 --> 00:01:13,515
This is my lifelong traveling companion

21
00:01:13,515 --> 00:01:14,835
and my bride Jennifer.

22
00:01:15,655 --> 00:01:17,115
And, um, how are you?

23
00:01:17,835 --> 00:01:19,075
- I am doing fantastic.

24
00:01:19,295 --> 00:01:22,795
How could I be doing anything
other than fantastic when it

25
00:01:22,795 --> 00:01:23,915
is such a beautiful day?

26
00:01:24,175 --> 00:01:25,235
- It is a beautiful day

27
00:01:25,295 --> 00:01:30,035
and we have been so enjoying
watching springtime come

28
00:01:30,535 --> 00:01:33,435
to, uh, hero Lake, which is the lake

29
00:01:33,455 --> 00:01:37,075
and the back of our, uh, 10
acres of Michigan property.

30
00:01:37,135 --> 00:01:38,715
We have really enjoyed it,

31
00:01:38,775 --> 00:01:41,595
but there is a lot of drama there. Oh,

32
00:01:41,595 --> 00:01:42,635
- There's a lot of violence

33
00:01:42,745 --> 00:01:44,275
that goes on out there in nature.

34
00:01:45,065 --> 00:01:48,435
- Yeah, we watched, uh,
with Joy a uh, a couple

35
00:01:48,435 --> 00:01:51,115
of Sandhill cranes that made a nest there.

36
00:01:52,255 --> 00:01:54,155
And then, um, they were on it

37
00:01:54,155 --> 00:01:55,595
for like better part of a week.

38
00:01:55,615 --> 00:01:59,355
And then one night we were
woken up, I don't know, two

39
00:01:59,355 --> 00:02:00,635
or three in the morning with this

40
00:02:01,335 --> 00:02:03,795
ruckus going on from the Sandhill cranes.

41
00:02:04,615 --> 00:02:06,675
And we think a coyote got into their nest.

42
00:02:06,805 --> 00:02:08,875
- Could have been a raccoon,
could have been a number

43
00:02:08,875 --> 00:02:12,995
of things, but there was a lot
of noise coming from the pond

44
00:02:13,065 --> 00:02:14,065
- Then.

45
00:02:14,065 --> 00:02:15,435
They're not nesting
anymore. We still see them.

46
00:02:15,435 --> 00:02:17,515
They're still landing. And then, uh,

47
00:02:17,535 --> 00:02:19,475
we got really excited the other day.

48
00:02:19,835 --> 00:02:23,035
I think, uh, two, three
days ago we saw the first

49
00:02:23,295 --> 00:02:26,035
of the geese guzzling, uh, three

50
00:02:26,035 --> 00:02:27,755
of them swimming around
with their parents.

51
00:02:28,575 --> 00:02:30,475
But they seemed to have disappeared too.

52
00:02:30,495 --> 00:02:33,195
We have a lot of Canadian
Canada geese on our property,

53
00:02:33,775 --> 00:02:36,115
but, uh, I don't know what
happened to these little chicks,

54
00:02:36,115 --> 00:02:37,115
these little goslings.

55
00:02:37,115 --> 00:02:39,435
I hope there's fuzzballs
are still there.

56
00:02:39,655 --> 00:02:41,115
- People are gonna think we're crazy

57
00:02:41,185 --> 00:02:42,755
that we like Canadian geese,

58
00:02:42,775 --> 00:02:44,635
but they're not walking all over our yard.

59
00:02:45,135 --> 00:02:46,555
No doing what geese do

60
00:02:46,555 --> 00:02:49,795
because Bo won't have them
walk on our yard. They

61
00:02:49,795 --> 00:02:52,595
- Are out in the pond or
the lake and having fun.

62
00:02:52,735 --> 00:02:54,515
But, uh, we're we're thinking

63
00:02:54,515 --> 00:02:57,155
that maybe a big snapping turtle got 'em.

64
00:02:57,235 --> 00:02:58,635
'cause there are a number
of those out there.

65
00:02:59,305 --> 00:03:01,405
- So we get so excited by life

66
00:03:01,585 --> 00:03:04,485
and birth and .

67
00:03:04,515 --> 00:03:06,045
Then the reality, I guess

68
00:03:06,065 --> 00:03:08,205
- Of nature can be really cool. That comes

69
00:03:08,485 --> 00:03:09,485
- .

70
00:03:09,485 --> 00:03:12,125
- Yeah. Um, let's see what
else is, oh, the other big part

71
00:03:12,125 --> 00:03:14,845
of it is, and, and actually
we owe this to one of our

72
00:03:15,675 --> 00:03:19,125
followers here on, uh,
YouTube and our podcasts

73
00:03:19,225 --> 00:03:21,165
and, uh, our community.

74
00:03:21,705 --> 00:03:25,965
Uh, he's a physician and uh,
he sent me a really nice note

75
00:03:26,765 --> 00:03:28,045
'cause he's heard me talk before.

76
00:03:28,185 --> 00:03:30,445
I'm trying to get back
into, into good shape

77
00:03:30,545 --> 00:03:31,885
and it's been a long winter

78
00:03:32,065 --> 00:03:35,445
and like bear, I, I didn't, unlike a bear,

79
00:03:35,485 --> 00:03:38,405
I didn't lose all my weight
in hibernation this winter.

80
00:03:39,105 --> 00:03:41,765
And he recommended a book
he actually recommended, um,

81
00:03:42,145 --> 00:03:46,765
the book, um, undo it by, uh, Dean Ornish

82
00:03:46,945 --> 00:03:48,485
and, uh, his wife Anne.

83
00:03:48,985 --> 00:03:50,365
And it's, uh, it's a pretty good book.

84
00:03:50,365 --> 00:03:53,965
Talks about changing
lifestyles and de-stressing

85
00:03:54,105 --> 00:03:55,805
and all that sort of stuff.

86
00:03:55,985 --> 00:03:59,885
But it also, the biggest
lifestyle change is diet.

87
00:04:00,385 --> 00:04:03,125
And, um, presents a
pretty compelling argument

88
00:04:03,145 --> 00:04:04,445
for a plant-based diet.

89
00:04:05,225 --> 00:04:06,765
And we've never tried that before

90
00:04:07,695 --> 00:04:09,075
and it's going to be a challenge.

91
00:04:09,175 --> 00:04:10,755
Now, look, when I'm talking diets,

92
00:04:10,755 --> 00:04:12,035
everybody's got their own favorite,

93
00:04:12,895 --> 00:04:16,475
so don't send me your notes
that you how to eat carnivore

94
00:04:16,735 --> 00:04:20,115
or paleo or Mediterranean because you

95
00:04:20,115 --> 00:04:21,875
- Know, we
- Keto books on all that stuff.

96
00:04:21,995 --> 00:04:24,115
I got books on all of 'em. So, uh,

97
00:04:24,795 --> 00:04:26,435
- I gotta tell you, my favorite was Dr.

98
00:04:26,445 --> 00:04:29,155
Jason with 500 calories
a day. Yeah, .

99
00:04:29,195 --> 00:04:30,755
I was measuring out .

100
00:04:31,535 --> 00:04:34,075
- We did that for a while.
How long did I last on that?

101
00:04:34,775 --> 00:04:36,635
- Oh, you lost a whole
bunch of weight till

102
00:04:36,675 --> 00:04:38,035
- I about collapsed .

103
00:04:38,375 --> 00:04:40,595
- And then as soon as you went
off it, it all came back on.

104
00:04:40,595 --> 00:04:42,995
Yeah, and then we tried it
again, but not as wholeheartedly.

105
00:04:43,575 --> 00:04:46,555
So, um, I serve some kind of metal

106
00:04:46,735 --> 00:04:48,195
for all the different diets. I

107
00:04:48,195 --> 00:04:49,435
- Have tried them awful.

108
00:04:49,955 --> 00:04:52,395
- I have had to prepare
food and shop for and carry

109
00:04:52,395 --> 00:04:53,395
- Them.

110
00:04:53,395 --> 00:04:55,275
This would be challenging.
And I'm convinced

111
00:04:55,275 --> 00:04:56,835
that the evidence, I've read a ton,

112
00:04:57,115 --> 00:04:58,755
a ton more of literature.

113
00:04:58,755 --> 00:04:59,755
I've read literature on all

114
00:04:59,755 --> 00:05:01,195
of them 'cause I've tried all of them.

115
00:05:01,295 --> 00:05:04,635
So, but it's like religion
don't or politics don't try

116
00:05:04,635 --> 00:05:06,235
and convince me that yours is the best.

117
00:05:06,335 --> 00:05:09,155
But, um, for us, we're gonna try this.

118
00:05:09,375 --> 00:05:10,955
And I think we're on day two now.

119
00:05:11,695 --> 00:05:12,755
That's gonna be a challenge.

120
00:05:12,955 --> 00:05:15,155
I think, you know, I
think once you got into it

121
00:05:15,175 --> 00:05:16,475
and learned how to, how

122
00:05:16,475 --> 00:05:19,955
to cook more plant-based
meals, it would be easier.

123
00:05:20,655 --> 00:05:23,155
But, uh, in the book they
give you a bunch of recipes,

124
00:05:23,155 --> 00:05:25,995
they give you a bunch of
prepared things you can get

125
00:05:26,095 --> 00:05:27,355
to try it for a couple weeks.

126
00:05:27,395 --> 00:05:30,555
So we're gonna try that.
But anyway, wish us luck.

127
00:05:30,855 --> 00:05:31,995
You are doing Wish Me luck.

128
00:05:32,255 --> 00:05:34,075
- You are doing much
better on it than I am.

129
00:05:34,175 --> 00:05:36,755
And my incentive is I would
like to lose some weight.

130
00:05:36,955 --> 00:05:38,155
'cause it seems the older you get,

131
00:05:38,175 --> 00:05:39,515
the more pounds that you put on.

132
00:05:39,535 --> 00:05:42,395
And I'm not happy with what I'm weighing.

133
00:05:43,135 --> 00:05:45,675
But, um, the doctor scared
me when he said he wanted me

134
00:05:45,675 --> 00:05:47,195
to go on a statin and I'm just like,

135
00:05:47,275 --> 00:05:48,595
I don't wanna go on a statin.

136
00:05:48,595 --> 00:05:51,675
- Yeah, I don't want to go
to a statin either. So. Yep.

137
00:05:51,675 --> 00:05:53,675
Alright. Oh, enough of
that. Enough of that.

138
00:05:53,675 --> 00:05:56,475
The other thing we're doing is,
uh, we just had a great time

139
00:05:57,155 --> 00:06:01,125
with the recent series
we did on Class B RVs

140
00:06:01,225 --> 00:06:02,605
and the response was great.

141
00:06:02,935 --> 00:06:07,845
We're over 125,000 views of
those, uh, reviews so far.

142
00:06:08,545 --> 00:06:11,245
So we've heard you, many of
you have been writing us and,

143
00:06:11,345 --> 00:06:15,445
and emailing and messaging us
on the community saying, um,

144
00:06:15,905 --> 00:06:17,965
do some Class Cs do some class?

145
00:06:18,185 --> 00:06:20,885
A's some of you said we
should do some truck campers.

146
00:06:21,225 --> 00:06:24,805
Um, we, so we're gonna,
we're checking with it.

147
00:06:25,505 --> 00:06:29,365
The problem is, frankly,
is our loyalty is to you.

148
00:06:29,745 --> 00:06:31,765
So when we see these things,

149
00:06:32,255 --> 00:06:35,005
we're not gonna gloss over the
stuff that's wrong with them.

150
00:06:35,945 --> 00:06:37,085
And there are a lot of dealers

151
00:06:37,085 --> 00:06:40,445
and there's a lot of manufacturers
who expect it to be all,

152
00:06:41,065 --> 00:06:43,125
you know, um, all positive.

153
00:06:43,225 --> 00:06:45,925
And, you know, we're trying
to tell it like it really is.

154
00:06:46,745 --> 00:06:48,925
So there's, um, there's
some reluctance to that

155
00:06:48,925 --> 00:06:50,125
and whether this works out

156
00:06:50,125 --> 00:06:53,005
or not, we, we, we will,
we'll figure out a way to try

157
00:06:53,005 --> 00:06:55,325
and incorporate some
of those into our, uh,

158
00:06:56,205 --> 00:06:57,285
I suppose we could rent them,

159
00:06:57,425 --> 00:06:59,405
but that'd get pretty costly. That

160
00:06:59,405 --> 00:07:00,605
- Would get very
- Costly.

161
00:07:00,705 --> 00:07:02,325
Uh, but we'll see. They, they, you know,

162
00:07:02,475 --> 00:07:04,045
just like Nick over in, uh,

163
00:07:04,285 --> 00:07:06,245
sunshine State RV's down
in Florida was happy

164
00:07:06,245 --> 00:07:07,925
to let us borrow some of his Class Bs.

165
00:07:07,925 --> 00:07:09,805
We'll find somebody who will let us

166
00:07:09,805 --> 00:07:10,885
test out some. The question

167
00:07:11,005 --> 00:07:13,325
- Is, would Nick let us borrow him again?

168
00:07:13,765 --> 00:07:16,045
- , don't say it.

169
00:07:16,275 --> 00:07:17,845
Alright, we're gonna take a quick break

170
00:07:17,985 --> 00:07:19,685
and when we come back,
we've got the social

171
00:07:19,735 --> 00:07:21,245
media buzz of the week.

172
00:07:21,345 --> 00:07:22,365
So stay with us.

173
00:07:23,065 --> 00:07:25,605
The one thing that can
ruin a perfect RV trip is

174
00:07:25,645 --> 00:07:26,685
a bad mattress.

175
00:07:26,865 --> 00:07:30,645
And believe us, we know over
the years we've tried many

176
00:07:30,705 --> 00:07:33,765
and we have found them
all wanting until now.

177
00:07:34,345 --> 00:07:38,045
- Now we sleep on the RV
mattress by Brooklyn Bedding.

178
00:07:38,215 --> 00:07:40,845
Quite simply, it's the
best we've ever slept

179
00:07:40,865 --> 00:07:41,865
- On.

180
00:07:41,865 --> 00:07:45,045
We chose a queen size aurora
luxe medium firm mattress

181
00:07:45,075 --> 00:07:47,125
that arrived tightly rolled in a box.

182
00:07:47,625 --> 00:07:50,365
All we did was put it
on the bed, unroll it,

183
00:07:50,365 --> 00:07:52,645
and wait for it to recover
from the compression.

184
00:07:52,995 --> 00:07:55,165
Then we put on the
sheets and the bed covers

185
00:07:55,345 --> 00:07:57,365
and found we slept so well

186
00:07:57,915 --> 00:08:00,405
that we ordered another one for our home.

187
00:08:01,065 --> 00:08:02,485
- That's how comfortable it is.

188
00:08:02,945 --> 00:08:04,925
Our sleep is now so luxurious

189
00:08:05,185 --> 00:08:09,005
and deep that we can't imagine
using a different mattress.

190
00:08:09,445 --> 00:08:11,525
- Shipping is free. If you're disappointed

191
00:08:11,525 --> 00:08:14,445
with the current mattress
in your rv, you owe it

192
00:08:14,445 --> 00:08:18,405
to yourselves to try the RV
mattress by Brooklyn Bedding.

193
00:08:18,885 --> 00:08:20,605
- Brooklyn Bedding sends out all

194
00:08:20,605 --> 00:08:24,365
of their RV mattresses from
their own factory in Arizona.

195
00:08:24,995 --> 00:08:26,565
This means they're able

196
00:08:26,565 --> 00:08:29,965
to use premium materials at
a reasonable price for you.

197
00:08:30,395 --> 00:08:32,885
With no middleman bringing up the cost.

198
00:08:33,235 --> 00:08:35,885
- Make sure to check out
their Black Friday sale

199
00:08:35,985 --> 00:08:37,085
at the end of this month.

200
00:08:37,455 --> 00:08:39,525
It'll be their biggest deal of the year.

201
00:08:39,855 --> 00:08:42,525
Don't miss out on the
best sleep of your life.

202
00:08:42,975 --> 00:08:46,325
Visit rv mattress.com/rv lifestyle.

203
00:08:46,985 --> 00:08:49,925
We just heard about a
land offering out west

204
00:08:50,185 --> 00:08:52,205
for RVs in Arizona.

205
00:08:52,635 --> 00:08:55,165
They're selling five acre RV ranches,

206
00:08:55,485 --> 00:08:57,765
starting at only $49,900.

207
00:08:58,425 --> 00:09:00,685
The company offering it is affiliated

208
00:09:00,795 --> 00:09:01,885
with the people Jennifer

209
00:09:02,025 --> 00:09:04,245
and I bought our Tennessee property from.

210
00:09:04,475 --> 00:09:07,605
They do a great job. It looks amazing.

211
00:09:07,905 --> 00:09:10,485
It is at high elevation, so
you get cooler temperatures,

212
00:09:10,905 --> 00:09:14,525
big mountain views, juniper
trees, and green grasses.

213
00:09:15,105 --> 00:09:16,805
And it is near everything.

214
00:09:17,025 --> 00:09:20,125
The Grand Canyon Lake Havasu, Kingman,

215
00:09:20,475 --> 00:09:22,125
Flagstaff, and Sedona.

216
00:09:22,755 --> 00:09:23,765
It's a perfect place

217
00:09:23,765 --> 00:09:25,685
to have a home base to explore the west.

218
00:09:25,785 --> 00:09:28,565
And it is right off Famous Route 66.

219
00:09:29,315 --> 00:09:31,285
It's called Greenwood Ranches.

220
00:09:31,345 --> 00:09:34,205
And this is the second and
final section of the community.

221
00:09:34,705 --> 00:09:36,765
We met the sales manager, really nice guy.

222
00:09:37,105 --> 00:09:38,885
He bought a property for his RV

223
00:09:38,945 --> 00:09:41,085
and he's building a container home on it.

224
00:09:41,535 --> 00:09:44,085
Check out their website for a video tour

225
00:09:44,225 --> 00:09:45,645
and showing availability.

226
00:09:45,835 --> 00:09:46,845
It's pretty incredible.

227
00:09:47,295 --> 00:09:49,205
Visit the website to get details

228
00:09:49,345 --> 00:09:52,925
and set up a showing Arizona rv land.net.

229
00:09:53,265 --> 00:09:56,005
That's Arizona RV land.net.

230
00:09:58,465 --> 00:09:59,915
Well, welcome back everybody time now

231
00:09:59,915 --> 00:10:01,395
for the social media buzz.

232
00:10:01,735 --> 00:10:03,875
And we always say, if you really
wanna know what's happening

233
00:10:03,875 --> 00:10:06,235
in the RV world, listen to real RVs

234
00:10:06,575 --> 00:10:11,515
and you find them on our RV
lifestyle, uh, community at, uh,

235
00:10:11,515 --> 00:10:13,435
community dot rv lifestyle.com.

236
00:10:13,785 --> 00:10:15,275
Also, our Facebook group,

237
00:10:15,285 --> 00:10:18,395
which is pushing 400,000 members now.

238
00:10:18,895 --> 00:10:21,835
Uh, and that is where
you find the best tips,

239
00:10:21,935 --> 00:10:23,115
the best information.

240
00:10:23,735 --> 00:10:26,675
And, uh, our Wendy Boyer
keeps track of all of that.

241
00:10:26,935 --> 00:10:31,075
- And Wendy is going to
become an expert. .

242
00:10:31,515 --> 00:10:34,875
I mean, it's gonna be
pretty soon. Ask Wendy. Ask

243
00:10:34,875 --> 00:10:35,875
- Wendy.

244
00:10:35,875 --> 00:10:36,835
Yeah. Ask, ask Wendy anything.

245
00:10:37,375 --> 00:10:39,795
All right, here's Wendy with
this week's social media buzz.

246
00:10:40,255 --> 00:10:44,235
- Hi everybody. Over in our
RV lifestyle community general

247
00:10:44,365 --> 00:10:47,075
discussion space, there was
a recent post from Russell.

248
00:10:47,375 --> 00:10:51,715
He asked, where can I get an
oil change for a gas class C?

249
00:10:51,775 --> 00:10:54,315
He said he was new to having a Class C.

250
00:10:54,375 --> 00:10:55,595
He had always had a fifth wheel

251
00:10:55,595 --> 00:10:58,195
before he was traveling, not at home,

252
00:10:58,255 --> 00:10:59,435
so he couldn't do it himself.

253
00:10:59,695 --> 00:11:00,715
In fact, he was in Houston.

254
00:11:01,375 --> 00:11:04,715
He said he had, it's on
a Ford E four 50 chassis,

255
00:11:04,715 --> 00:11:07,075
but the Ford dealers wouldn't
do the oil change for him.

256
00:11:07,095 --> 00:11:08,595
And he just wondered if anyone in the

257
00:11:08,595 --> 00:11:09,755
group had a suggestion.

258
00:11:10,425 --> 00:11:12,835
Well, Bob and Roxy, they suggested he look

259
00:11:12,835 --> 00:11:15,955
for a semi repair shop
that does oil changes

260
00:11:16,255 --> 00:11:18,315
or try a place like a Flying J.

261
00:11:19,015 --> 00:11:22,235
And then Mark and Brenda, they
also suggested a semi repair

262
00:11:22,305 --> 00:11:25,235
shop and they actually
looked one up near Houston,

263
00:11:25,785 --> 00:11:28,235
went on the webpage to see
if it does oil changes,

264
00:11:28,815 --> 00:11:30,715
got the phone number and gave it

265
00:11:30,785 --> 00:11:31,995
through the group to Russell.

266
00:11:32,215 --> 00:11:34,315
And I just love that
'cause that just above

267
00:11:34,315 --> 00:11:36,795
and beyond kindness is
something I'm seeing over

268
00:11:36,795 --> 00:11:38,395
and over again in our new community.

269
00:11:38,775 --> 00:11:41,035
Um, and I hope that helped Russell.

270
00:11:41,105 --> 00:11:43,475
That was just so kind
to do all that legwork.

271
00:11:44,415 --> 00:11:47,035
Um, also in our RV lifestyle
community, I'd like

272
00:11:47,035 --> 00:11:48,595
to tell you about a post from Julie.

273
00:11:48,625 --> 00:11:50,955
This one appeared in our plumbing space.

274
00:11:51,535 --> 00:11:54,085
She said she has a 2023 Imagine

275
00:11:54,115 --> 00:11:56,045
with a Dometic 300 series toilet.

276
00:11:56,825 --> 00:12:00,245
And when they depressed,
the foot pedal a little bit

277
00:12:00,245 --> 00:12:03,605
to flush this tiny amount of
water appears on their floor.

278
00:12:03,945 --> 00:12:06,485
So she took it to the RV service
department at the dealer.

279
00:12:06,785 --> 00:12:09,325
And apparently the tech
worked on it, couldn't get it

280
00:12:09,325 --> 00:12:10,525
to duplicate at all,

281
00:12:11,025 --> 00:12:13,645
but of course the second
they got out there and home

282
00:12:13,665 --> 00:12:16,325
and tried it, the water was there.

283
00:12:16,505 --> 00:12:17,965
So the problem was not gone.

284
00:12:18,385 --> 00:12:19,885
So she just asked if anyone had

285
00:12:19,885 --> 00:12:21,045
any thoughts, what it might be.

286
00:12:21,835 --> 00:12:24,085
Well, Rita and Jeff, they
said that their valve used

287
00:12:24,085 --> 00:12:26,365
to drip like this and they
couldn't figure it out.

288
00:12:26,365 --> 00:12:29,365
So they kept a small cloth
under it to catch water.

289
00:12:29,425 --> 00:12:30,725
And that worked pretty well.

290
00:12:31,465 --> 00:12:34,445
Um, but then it turned out they had

291
00:12:34,445 --> 00:12:36,085
to replace the base for another reason.

292
00:12:36,185 --> 00:12:37,805
And when that replacement happened

293
00:12:37,805 --> 00:12:41,005
and a new valve came into
place, it didn't drip anymore.

294
00:12:41,505 --> 00:12:42,885
And same with Brendan Mark.

295
00:12:42,885 --> 00:12:44,885
They said they had to get
another foot pedal part,

296
00:12:44,905 --> 00:12:47,205
and when they replace
that, the drip went away.

297
00:12:47,345 --> 00:12:50,005
So hopefully those, uh,
tips can help Julie.

298
00:12:50,945 --> 00:12:53,845
And then meanwhile over in our
RV lifestyle Facebook group,

299
00:12:53,965 --> 00:12:56,445
I have to tell you about
this post, it just went wild.

300
00:12:56,905 --> 00:12:59,245
Um, it was a post from Matthew

301
00:12:59,625 --> 00:13:02,605
and it said the usual
progression of camping

302
00:13:03,195 --> 00:13:05,525
year five is our actual current setup.

303
00:13:05,905 --> 00:13:09,765
And so this progression
showed different pictures

304
00:13:09,765 --> 00:13:10,805
for each year you camp.

305
00:13:10,905 --> 00:13:13,085
So year one was a tent in the woods,

306
00:13:13,155 --> 00:13:14,725
real rustic with a picnic table.

307
00:13:15,195 --> 00:13:19,125
Year two was a pop-up. Year
three was a travel trailer.

308
00:13:19,395 --> 00:13:21,845
Year four was a fifth
wheel with a pickup truck.

309
00:13:22,465 --> 00:13:26,525
And year five was a semi
with a cabin trailer

310
00:13:27,025 --> 00:13:28,085
and a toy hauler.

311
00:13:28,625 --> 00:13:31,005
Um, people just love this progression

312
00:13:31,005 --> 00:13:32,805
picture and description.

313
00:13:33,065 --> 00:13:35,605
And uh, lots of people had
to say, I'm in year two.

314
00:13:35,785 --> 00:13:37,965
I'm in year four. You
know, skipped year three

315
00:13:37,965 --> 00:13:39,245
or, you know, it just went on and on.

316
00:13:39,245 --> 00:13:41,805
It was really fun to read.
And then several people were

317
00:13:42,205 --> 00:13:44,285
inspired and started
cheering their own posts

318
00:13:44,365 --> 00:13:45,485
of their progression.

319
00:13:45,905 --> 00:13:48,005
Um, what many were like Heidi's.

320
00:13:48,585 --> 00:13:49,805
And she showed a picture of her

321
00:13:49,805 --> 00:13:52,445
and her husband in a
tent that was year one,

322
00:13:52,505 --> 00:13:55,925
and then in a popup, and
then in a travel trailer,

323
00:13:56,145 --> 00:13:58,885
and then in a looked like
newer and nicer travel trailer.

324
00:13:59,505 --> 00:14:03,845
Um, and so it was again,
just, um, inspiring all types

325
00:14:03,845 --> 00:14:04,965
of people to reminisce

326
00:14:05,185 --> 00:14:07,645
and, uh, made me wonder
what is your progression?

327
00:14:08,265 --> 00:14:10,565
Um, but that's it for me this week.

328
00:14:10,845 --> 00:14:11,925
I am Wendy Boyer

329
00:14:11,945 --> 00:14:14,205
and I'll see you either
in our RV lifestyle

330
00:14:14,205 --> 00:14:15,685
community or Facebook group.

331
00:14:16,315 --> 00:14:19,245
- Well, after listening to all
that, that fun question of,

332
00:14:19,465 --> 00:14:23,645
uh, documenting, going from
a one to a five, going larger

333
00:14:23,755 --> 00:14:26,525
with your rigs all the time,
it made me think of us.

334
00:14:27,125 --> 00:14:29,005
'cause we started out with
a small travel trailer.

335
00:14:29,185 --> 00:14:31,765
You started out with tents,
. Oh, well, yeah.

336
00:14:31,905 --> 00:14:34,445
But a small travel trailer
that was with one child.

337
00:14:34,825 --> 00:14:37,885
And then we had a lapse
where we had two more kids.

338
00:14:37,885 --> 00:14:39,205
So we had three kids and a dog.

339
00:14:39,205 --> 00:14:42,005
And then we went to the
popup, went to a popup,

340
00:14:42,005 --> 00:14:43,445
and then the kids to a tent.

341
00:14:43,565 --> 00:14:45,125
'cause the kids left.
Kids didn't wanna camp.

342
00:14:45,145 --> 00:14:48,205
So we went to a tent and then
we went to, uh, class B's

343
00:14:48,265 --> 00:14:50,485
and then B Pluses, and then Class

344
00:14:50,705 --> 00:14:51,965
- C's and now Fifth Wheels.

345
00:14:51,965 --> 00:14:53,245
And who knows what's next.

346
00:14:53,545 --> 00:14:54,965
- So I think it's common. Yeah.

347
00:14:54,965 --> 00:14:56,805
You know, we're not the
only people that bounce

348
00:14:56,805 --> 00:14:59,165
around from one size to another size.

349
00:14:59,865 --> 00:15:03,845
And it's, uh, was just fun to
hear the different people say

350
00:15:03,845 --> 00:15:06,125
how they this one, that
one and this one. Yeah.

351
00:15:06,325 --> 00:15:08,365
- I think most our,
- Yeah, we change.

352
00:15:09,025 --> 00:15:11,325
- All right. When we come
back, we're gonna talk about

353
00:15:11,845 --> 00:15:13,085
a great place to stay.

354
00:15:13,745 --> 00:15:15,845
And there's more and
more places like this all

355
00:15:15,845 --> 00:15:17,605
around The country loves travel centers.

356
00:15:17,675 --> 00:15:18,845
Yeah, it's a truck stop.

357
00:15:19,505 --> 00:15:23,725
But, uh, they are increasingly
adding campgrounds, uh,

358
00:15:23,795 --> 00:15:25,165
full hookup camp sites

359
00:15:25,505 --> 00:15:27,485
and places where you can
do more than overnight.

360
00:15:27,505 --> 00:15:29,325
You can actually camp there for as long

361
00:15:29,325 --> 00:15:30,805
as I think two weeks or longer.

362
00:15:31,305 --> 00:15:32,845
Uh, you'll hear all the details coming

363
00:15:32,865 --> 00:15:34,085
up in the interview of the week.

364
00:15:35,205 --> 00:15:36,685
Jennifer and I bought some land near

365
00:15:36,685 --> 00:15:38,245
Nashville, Tennessee a while back.

366
00:15:38,745 --> 00:15:41,605
We got tired, crowded,
expensive campgrounds

367
00:15:41,785 --> 00:15:43,685
and worrying about reservations.

368
00:15:44,685 --> 00:15:47,365
Tennessee is a gorgeous
state with friendly people

369
00:15:47,785 --> 00:15:49,205
and it has been such a pleasure.

370
00:15:49,625 --> 00:15:53,325
The same developer has some
new property near us, close

371
00:15:53,345 --> 00:15:54,525
to the Natchez Trace

372
00:15:54,625 --> 00:15:58,365
and Buffalo River called
the Reserve At High Forest.

373
00:15:59,225 --> 00:16:01,325
Big properties, five to 41 acres.

374
00:16:01,465 --> 00:16:04,045
You can build a house, a cabin or rv.

375
00:16:04,045 --> 00:16:07,885
Year round prices start at only $89,900.

376
00:16:08,515 --> 00:16:12,085
Your property, your way 100% ownership.

377
00:16:12,705 --> 00:16:15,605
The scenery in this part of
Tennessee is breathtaking

378
00:16:16,105 --> 00:16:17,725
and the property is gorgeous.

379
00:16:18,185 --> 00:16:21,805
Garden landscape. Bring your
pets, build what you want.

380
00:16:22,155 --> 00:16:24,885
There's high speed fiber optic internet

381
00:16:25,025 --> 00:16:26,565
and it is so private.

382
00:16:27,365 --> 00:16:29,485
A great place to make your home base

383
00:16:29,855 --> 00:16:31,565
ready whenever you want it.

384
00:16:32,115 --> 00:16:36,125
Five to 41 acre properties from $89,900.

385
00:16:36,595 --> 00:16:38,445
There's even great financing.

386
00:16:38,895 --> 00:16:43,165
Check out the site and a
video tour@rvlands.net.

387
00:16:43,425 --> 00:16:45,445
That's RV lands.net.

388
00:16:46,255 --> 00:16:50,425
Welcome back time now for
the RV interview of the week.

389
00:16:51,205 --> 00:16:53,345
- And I just can't wait
to share this information

390
00:16:53,345 --> 00:16:55,265
with everybody 'cause this is exciting.

391
00:16:55,655 --> 00:16:58,625
- Many RVs need a place to
stop on a long road trip,

392
00:16:59,085 --> 00:17:02,025
and you don't wanna pay
stiff campground fees.

393
00:17:02,085 --> 00:17:05,585
You know, they're approaching
70 bucks a night at many

394
00:17:05,585 --> 00:17:07,825
of them now or more
when all you're seeking

395
00:17:07,845 --> 00:17:09,105
is a place to lay your heads.

396
00:17:09,645 --> 00:17:10,745
Uh, sometimes, you know,

397
00:17:10,745 --> 00:17:12,745
you can boondock in places like a Walmart

398
00:17:13,365 --> 00:17:16,625
or a Cracker Barrel, but
sometimes there are safety issues

399
00:17:16,845 --> 00:17:18,465
or you want some amenities like

400
00:17:18,905 --> 00:17:20,745
electricity. So what do you do?

401
00:17:21,455 --> 00:17:25,145
- Well, increasingly, uh,
loves travel trailers.

402
00:17:25,165 --> 00:17:28,985
Sp uh, spots are, uh, making campsites

403
00:17:29,525 --> 00:17:30,525
- Now.

404
00:17:30,525 --> 00:17:31,945
A lot of people associate
loves as a place to stop

405
00:17:31,945 --> 00:17:33,505
for fuel and food.

406
00:17:33,645 --> 00:17:34,825
And increasingly it is.

407
00:17:35,325 --> 00:17:37,985
But it's also a place now to camp with all

408
00:17:38,065 --> 00:17:39,505
of the amenities and more.

409
00:17:40,045 --> 00:17:42,065
Uh, I think you're gonna be amazed at, uh,

410
00:17:42,405 --> 00:17:46,225
how love has become
so, uh, in love

411
00:17:46,295 --> 00:17:47,665
with the RV community.

412
00:17:48,045 --> 00:17:50,765
And here to tell us about
is our guest, Jim Wheeler.

413
00:17:50,765 --> 00:17:52,205
He's the director of hospitality

414
00:17:52,265 --> 00:17:55,085
and RV operations for
Loves Travel Centers.

415
00:17:55,355 --> 00:17:57,485
Well, Jim, it is great to
have you on the program.

416
00:17:58,005 --> 00:18:02,605
I, uh, have, uh, watched with,
uh, great interest as, uh,

417
00:18:02,605 --> 00:18:04,965
loves, which is our
favorite fuel stop anyway,

418
00:18:04,985 --> 00:18:09,125
for our Big fifth Wheel has,
uh, embraced the RV lifestyle.

419
00:18:09,595 --> 00:18:13,845
Tell me how many love centers
now, do you have that cater,

420
00:18:14,105 --> 00:18:15,125
uh, to RVs?

421
00:18:16,195 --> 00:18:18,735
- Yes, uh, uh, you know, right now the,

422
00:18:18,735 --> 00:18:20,415
our Love's locations, we have,

423
00:18:20,415 --> 00:18:25,375
we have 640 locations nationwide
in about 43, 44 states

424
00:18:26,035 --> 00:18:28,735
now, as far as the RVs go, uh,

425
00:18:28,915 --> 00:18:32,375
we actually opened today our number 58,

426
00:18:32,555 --> 00:18:35,855
our 58th location in
Gulfport, Mississippi.

427
00:18:36,635 --> 00:18:40,655
Um, and then we, we have,
uh, we're in about 23 states

428
00:18:40,765 --> 00:18:43,015
with our, uh, RV stops.

429
00:18:43,035 --> 00:18:45,175
And by the end of the, this year, we'll,

430
00:18:45,175 --> 00:18:48,135
we'll go over, uh, 30 states. So yeah,

431
00:18:48,135 --> 00:18:50,015
- 30, 36 states.

432
00:18:50,315 --> 00:18:54,455
Uh, how, how many total sites
do you see in your plans

433
00:18:54,565 --> 00:18:56,775
that you'll have in a,
within the end of the year?

434
00:18:57,365 --> 00:19:00,575
- Yeah, it's, so going from 58 today, we,

435
00:19:00,715 --> 00:19:03,535
we should have at least 90 open,

436
00:19:04,115 --> 00:19:06,335
um, by the end of this year. So wrap.

437
00:19:06,675 --> 00:19:07,935
- So will that continue? Will

438
00:19:07,935 --> 00:19:09,375
that continue next year? Do you see?

439
00:19:09,955 --> 00:19:11,375
- You know, I, I think so.

440
00:19:11,775 --> 00:19:14,655
I think it will, you know,
so really this year we,

441
00:19:14,675 --> 00:19:16,935
we started the year
with about 50 locations

442
00:19:17,155 --> 00:19:18,975
and, uh, we'll open around 40

443
00:19:19,555 --> 00:19:24,135
and I think we have another 40
potentially to open next year

444
00:19:24,275 --> 00:19:27,255
as well as we, you know,
look at those, those, uh, uh,

445
00:19:27,315 --> 00:19:29,375
how many travel stops
we have out there. So,

446
00:19:29,725 --> 00:19:32,135
- Well, when you're driving
down the, uh, freeway,

447
00:19:32,395 --> 00:19:33,975
is there a way for people to know,

448
00:19:34,125 --> 00:19:35,735
besides going to your website,

449
00:19:35,835 --> 00:19:37,535
and we'll put a link to
that in the description,

450
00:19:37,995 --> 00:19:41,175
but is there a way for them
they see those loves billboards

451
00:19:41,175 --> 00:19:42,615
up on the road all the time?

452
00:19:43,075 --> 00:19:44,975
That's how I plan my fuel stops.

453
00:19:45,435 --> 00:19:47,655
And is there a way to
know from, from those,

454
00:19:47,835 --> 00:19:50,455
how do you know whether
they're it has RV facilities?

455
00:19:50,645 --> 00:19:51,975
- Yeah. Great. Great question.

456
00:19:52,115 --> 00:19:54,975
And, uh, so now really what
I wanna encourage everyone

457
00:19:54,975 --> 00:19:57,935
to do is to go to the app store

458
00:19:58,555 --> 00:20:01,015
and download the Loves Connect app.

459
00:20:01,635 --> 00:20:03,455
And that's gonna do a few things for you.

460
00:20:03,795 --> 00:20:07,775
One, it's gonna provide you
a 10 cent discount on fuel,

461
00:20:07,885 --> 00:20:10,575
whether that's gas or deal diesel fuel.

462
00:20:11,155 --> 00:20:14,015
Um, and then what you'll
also find on there, right on

463
00:20:14,015 --> 00:20:18,375
that first page, it'll have an
RV icon at the bottom of it.

464
00:20:19,155 --> 00:20:22,895
And if you push that IRV icon, it will

465
00:20:23,605 --> 00:20:25,215
show you all the locations.

466
00:20:25,225 --> 00:20:28,375
It'll show you a map so
you can get a sense of

467
00:20:28,375 --> 00:20:31,575
where you're at and maybe
where the closest one might be.

468
00:20:32,195 --> 00:20:34,575
Uh, but here's really, I think one

469
00:20:34,575 --> 00:20:37,095
of the unique things
about our locations in

470
00:20:37,095 --> 00:20:38,855
that app is you can go ahead

471
00:20:38,855 --> 00:20:41,855
and reserve the location right online.

472
00:20:42,475 --> 00:20:43,815
So you can go on there,

473
00:20:43,995 --> 00:20:47,015
you can make the
reservation when you arrive

474
00:20:47,275 --> 00:20:50,935
to the location, then what,
it'll send you an email

475
00:20:51,035 --> 00:20:53,095
and a text message after you reserve it.

476
00:20:53,095 --> 00:20:55,815
And once you arrive, you reply to that.

477
00:20:56,395 --> 00:20:59,615
And then what it will do
is it will turn on all the

478
00:20:59,615 --> 00:21:03,095
utilities for you at your
particular site so you don't have

479
00:21:03,095 --> 00:21:04,775
to go inside the store.

480
00:21:04,795 --> 00:21:07,015
Of course, we always love
you to go inside and,

481
00:21:07,315 --> 00:21:09,735
and, uh, uh, take
advantage of what we have

482
00:21:09,735 --> 00:21:11,615
to offer in there, but
you can go right on in.

483
00:21:11,615 --> 00:21:14,335
And if it's one of our larger
locations with the gate,

484
00:21:14,905 --> 00:21:17,135
it'll text and email you the gate code.

485
00:21:17,585 --> 00:21:20,055
It'll text and email you the restroom code

486
00:21:20,115 --> 00:21:22,095
so you can use the shower, um,

487
00:21:22,235 --> 00:21:24,015
or the laundry facility as well.

488
00:21:24,395 --> 00:21:26,215
We have at our larger locations.

489
00:21:26,715 --> 00:21:31,175
Um, and, uh, it also will
always send you a wifi password.

490
00:21:31,795 --> 00:21:35,135
So that can all happen
right there from that, uh,

491
00:21:35,225 --> 00:21:36,495
loves Connect app.

492
00:21:37,265 --> 00:21:40,215
- Would you describe, um,
what's included in these spots?

493
00:21:40,475 --> 00:21:44,335
Uh, what kind of amenities will
people have as they pull in?

494
00:21:44,685 --> 00:21:47,415
- Yeah. Um, and so we look at it, uh,

495
00:21:47,595 --> 00:21:51,255
we have two different
types of, of locations, uh,

496
00:21:51,365 --> 00:21:54,615
what we call our hookups,
which are smaller locations

497
00:21:54,615 --> 00:21:57,495
that are really right off
the travel stops there.

498
00:21:58,035 --> 00:22:01,375
Um, and you know, today we have, um,

499
00:22:01,995 --> 00:22:04,015
30 44 of those open.

500
00:22:04,075 --> 00:22:06,335
So we have 44 of the hookups open.

501
00:22:06,955 --> 00:22:10,535
Um, and then we have, uh, uh, 14

502
00:22:10,595 --> 00:22:12,695
of the larger locations open.

503
00:22:13,195 --> 00:22:14,895
Um, we call those stops.

504
00:22:14,955 --> 00:22:16,775
So if you kind of look at 'em and, and

505
00:22:16,975 --> 00:22:18,575
whenever you go on the app, it'll tell you

506
00:22:18,575 --> 00:22:19,815
everything that's included.

507
00:22:20,355 --> 00:22:23,495
But, you know, we're always
gonna have 30 50 amp power.

508
00:22:24,075 --> 00:22:27,735
Um, you know, typically almost
all of them will have, uh,

509
00:22:27,805 --> 00:22:31,175
potable water at each, uh, uh, uh, space.

510
00:22:31,715 --> 00:22:33,175
Um, and then, you know, most

511
00:22:33,175 --> 00:22:37,135
of 'em will still have like
individual RV dumps at,

512
00:22:37,275 --> 00:22:38,295
at each space.

513
00:22:38,835 --> 00:22:41,415
Um, of course we'll have the wifi now.

514
00:22:41,635 --> 00:22:46,175
Um, if we don't have an
a dump right there at

515
00:22:46,175 --> 00:22:48,815
that space, then we have a communal dump.

516
00:22:49,435 --> 00:22:52,975
And the price you pay,
uh, it's for overnight,

517
00:22:53,235 --> 00:22:56,455
it will give you the combination code on

518
00:22:56,595 --> 00:22:58,535
how you can u utilize the,

519
00:22:58,595 --> 00:23:00,335
the communal dump at that location.

520
00:23:00,885 --> 00:23:02,175
- Well, you thought that out.

521
00:23:02,205 --> 00:23:04,655
That is about as convenient as possible.

522
00:23:04,815 --> 00:23:08,415
I wish campgrounds were that,
uh, that easy to navigate.

523
00:23:08,605 --> 00:23:10,295
Yeah. Um, how much

524
00:23:10,295 --> 00:23:12,775
of these spots typically
cost, uh, per night?

525
00:23:12,775 --> 00:23:14,815
Does it vary, uh, between locations?

526
00:23:15,395 --> 00:23:16,775
- You know, it can vary.

527
00:23:16,935 --> 00:23:20,815
I would say most of them are
right around the mid $40 range.

528
00:23:21,155 --> 00:23:24,815
Um, is what it costs, uh,
to, to stay with us now.

529
00:23:25,155 --> 00:23:26,255
Um, you know, a lot

530
00:23:26,255 --> 00:23:29,495
of our smaller hookup
locations are mostly back ends,

531
00:23:29,715 --> 00:23:31,055
but we do have some of those

532
00:23:31,055 --> 00:23:32,455
with pull throughs in our larger

533
00:23:32,975 --> 00:23:35,895
locations will always have
pull through, um, spaces.

534
00:23:36,115 --> 00:23:39,015
So pull throughs will cost
a little bit more money, uh,

535
00:23:39,125 --> 00:23:41,895
than the backend, uh, spaces out there.

536
00:23:42,035 --> 00:23:45,565
And, and yeah, it can, you
know, depending on demand and,

537
00:23:45,905 --> 00:23:48,405
and, uh, at, at individual locations

538
00:23:48,665 --> 00:23:50,805
and, uh, you know, uh, timing

539
00:23:50,955 --> 00:23:53,125
that then prices can, can go up.

540
00:23:53,175 --> 00:23:55,605
It'll, it'll slightly
increase a little bit

541
00:23:56,025 --> 00:23:58,125
as the occupancy gets fuller.

542
00:23:59,145 --> 00:24:02,045
- Um, how hard is it to get these spots?

543
00:24:02,345 --> 00:24:06,645
Uh, do they typically sell
out every night or is it word

544
00:24:06,645 --> 00:24:07,645
- Spread enough?

545
00:24:07,645 --> 00:24:08,565
You know, I'll tell you, there are,

546
00:24:08,785 --> 00:24:11,645
our hookup locations
are, are very popular.

547
00:24:12,185 --> 00:24:14,045
Uh, all, all in all,
you know, we're still,

548
00:24:14,095 --> 00:24:15,325
we're still growing with it.

549
00:24:15,365 --> 00:24:18,085
I think this last week we ran up over 50%,

550
00:24:18,585 --> 00:24:20,645
but a number of locations filled up.

551
00:24:20,705 --> 00:24:22,925
You know, we had some boost a little bit

552
00:24:22,945 --> 00:24:24,045
too from the eclipse.

553
00:24:24,105 --> 00:24:27,885
We had some locations that, uh,
were, were in line with that

554
00:24:27,885 --> 00:24:30,045
and we did see a little
extra occupancy at some,

555
00:24:30,075 --> 00:24:31,245
some locations there.

556
00:24:31,385 --> 00:24:35,045
But yeah, they can, a lot of
'em will fill up, you know,

557
00:24:35,105 --> 00:24:37,725
and, and Florida was really
popular here over the winter

558
00:24:37,755 --> 00:24:39,605
time and we had two locations.

559
00:24:39,655 --> 00:24:42,725
We're adding more, but
those ones stay pretty full.

560
00:24:43,385 --> 00:24:45,405
- How do you, uh, choose a location?

561
00:24:45,545 --> 00:24:46,565
Do you kinda look at

562
00:24:46,655 --> 00:24:49,365
where our veers are going in particular?

563
00:24:50,575 --> 00:24:53,465
- Yeah, we, we do, we
try to look at a, a, a,

564
00:24:53,625 --> 00:24:54,665
a number of different things.

565
00:24:54,965 --> 00:24:56,705
Um, you know, one, and,

566
00:24:56,725 --> 00:24:58,945
and look, we're, we're
on the highway, right?

567
00:24:58,965 --> 00:25:00,265
All of our travel stops,

568
00:25:00,265 --> 00:25:02,505
so we're always gonna
put these in the next

569
00:25:02,525 --> 00:25:06,505
to a travel stop, um, uh,
where we have an existing one.

570
00:25:06,725 --> 00:25:08,705
So, you know, it is, um,

571
00:25:09,215 --> 00:25:12,385
what we find at the smaller
locations, those hookups,

572
00:25:12,765 --> 00:25:16,185
you know, they get, which we
haven't really found a bad spot

573
00:25:16,365 --> 00:25:18,665
yet, if, you know, if you've got 10

574
00:25:18,665 --> 00:25:21,705
or less spaces, um, uh, right off there.

575
00:25:21,895 --> 00:25:26,065
Because what we find those
really work well for is

576
00:25:26,335 --> 00:25:29,265
that traveler that is
heading to a destination

577
00:25:29,365 --> 00:25:30,385
and they wanna stop.

578
00:25:30,825 --> 00:25:32,585
A lot of 'em are coming
in later in the evening.

579
00:25:32,615 --> 00:25:34,305
They leave early in the morning.

580
00:25:35,125 --> 00:25:38,865
Um, and, uh, you know, they,
they find, you know, that,

581
00:25:38,865 --> 00:25:41,505
that's where I think that
is just, we hear a lot of

582
00:25:41,505 --> 00:25:43,585
that convenience factor
right off the highway.

583
00:25:44,175 --> 00:25:47,145
Usually we built these,
uh, trout where it's easier

584
00:25:47,245 --> 00:25:50,065
for an RV to maneuver
within our locations.

585
00:25:50,645 --> 00:25:54,025
And, uh, you know, the safety
aspect of it too, we hear,

586
00:25:54,415 --> 00:25:55,415
- Yeah.

587
00:25:55,415 --> 00:25:58,145
Is is it true that love's
travel centers are, uh,

588
00:25:58,145 --> 00:26:01,865
developing, uh, or have plans
to like do a full campground?

589
00:26:02,045 --> 00:26:03,825
Uh, we heard, for example,

590
00:26:03,825 --> 00:26:06,625
something on the way to
Yellowstone. Is that all?

591
00:26:06,735 --> 00:26:09,745
- Yeah, so those would be one
of our larger, we actually

592
00:26:09,855 --> 00:26:13,625
that, that hard in Montana is the location

593
00:26:13,625 --> 00:26:16,225
that's opening at, at the
end of April here in a couple

594
00:26:16,225 --> 00:26:17,745
of weeks we open Harden

595
00:26:18,325 --> 00:26:22,265
and, uh, it has 82 spaces,
you know, it'll be gated,

596
00:26:22,645 --> 00:26:26,705
so it will have a, uh, a
building with an office, uh,

597
00:26:27,105 --> 00:26:29,825
restroom, uh, uh, showers, laundry.

598
00:26:30,365 --> 00:26:32,945
And then what it also has is it has, um,

599
00:26:33,545 --> 00:26:34,905
a recreational area.

600
00:26:35,155 --> 00:26:39,625
We'll have a combination
pickleball, basketball court, um,

601
00:26:39,725 --> 00:26:42,465
you know, all these, we have
mostly pull through spaces,

602
00:26:42,635 --> 00:26:44,965
every picnic tables at every space.

603
00:26:45,465 --> 00:26:50,125
Um, uh, there, uh, we also
have a communal, uh, fire pit,

604
00:26:50,545 --> 00:26:52,605
uh, there of course we have a dog park.

605
00:26:53,065 --> 00:26:55,325
Uh, you know, and that's one
thing we have it all, you know,

606
00:26:55,325 --> 00:26:56,925
with the travel stops
at all the locations,

607
00:26:56,925 --> 00:26:58,645
but have a dedicated dog park there.

608
00:26:59,345 --> 00:27:02,085
Um, you know, we'll set
up corn bowl, uh, uh, uh,

609
00:27:02,085 --> 00:27:03,125
cornhole boards

610
00:27:03,225 --> 00:27:06,725
and, uh, we, we'll do
communal, uh, pavilions.

611
00:27:07,345 --> 00:27:09,685
And so, you know, with
those communal pavilions,

612
00:27:09,685 --> 00:27:12,285
we'll put in some gas
grills too. That lets, um,

613
00:27:12,865 --> 00:27:15,125
- Can you, can you make a reservation

614
00:27:15,125 --> 00:27:17,325
for more than one night
at any of these? Yeah,

615
00:27:17,465 --> 00:27:18,465
- No, absolutely.

616
00:27:18,465 --> 00:27:20,485
Really all of them. You can.

617
00:27:20,825 --> 00:27:23,405
And we do have discounts for weekly rates.

618
00:27:24,065 --> 00:27:26,885
Um, and we'll do, at
our larger facilities,

619
00:27:26,885 --> 00:27:29,605
we'll do some 28 day stay discounts.

620
00:27:29,625 --> 00:27:31,605
We don't really, at any one time,

621
00:27:31,785 --> 00:27:35,205
you can't book more than 28
days at a time at a location.

622
00:27:35,825 --> 00:27:40,125
Uh, but yeah, we, we'll, we'll
offer, um, uh, some weekly

623
00:27:40,385 --> 00:27:41,645
and, and, uh, yeah.

624
00:27:41,825 --> 00:27:44,525
And, and the larger ones, we'll
even have some 28 day stay.

625
00:27:44,785 --> 00:27:46,645
- Now of course these
are going to get more

626
00:27:46,745 --> 00:27:48,845
and more popular as words spread.

627
00:27:48,865 --> 00:27:52,085
So I kind of almost hate to
run this interview Jim ,

628
00:27:52,155 --> 00:27:56,645
because it's really, but
um, right now it sounds

629
00:27:57,195 --> 00:28:00,925
that you can almost get same day residency

630
00:28:00,945 --> 00:28:03,605
or same day occupancy as
you're driving down the road.

631
00:28:04,505 --> 00:28:08,005
But, uh, how far in advance
can you book these things,

632
00:28:08,385 --> 00:28:09,525
- If you We'll, to the planner?

633
00:28:09,775 --> 00:28:11,885
We'll, yeah, we'll let you
book up to a year in advance.

634
00:28:12,305 --> 00:28:16,005
Oh, really? Uh, so yeah, you
can go out there and, and yeah,

635
00:28:16,005 --> 00:28:17,405
and we do encourage,
you know, when you can,

636
00:28:17,425 --> 00:28:20,285
but that, you're right, most
people, we get, uh, a lot

637
00:28:20,285 --> 00:28:23,085
of this is day of people
are traveling again, they,

638
00:28:23,105 --> 00:28:24,645
you know, and that's what's convenient how

639
00:28:24,645 --> 00:28:27,605
however far I can get on
my destination, you know,

640
00:28:27,605 --> 00:28:29,365
where's the closest loves here

641
00:28:29,425 --> 00:28:32,645
and, you know, plant
planted out that way. So how

642
00:28:32,645 --> 00:28:35,085
- Did, how did you guys
get the ideas for this?

643
00:28:35,115 --> 00:28:36,805
When did it all, when did all this start?

644
00:28:37,225 --> 00:28:39,445
You know, uh, you've always
been friendly to RVs.

645
00:28:39,525 --> 00:28:41,525
I mean, it really is a must up I think.

646
00:28:41,675 --> 00:28:42,805
- Yeah, it is.

647
00:28:42,825 --> 00:28:44,725
You know, really it
started just, it was about,

648
00:28:44,725 --> 00:28:46,005
we're hitting three years now

649
00:28:46,005 --> 00:28:48,005
and that first year, by the end of 21,

650
00:28:48,005 --> 00:28:49,365
we had five locations open.

651
00:28:49,505 --> 00:28:54,405
But is really why this came
about for us is, you know,

652
00:28:54,625 --> 00:28:58,925
the really, the RV customer
is a hu has always been a

653
00:28:58,925 --> 00:29:00,245
big customer for love's.

654
00:29:00,245 --> 00:29:03,325
When you really look at what
we have, you know, the fuel,

655
00:29:03,825 --> 00:29:05,325
the propane, you know,

656
00:29:05,325 --> 00:29:07,645
we put in all the dog park loca there,

657
00:29:07,905 --> 00:29:10,805
but you've got the restaurants,
you've got the store,

658
00:29:11,265 --> 00:29:13,965
we have laundry facilities
in most of our loves.

659
00:29:14,105 --> 00:29:16,645
We have showers if
somebody doesn't, you know,

660
00:29:16,645 --> 00:29:18,725
so even our smaller hookup location

661
00:29:19,075 --> 00:29:21,805
that don't have everything
I talked about in Harden,

662
00:29:22,075 --> 00:29:23,925
they have that if you wanted to shower,

663
00:29:24,075 --> 00:29:25,565
there's that ability to do that.

664
00:29:25,985 --> 00:29:27,165
Or, uh, you know,

665
00:29:27,165 --> 00:29:30,285
laundry facilities if you
wanna get some laundry done.

666
00:29:30,465 --> 00:29:32,605
So I think what we just said is, Hey,

667
00:29:32,605 --> 00:29:34,845
this is an important customer of ours.

668
00:29:34,985 --> 00:29:38,125
How do we, um, you know,
better embrace the,

669
00:29:38,145 --> 00:29:39,285
the RV community.

670
00:29:39,935 --> 00:29:41,285
- Let's double back for a second

671
00:29:41,425 --> 00:29:44,925
and talk about that travel
app, which is available, uh,

672
00:29:45,035 --> 00:29:46,445
from the, uh, app stores.

673
00:29:47,065 --> 00:29:50,365
Did I hear you right that
there's a 10 cent fuel discount?

674
00:29:51,025 --> 00:29:53,965
- That's correct. 10 cents
off of gas or diesel.

675
00:29:54,665 --> 00:29:57,445
- Now does that apply to
like, I have a fifth wheel

676
00:29:57,665 --> 00:30:01,645
and the only place I can
really fill up at most, most

677
00:30:01,645 --> 00:30:04,685
of the loves is, um, you
know, with the big trucks, uh,

678
00:30:05,035 --> 00:30:06,285
does it apply there as well?

679
00:30:06,595 --> 00:30:07,885
- Yeah, thanks for asking that

680
00:30:07,885 --> 00:30:12,005
because no, unfortunately
that is on right now.

681
00:30:12,035 --> 00:30:14,965
It's only on the gas side
of the business there.

682
00:30:15,065 --> 00:30:16,685
So we do need to work on that.

683
00:30:17,385 --> 00:30:20,525
Um, and I think those are
things we're trying to look and,

684
00:30:20,545 --> 00:30:23,845
and in general, maybe there's
other, you know, offerings

685
00:30:23,915 --> 00:30:25,845
that, uh, we, we could reach out.

686
00:30:26,025 --> 00:30:27,645
Uh, you know, I'll, I'll tell you.

687
00:30:27,825 --> 00:30:31,325
Um, so we just did a
deal with Blue Compass.

688
00:30:32,025 --> 00:30:34,445
Um, and so what that's

689
00:30:34,445 --> 00:30:36,525
- An RV uh, business.

690
00:30:36,595 --> 00:30:39,445
It's a big, it's a national
chain that sells RVs. Yeah,

691
00:30:39,515 --> 00:30:40,515
- Yeah.

692
00:30:40,515 --> 00:30:42,445
Right. And so we've teamed up with them

693
00:30:42,825 --> 00:30:47,165
and, uh, so they have their
Blue Compass app that, you know,

694
00:30:47,165 --> 00:30:49,365
connects with our travel stops.

695
00:30:49,365 --> 00:30:52,525
And so when somebody buys a
new RV for the first year,

696
00:30:52,525 --> 00:30:54,205
they get their app free

697
00:30:55,025 --> 00:30:59,125
and with their app, what
you can get, uh, is you,

698
00:30:59,125 --> 00:31:02,325
there's a little more, you get
a 13 instead of a 10 cent gas

699
00:31:02,505 --> 00:31:05,455
and you get a 20 cents off of diesel,

700
00:31:05,955 --> 00:31:09,255
but you also get 50 cents off of propane.

701
00:31:09,835 --> 00:31:12,815
And if you're not staying
at one of our RV parks,

702
00:31:12,815 --> 00:31:14,135
but you're just wanna come

703
00:31:14,135 --> 00:31:18,055
and use our, uh, our dump
station, uh, then it will give you

704
00:31:18,125 --> 00:31:19,375
that for half price.

705
00:31:19,835 --> 00:31:21,135
And so, you know, we're kind

706
00:31:21,135 --> 00:31:24,015
of looking at some other things
we could potentially do down

707
00:31:24,015 --> 00:31:27,335
the road, but, you know, that's
it is we got the technology

708
00:31:27,435 --> 00:31:29,975
and that's all just
automated from an your phone,

709
00:31:29,975 --> 00:31:32,815
just like our fuel discount today. Well,

710
00:31:32,885 --> 00:31:34,975
- What a great, uh, addition to, uh,

711
00:31:35,395 --> 00:31:37,495
the travel agendas for RVs.

712
00:31:37,675 --> 00:31:39,975
Uh, I'm so excited to hear this

713
00:31:39,995 --> 00:31:42,015
and we're looking forward
to trying one out, Jim.

714
00:31:42,475 --> 00:31:44,735
We will send everybody to the app store

715
00:31:44,835 --> 00:31:47,055
and look for the Loves Travel Centers app.

716
00:31:47,555 --> 00:31:50,775
And, uh, Jim, I'll, I'll be
camping in one in the next, uh,

717
00:31:50,975 --> 00:31:53,415
month or so as we, uh,
set off for our spring

718
00:31:53,435 --> 00:31:54,455
and summer travel.

719
00:31:54,635 --> 00:31:56,935
So thanks for being a
guest on the podcast.

720
00:31:57,425 --> 00:31:58,895
- Great. Thank thanks for having me

721
00:31:58,895 --> 00:32:00,095
today. I really appreciate it.

722
00:32:00,735 --> 00:32:01,825
- That is pretty exciting.

723
00:32:02,125 --> 00:32:05,185
And, uh, I mean, some
of those sites, the one

724
00:32:05,185 --> 00:32:07,425
by Yellowstone is amazing. Whoa.

725
00:32:07,595 --> 00:32:09,105
- Maybe we can go there sometime,

726
00:32:09,385 --> 00:32:10,385
- I think.

727
00:32:10,385 --> 00:32:12,985
Yeah. Uh, and uh, uh,
they, as you heard, uh,

728
00:32:13,165 --> 00:32:15,465
as you heard 'em say, they're
gonna be doing more of 'em.

729
00:32:15,485 --> 00:32:17,305
So, um, it's a great alternative.

730
00:32:17,625 --> 00:32:19,745
- I think that's just awesome
that they're doing this

731
00:32:19,985 --> 00:32:23,305
'cause there's money to
be made in, uh, campsites.

732
00:32:23,305 --> 00:32:24,385
So there it is. Why not?

733
00:32:24,855 --> 00:32:28,785
- Alright, when we come
back the RV News of the week

734
00:32:29,905 --> 00:32:32,915
when we're asked what's the
most important modification we

735
00:32:32,915 --> 00:32:35,395
made to our rv, it's an easy answer.

736
00:32:35,815 --> 00:32:37,315
Battle borne batteries.

737
00:32:37,315 --> 00:32:41,285
Battle borne batteries are
quality, safe, reliable lithium

738
00:32:41,845 --> 00:32:43,285
batteries that allow us

739
00:32:43,545 --> 00:32:46,325
to stay out there off the grid longer.

740
00:32:46,875 --> 00:32:48,605
Lithium batteries charge faster.

741
00:32:48,835 --> 00:32:49,885
They charge fuller,

742
00:32:49,885 --> 00:32:52,005
they're longer lasting,
they're maintenance free.

743
00:32:52,345 --> 00:32:54,645
And battle borne batteries are protected

744
00:32:54,645 --> 00:32:57,085
by a 10 year guarantee.

745
00:32:57,825 --> 00:33:01,845
Now in our case, they just
dropped into the existing a GM

746
00:33:02,165 --> 00:33:04,445
batteries that we have and
they'll probably be the

747
00:33:04,445 --> 00:33:05,605
same on your rig too.

748
00:33:05,985 --> 00:33:09,845
Battle borne battery experts
can get those in your rig just

749
00:33:09,845 --> 00:33:11,125
like they did with ours.

750
00:33:11,125 --> 00:33:13,045
They can also match you
up with the right cabling,

751
00:33:13,045 --> 00:33:16,365
the inverter, the charger, the
solar controller, everything.

752
00:33:17,205 --> 00:33:20,165
Jennifer and I swear by
our battle borne batteries,

753
00:33:20,195 --> 00:33:23,205
they allow us to boondock off the grid.

754
00:33:23,455 --> 00:33:24,605
Check 'em out, go

755
00:33:24,605 --> 00:33:27,845
to rv lifestyle.com/lithium rv

756
00:33:27,845 --> 00:33:30,005
lifestyle.com/lithium.

757
00:33:31,675 --> 00:33:32,805
Welcome back everybody.

758
00:33:32,875 --> 00:33:36,605
Time now for the RV News of the week.

759
00:33:37,385 --> 00:33:40,325
- Now Cracker Barrel
has closed four location

760
00:33:40,945 --> 00:33:42,845
and they report revenue decline.

761
00:33:43,385 --> 00:33:46,805
And, uh, this is leading some
RVs to urge the community

762
00:33:46,825 --> 00:33:48,845
to eat more often at the chain.

763
00:33:49,245 --> 00:33:50,805
- I think that's a great piece of advice.

764
00:33:50,825 --> 00:33:52,725
We are big fans of Cracker Barrels.

765
00:33:52,945 --> 00:33:56,765
Um, but yeah, the, the reason why is, um,

766
00:33:56,955 --> 00:33:58,925
they've heard reports that the, uh,

767
00:33:59,725 --> 00:34:03,365
southern home cooking chain
is closing four stores now

768
00:34:03,365 --> 00:34:06,125
and they're experiencing
some declines in guests.

769
00:34:06,905 --> 00:34:10,005
Uh, they're closing two stores
in California and Sacramento

770
00:34:10,065 --> 00:34:13,245
and Santa Maria and one in Oregon.

771
00:34:14,025 --> 00:34:16,925
And that means now in Oregon
there the chain will have

772
00:34:17,025 --> 00:34:18,045
no stores in Oregon.

773
00:34:18,365 --> 00:34:20,085
'cause they closed three there last year.

774
00:34:20,515 --> 00:34:23,485
They're also closing one store
in Columbia, South Carolina.

775
00:34:23,985 --> 00:34:25,965
- No, South Carolina kind of surprises me.

776
00:34:25,995 --> 00:34:29,085
Yeah, I would think they would
eat Southern cooking there.

777
00:34:29,275 --> 00:34:31,525
Yeah. So, uh, that one surprises me.

778
00:34:32,285 --> 00:34:34,405
- Cracker Barrel has closed
10 locations in the fiscal

779
00:34:34,405 --> 00:34:36,165
years, 2023 and 24,

780
00:34:36,265 --> 00:34:40,205
but they still have 658 stores remaining.

781
00:34:40,705 --> 00:34:44,845
Uh, and they lost I think
not quite 2% of revenue, um,

782
00:34:45,105 --> 00:34:47,285
you know, last, uh, year
compared to the prior year.

783
00:34:47,305 --> 00:34:50,445
But, you know, it sounds
that the company's has a plan

784
00:34:50,825 --> 00:34:52,925
and, uh, you know, like everybody else,

785
00:34:52,925 --> 00:34:54,365
inflation is, is killing them.

786
00:34:54,545 --> 00:34:56,485
But our views are paying attention

787
00:34:56,805 --> 00:34:58,565
'cause they are really
nice places to stay.

788
00:34:59,405 --> 00:35:01,285
I like Cracker Roast
because I wake up in the

789
00:35:01,285 --> 00:35:02,365
morning and I know I have bacon.

790
00:35:02,725 --> 00:35:05,245
I can smell it waiting
for me. Right, sun. Yeah,

791
00:35:05,785 --> 00:35:06,785
- That's true.

792
00:35:06,945 --> 00:35:08,845
So they're launching a loyalty program.

793
00:35:09,165 --> 00:35:10,405
I wonder what that's gonna be like.

794
00:35:10,585 --> 00:35:12,845
And they're improving its marketing

795
00:35:12,865 --> 00:35:15,205
and focusing on guest experience.

796
00:35:15,865 --> 00:35:18,085
So they're they're aware
they're working on it.

797
00:35:18,305 --> 00:35:20,925
- Yep. And, and most Cracker
Barrel restaurants allow RVs

798
00:35:20,925 --> 00:35:22,005
to overnight in their parking lot.

799
00:35:22,025 --> 00:35:26,165
And the only places you can't
is, you know, in communities

800
00:35:26,165 --> 00:35:28,125
that prohibit such things.

801
00:35:28,305 --> 00:35:29,965
And uh, so when you can't,

802
00:35:29,965 --> 00:35:31,645
it's not a Cracker Barrel decision.

803
00:35:31,715 --> 00:35:33,805
It's usually because of local ordinances.

804
00:35:34,425 --> 00:35:36,045
And I don't wanna get going on that.

805
00:35:36,145 --> 00:35:37,370
But a reason there is a lot

806
00:35:37,370 --> 00:35:40,605
of those local ordinances
is same ones that places

807
00:35:40,605 --> 00:35:41,805
where you can't stay in Walmart.

808
00:35:42,365 --> 00:35:43,845
'cause Walmart welcomes our viewers,

809
00:35:44,145 --> 00:35:47,645
but the community, uh,
the local legislatures

810
00:35:47,745 --> 00:35:48,805
or the councils

811
00:35:48,825 --> 00:35:51,525
or the county commissions were pressured

812
00:35:51,525 --> 00:35:52,525
by campground owners.

813
00:35:52,665 --> 00:35:55,245
And there's all this model legislation

814
00:35:55,275 --> 00:35:58,205
that the Campground Association
pushed through on a lot

815
00:35:58,205 --> 00:36:00,245
of these smaller communities to make it

816
00:36:00,245 --> 00:36:03,125
so you can't overnight they
want you to go spend that, uh,

817
00:36:03,125 --> 00:36:05,525
70 bucks in a campground or something.

818
00:36:05,545 --> 00:36:07,725
But, so anyway, but most Cracker Barrels

819
00:36:07,725 --> 00:36:09,405
and I could get going on that all day.

820
00:36:09,605 --> 00:36:10,685
, most cracker barrels

821
00:36:10,705 --> 00:36:13,325
and most Walmarts, uh,
will let you stay for free.

822
00:36:13,585 --> 00:36:15,085
Always check with the manager.

823
00:36:15,625 --> 00:36:16,805
- And I think something else

824
00:36:17,185 --> 00:36:19,525
that's entered into the picture is, um,

825
00:36:20,125 --> 00:36:21,685
homeless population. Yeah,

826
00:36:21,795 --> 00:36:22,795
- Yeah.

827
00:36:22,795 --> 00:36:23,245
- You know, that kind of people

828
00:36:23,245 --> 00:36:24,725
- Go camping in ratty cars

829
00:36:24,945 --> 00:36:26,965
and that's, that's a problem
all over the country.

830
00:36:27,155 --> 00:36:29,085
Yeah. Anyway, if you're in Rve

831
00:36:29,145 --> 00:36:32,005
and if you do, uh,
overnight at the chain, uh,

832
00:36:32,025 --> 00:36:35,125
the expect expectation is that
you'll grab breakfast, uh,

833
00:36:35,225 --> 00:36:37,325
in the morning or dinner the night before.

834
00:36:37,945 --> 00:36:39,845
And that sounds like a, a great deal.

835
00:36:40,145 --> 00:36:41,525
Uh, we love staying at Cracker Barrel.

836
00:36:41,705 --> 00:36:43,165
- We do. It's a fun place to stay.

837
00:36:43,385 --> 00:36:46,405
- Yep. Uh, so keep it up. Cracker Barrel.

838
00:36:46,425 --> 00:36:48,445
We, we love you guys,
. We really do.

839
00:36:49,105 --> 00:36:50,605
Uh, alright, the next story.

840
00:36:50,905 --> 00:36:53,045
Uh, and this is interesting,
for those of you

841
00:36:53,145 --> 00:36:56,365
who might be visiting the, uh,
black Canyon of the Gunnison

842
00:36:56,385 --> 00:37:00,045
or Black Canyon of the Gunnison,
uh, out in Colorado, the,

843
00:37:00,065 --> 00:37:04,645
um, bridge over the Blue
Mesa reservoir has closed

844
00:37:04,955 --> 00:37:07,285
because a steel beam is cracked.

845
00:37:07,345 --> 00:37:10,365
And if you plan a camping
trip this summer to Colorado,

846
00:37:10,835 --> 00:37:13,805
make sure your route is,
uh, not affected by this,

847
00:37:13,915 --> 00:37:17,205
this bridge over the Blue
Mesa reservoirs on, uh, S 50.

848
00:37:18,065 --> 00:37:19,085
And what they found it

849
00:37:19,705 --> 00:37:20,705
- Big cracked.

850
00:37:20,705 --> 00:37:21,245
I would, yeah, it was a three

851
00:37:21,245 --> 00:37:23,485
to a four inch crack along a steel beam

852
00:37:23,485 --> 00:37:25,405
that was discovered on the bridge, uh,

853
00:37:26,075 --> 00:37:28,925
that connects the gunna sun to Mount

854
00:37:28,925 --> 00:37:29,925
- Rose.

855
00:37:29,925 --> 00:37:33,405
Yeah. And, um, there's an
alternative route, but

856
00:37:34,045 --> 00:37:35,445
- A 300 mile detour,

857
00:37:35,845 --> 00:37:38,925
- A 300 mile detour, and that
is likely to take you six

858
00:37:39,065 --> 00:37:40,885
or seven hours to drive.

859
00:37:41,825 --> 00:37:43,885
Um, so people planning
to visit Black Canyon

860
00:37:43,905 --> 00:37:44,965
and the Gunnison National Park,

861
00:37:44,965 --> 00:37:47,285
which is a really spectacular national

862
00:37:47,285 --> 00:37:48,365
park, we loved camping there.

863
00:37:48,365 --> 00:37:51,805
Mm-Hmm. , uh,
and, um, uh, you're gonna have

864
00:37:51,805 --> 00:37:54,125
to, um, that's the road
you take to get in there.

865
00:37:55,185 --> 00:37:57,025
Colorado Department of
Translation said they found

866
00:37:57,025 --> 00:38:01,425
that crack, um, on the Steel
Bridge inspection is that the,

867
00:38:01,425 --> 00:38:03,585
um, federal Highway
Administration requires.

868
00:38:03,605 --> 00:38:05,865
And they don't know how long
it's gonna take to fix it.

869
00:38:06,085 --> 00:38:09,505
So, um, we do have a
Colorado Adventure Guide

870
00:38:09,505 --> 00:38:11,905
that we should tell you, uh,
full of suggestions on what

871
00:38:11,905 --> 00:38:15,145
to see in Colorado and, uh,
what to do, where to camp.

872
00:38:15,285 --> 00:38:18,305
And we'll put a link
in the show notes, um,

873
00:38:18,515 --> 00:38:20,465
where you can read, you
can find that in all

874
00:38:20,465 --> 00:38:21,505
of our other travel books.

875
00:38:22,405 --> 00:38:24,185
- And, uh, this is a fun story.

876
00:38:24,595 --> 00:38:26,305
Jellystone Campgrounds Plan,

877
00:38:26,305 --> 00:38:28,905
special Mother's Day's activities. Yeah.

878
00:38:29,105 --> 00:38:30,225
- I love Jellystone Horse.

879
00:38:30,245 --> 00:38:33,385
We went to one, uh, at
the end of the, at the end

880
00:38:33,385 --> 00:38:36,045
of last camping season in
the fall and had a ball.

881
00:38:36,275 --> 00:38:37,765
It's a great family place.

882
00:38:38,115 --> 00:38:40,045
Well, now they're talking
about Mother's Day. Yeah.

883
00:38:40,045 --> 00:38:41,365
- So they, uh, checkout,

884
00:38:41,365 --> 00:38:43,605
they've got all different
things planned at

885
00:38:43,605 --> 00:38:44,765
different campgrounds.

886
00:38:45,345 --> 00:38:47,125
So, uh, it's gonna be fun. I

887
00:38:47,245 --> 00:38:48,245
- I I like it.

888
00:38:48,245 --> 00:38:49,805
It's kind of like what
the camping industry did

889
00:38:50,115 --> 00:38:52,765
with Halloween, uh, a few years ago.

890
00:38:53,445 --> 00:38:55,725
Somebody says, you know, let's
really stress camp Halloween.

891
00:38:55,745 --> 00:38:58,445
And it's now turned into
like all of October.

892
00:38:58,455 --> 00:39:00,805
Every weekend is booked
with all these campgrounds

893
00:39:00,805 --> 00:39:01,925
that have Halloween events.

894
00:39:01,955 --> 00:39:04,445
Well, they're looking for
other holidays they can do.

895
00:39:04,445 --> 00:39:05,845
And so they're picking Mother's Day

896
00:39:05,845 --> 00:39:06,645
and you know, they're gonna pick

897
00:39:06,645 --> 00:39:07,845
Father's Day. Well, I would

898
00:39:07,845 --> 00:39:08,485
- Hope so. Yeah.

899
00:39:08,665 --> 00:39:11,005
- So Mother's Day is Sunday, May 12th,

900
00:39:11,865 --> 00:39:14,285
and, uh, activities I'm sure vary by

901
00:39:14,645 --> 00:39:15,645
- Location.

902
00:39:15,645 --> 00:39:17,125
Oh yeah. The different
campgrounds, you know, like some

903
00:39:17,685 --> 00:39:21,285
locations they receive, uh,
free mo, uh, color changing,

904
00:39:21,575 --> 00:39:23,965
Jellystone Park, mom cup, ,

905
00:39:24,385 --> 00:39:27,605
and they've got everything
from dress like a mom contest,

906
00:39:28,245 --> 00:39:32,245
, special crafts,
tea and cookies, scavenger

907
00:39:32,245 --> 00:39:33,245
- Hunts.

908
00:39:33,245 --> 00:39:33,565
How do you dress just like a

909
00:39:33,565 --> 00:39:34,565
- Mom guess.

910
00:39:34,565 --> 00:39:36,725
I guess you'd both mother and

911
00:39:37,765 --> 00:39:40,645
- Daughter look alike or
- These days, who knows?

912
00:39:40,885 --> 00:39:42,165
. Oh yeah, alike. Who knows?

913
00:39:42,745 --> 00:39:44,565
But, um, dressed like a mom.

914
00:39:45,225 --> 00:39:46,845
- Tea and cookies.
- Tea and cookies.

915
00:39:46,955 --> 00:39:49,325
- Scavenger hunts,
- Massages.

916
00:39:49,325 --> 00:39:51,485
That sounds like hay rides, parades.

917
00:39:51,545 --> 00:39:52,925
And you know, they'll be creative.

918
00:39:52,925 --> 00:39:54,645
There'll be all kinds
of things happening at

919
00:39:54,645 --> 00:39:55,725
the Jellystone campgrounds.

920
00:39:55,725 --> 00:39:57,805
- Well, good for you,
Jellystone for having some fun.

921
00:39:58,425 --> 00:40:00,005
Uh, and one last story.

922
00:40:00,025 --> 00:40:02,965
We talked about this earlier
on, um, the La Chargers

923
00:40:02,965 --> 00:40:04,685
of course have a new coach

924
00:40:05,625 --> 00:40:08,205
and, uh, Jim Harborough, uh, when,

925
00:40:08,315 --> 00:40:10,485
when he first got the job,
he said that he wanted

926
00:40:10,505 --> 00:40:12,285
to take his RV out to California

927
00:40:12,305 --> 00:40:13,685
and actually live in his rv.

928
00:40:14,385 --> 00:40:17,805
And along with his offensive
coordinator, Greg Roman, uh,

929
00:40:17,855 --> 00:40:18,965
who's another big RV

930
00:40:18,965 --> 00:40:21,085
or so, they have spent the last couple

931
00:40:21,105 --> 00:40:25,285
of months living full-time RV
life in the Huntington Beach

932
00:40:25,425 --> 00:40:27,045
at a great little campground there.

933
00:40:27,825 --> 00:40:29,445
And, uh, we had hoped

934
00:40:29,445 --> 00:40:30,965
to actually go out and
visit them out there.

935
00:40:31,025 --> 00:40:33,765
But, uh, the team realized
that there's a lot

936
00:40:33,765 --> 00:40:35,045
of RVs who would be interested.

937
00:40:35,065 --> 00:40:38,285
So they did a video, uh, where Harbo

938
00:40:38,285 --> 00:40:40,365
and Roman talk up, you know, the RV life.

939
00:40:40,365 --> 00:40:41,725
They give a tour of their rigs

940
00:40:42,345 --> 00:40:45,285
and, uh, even settle their
campgrounds at the end

941
00:40:45,285 --> 00:40:46,685
of the day in a lawn chair

942
00:40:47,565 --> 00:40:49,205
enjoying a beer like most campers.

943
00:40:49,905 --> 00:40:51,645
Uh, Harbaugh by the way, makes

944
00:40:52,155 --> 00:40:55,525
- 16 million a year,
- 16 million

945
00:40:55,525 --> 00:40:56,565
- Million a year.

946
00:40:56,945 --> 00:40:59,165
- And uh, that's pretty amazing.

947
00:40:59,585 --> 00:41:03,005
Uh, he was, he says he
was inspired to, uh,

948
00:41:03,015 --> 00:41:06,765
spend more time in his RV by
the old TV show Rockford Files.

949
00:41:07,625 --> 00:41:11,125
And he has a quantum Thor, class C,

950
00:41:12,105 --> 00:41:14,605
and he is, uh, in that RV park, uh,

951
00:41:14,605 --> 00:41:16,725
across the street from
the Pacific Ocean. I

952
00:41:16,725 --> 00:41:17,725
- Mean, does it get any better than

953
00:41:17,725 --> 00:41:20,045
that across the street
from the Pacific Ocean?

954
00:41:20,745 --> 00:41:23,405
And boy, your RV is so much better.

955
00:41:23,665 --> 00:41:25,725
All of us out there with our RVs know it's

956
00:41:25,725 --> 00:41:27,085
so much better than a hotel room.

957
00:41:27,305 --> 00:41:28,805
- And that's what Harborough says.

958
00:41:28,985 --> 00:41:31,845
And uh, he even talks about
emptying the black tank.

959
00:41:32,025 --> 00:41:34,365
So we will put a link to that video.

960
00:41:34,905 --> 00:41:36,325
Uh, and it also has a tour.

961
00:41:36,505 --> 00:41:40,205
Uh, Roman, his offensive
coordinator has a 2019 Numar

962
00:41:40,635 --> 00:41:42,405
Ventana Class A

963
00:41:42,985 --> 00:41:45,925
and, uh, he's got the American
flag flying on the back

964
00:41:45,925 --> 00:41:47,845
with the Chargers flag just below it.

965
00:41:48,425 --> 00:41:51,285
And he also says the RV
life beats any hotel.

966
00:41:51,545 --> 00:41:54,925
So it was a great video and
uh, football fans will like it,

967
00:41:54,925 --> 00:41:56,485
but our viewers will
get a kick out it too.

968
00:41:56,755 --> 00:41:58,365
$16 million a year

969
00:41:58,365 --> 00:42:00,605
and he's chosen to live in a Class C

970
00:42:00,825 --> 00:42:01,965
RV for the past two months.

971
00:42:02,155 --> 00:42:03,965
- Well, when the family comes, he,

972
00:42:04,015 --> 00:42:05,365
he'll probably be moving on.

973
00:42:05,425 --> 00:42:06,725
- Yep. They're there, I think right now.

974
00:42:06,785 --> 00:42:09,645
And so he's uh, he's
probably gonna have to put

975
00:42:09,805 --> 00:42:10,805
that RV in storage.

976
00:42:11,065 --> 00:42:13,885
So, alright, when we come
back, we've got a couple

977
00:42:13,885 --> 00:42:16,685
of great RV questions of the
week that you'll wanna catch.

978
00:42:16,785 --> 00:42:18,765
So stay with us. Are you ready

979
00:42:18,825 --> 00:42:22,285
to embark on an unforgettable
adventure in your rv?

980
00:42:22,985 --> 00:42:26,525
Our RV lifestyle travel guide
eBooks are your ultimate

981
00:42:26,695 --> 00:42:29,525
companions for exploring
North America's most

982
00:42:29,525 --> 00:42:31,325
breathtaking destinations.

983
00:42:31,515 --> 00:42:34,125
They'll help you hit
the road with confidence

984
00:42:34,385 --> 00:42:37,445
and make the most out of
your RVing experience.

985
00:42:37,895 --> 00:42:39,325
We're Mike and Jennifer Wendling

986
00:42:39,345 --> 00:42:41,285
and we are passionate explorers

987
00:42:41,505 --> 00:42:44,045
and the authors of an entire library of

988
00:42:44,585 --> 00:42:46,245
RV travel guide eBooks.

989
00:42:46,785 --> 00:42:48,605
We have meticulously put together

990
00:42:49,125 --> 00:42:52,325
detailed travel maps showing
you the best routes where

991
00:42:52,325 --> 00:42:55,925
to stay, what hidden gems
to discover along the way

992
00:42:56,435 --> 00:42:59,085
from the majestic
Yellowstone National Park

993
00:42:59,625 --> 00:43:04,485
to the vibrant colors of
Colorado, the awe inspiring beauty

994
00:43:04,545 --> 00:43:08,205
of Utah, the enchanting
deserts of Arizona,

995
00:43:08,865 --> 00:43:12,885
the tranquil Great Lakes
region, the pristine wilderness

996
00:43:12,885 --> 00:43:14,165
of the Adirondacks.

997
00:43:14,655 --> 00:43:18,725
We've even done a captivating
three part guide to RV Travel

998
00:43:18,785 --> 00:43:20,245
and camping in Florida.

999
00:43:20,985 --> 00:43:23,605
No matter where your wanderlust takes you,

1000
00:43:24,095 --> 00:43:25,245
we've got you covered.

1001
00:43:25,625 --> 00:43:28,965
Our curated list of must
see attractions ensures

1002
00:43:29,115 --> 00:43:32,845
that you won't miss out on
any unforgettable experiences.

1003
00:43:33,425 --> 00:43:35,885
You wanna witness the
eruption of Old Faithful.

1004
00:43:36,295 --> 00:43:39,485
We've got you covered.
Craving an epic road trip

1005
00:43:39,485 --> 00:43:41,445
through breathtaking landscapes.

1006
00:43:41,735 --> 00:43:45,285
We've got the perfect route
for you dreaming of beachside,

1007
00:43:45,315 --> 00:43:46,525
camping under the stars.

1008
00:43:47,225 --> 00:43:50,365
We know the best spots
with our eBooks available

1009
00:43:50,505 --> 00:43:54,605
for instant download@rvlifestyle.com
slash books.

1010
00:43:55,265 --> 00:43:57,125
You can have the knowledge you need

1011
00:43:57,295 --> 00:43:58,525
right at your fingertips.

1012
00:43:59,195 --> 00:44:02,605
Head over to rv lifestyle.com/books

1013
00:44:03,065 --> 00:44:06,725
and start exploring the
wonders of North America today.

1014
00:44:07,555 --> 00:44:09,885
Unforgettable adventures are waiting.

1015
00:44:11,395 --> 00:44:15,285
Welcome back time now for
the RV Questions of the week.

1016
00:44:15,345 --> 00:44:16,885
And we love to get your questions.

1017
00:44:16,885 --> 00:44:19,045
We love to get your comments.
You can always reach us at

1018
00:44:19,045 --> 00:44:23,325
Mike and jen@rvlifestyle.com.
You got your first question?

1019
00:44:23,575 --> 00:44:27,205
- First question. I just got
a weather alert about a red

1020
00:44:27,275 --> 00:44:29,645
flag warning for the
area we're traveling to.

1021
00:44:30,455 --> 00:44:32,615
We're in Texas, far from the coast,

1022
00:44:32,915 --> 00:44:35,535
aren't red flag warnings about riptides

1023
00:44:35,675 --> 00:44:37,415
and dangerous water conditions?

1024
00:44:38,155 --> 00:44:39,495
- And that's from Marsha.

1025
00:44:40,195 --> 00:44:43,135
And yes, Marsha, you're
thinking about the red flags

1026
00:44:43,135 --> 00:44:45,215
that lifeguards fly at the beach.

1027
00:44:45,875 --> 00:44:49,135
And I I I think we can see
the confusion there, um,

1028
00:44:49,565 --> 00:44:52,055
because the red flag in the
beach means don't go in the

1029
00:44:52,055 --> 00:44:54,735
water, but there is a red flag warning

1030
00:44:54,735 --> 00:44:56,335
that comes from the weather service

1031
00:44:56,635 --> 00:44:58,215
and it's completely different.

1032
00:44:58,765 --> 00:45:01,135
What it means when you hear that is that

1033
00:45:01,655 --> 00:45:05,375
critical fire weather conditions
are either occurring now

1034
00:45:05,435 --> 00:45:09,615
or they will shortly, uh, the
combination of strong winds,

1035
00:45:10,075 --> 00:45:14,175
um, low relative humidity,
warm temperatures contribute

1036
00:45:14,235 --> 00:45:16,175
to extreme fire behavior.

1037
00:45:16,795 --> 00:45:19,335
So when you hear that red
flag warning you're in

1038
00:45:19,545 --> 00:45:20,815
means you should be careful.

1039
00:45:21,645 --> 00:45:23,615
- Yeah. Extremely
careful with any activity

1040
00:45:23,615 --> 00:45:28,255
that could potentially lead to
a wildfire camping outdoors.

1041
00:45:29,035 --> 00:45:31,175
You know, you got your
grills, you've got the

1042
00:45:31,785 --> 00:45:33,615
smoky materials, chainsaws

1043
00:45:33,795 --> 00:45:36,895
and all terrain vehicles
all have the potential

1044
00:45:36,895 --> 00:45:38,895
to throw a spark and ignite a dangerous

1045
00:45:38,895 --> 00:45:39,935
and destructive fire.

1046
00:45:39,995 --> 00:45:41,775
So you've gotta be extra careful. Yeah.

1047
00:45:42,355 --> 00:45:45,255
- So that, speaking of
high winds, uh, something

1048
00:45:45,255 --> 00:45:48,695
that happens a lot in the
early spring, uh, that leads us

1049
00:45:48,715 --> 00:45:51,095
to our second question. This week

1050
00:45:51,825 --> 00:45:53,455
- We've been told to expect a lot

1051
00:45:53,455 --> 00:45:57,455
of heavy winds near Armillo,
Texas where we are headed

1052
00:45:57,515 --> 00:46:00,055
for a few days to tour
the Palo Duro Canyon.

1053
00:46:00,855 --> 00:46:05,215
A fellow RV said we should
probably pull in the slides from

1054
00:46:05,215 --> 00:46:08,455
our grand design fifth wheel
when we're going hiking

1055
00:46:08,555 --> 00:46:10,415
for the day and away from the campsite.

1056
00:46:10,475 --> 00:46:12,215
What's your advice? And that's from Keith.

1057
00:46:12,555 --> 00:46:15,735
- Boy, we, we remember
Amarillo, the, the locals say

1058
00:46:15,735 --> 00:46:18,095
that it's blowing dirt
, which it does.

1059
00:46:18,565 --> 00:46:22,615
It's known for almost always being windy.

1060
00:46:23,115 --> 00:46:25,895
And I I remember one night we were in, um,

1061
00:46:26,535 --> 00:46:31,135
a class B at the time and we
were really tossed around.

1062
00:46:31,405 --> 00:46:33,055
- Yeah. We kept thinking, should we get up

1063
00:46:33,075 --> 00:46:35,135
and go to the cement restrooms?

1064
00:46:35,415 --> 00:46:36,775
I mean, do we stay in this RV

1065
00:46:36,775 --> 00:46:38,575
or do we get up and go someplace?

1066
00:46:38,775 --> 00:46:40,335
I mean, we were rocking like, and,

1067
00:46:40,555 --> 00:46:43,975
- And and I, yeah, I I was
really convinced that, you know,

1068
00:46:43,975 --> 00:46:46,695
we missed a, a tornado
warning or something.

1069
00:46:46,715 --> 00:46:48,295
But no, it was just normal weather.

1070
00:46:48,395 --> 00:46:51,215
And uh, when we, uh, when we got up, uh,

1071
00:46:51,215 --> 00:46:52,735
the locals just kinda laughed this

1072
00:46:52,735 --> 00:46:53,775
and said, you should see it

1073
00:46:53,775 --> 00:46:54,895
when it was really windy. But yeah,

1074
00:46:54,925 --> 00:46:57,095
- They weren't concerned
at all that, yeah.

1075
00:46:57,535 --> 00:46:59,535
Considered us outsiders, which we were.

1076
00:47:00,315 --> 00:47:03,895
- But there is some wisdom
in pulling in the slides when

1077
00:47:03,895 --> 00:47:06,975
there are really high winds
and you, you're not around.

1078
00:47:07,075 --> 00:47:10,735
And by high winds, I mean 40 miles above

1079
00:47:10,955 --> 00:47:14,055
or more for, you know,
extended periods of time.

1080
00:47:14,235 --> 00:47:16,415
Not just a gust, but
extended periods of time.

1081
00:47:17,235 --> 00:47:19,095
Now that wouldn't flip your rv,

1082
00:47:19,395 --> 00:47:21,175
but it can add a lot of stress

1083
00:47:21,195 --> 00:47:23,495
to the slide mechanisms if they're being

1084
00:47:23,495 --> 00:47:24,695
buffeted around a lot.

1085
00:47:25,195 --> 00:47:28,015
Um, particularly the cables,
they could fray a little bit.

1086
00:47:28,635 --> 00:47:32,045
Uh, and by the way, I
googled what it would take

1087
00:47:32,145 --> 00:47:33,245
to flip an RV

1088
00:47:33,825 --> 00:47:36,685
and I came up with an answer
that refers to a study called,

1089
00:47:37,385 --> 00:47:40,605
um, wind Speeds Required
to Upset Vehicles.

1090
00:47:40,665 --> 00:47:42,845
And it's by, uh, a couple of

1091
00:47:43,365 --> 00:47:47,325
researchers from Kent State
University and they had a study

1092
00:47:47,625 --> 00:47:48,925
and it said that you would need

1093
00:47:49,475 --> 00:47:53,725
hurricane force winds in
excess of 91 miles per hour

1094
00:47:54,305 --> 00:47:58,045
to flip even the least stable rv.

1095
00:47:58,425 --> 00:48:00,765
So I don't think you have
to worry about it flipping.

1096
00:48:01,105 --> 00:48:03,685
Uh, I'm sure there's always
exceptions to that, you know,

1097
00:48:04,035 --> 00:48:05,885
wind funnels and all sorts of stuff.

1098
00:48:06,065 --> 00:48:08,685
But, uh, but a good idea
to bring in your slides

1099
00:48:09,185 --> 00:48:11,685
- And it goes without
saying awnings .

1100
00:48:11,685 --> 00:48:13,845
- Oh yeah. Don't ever
leave your awnings up.

1101
00:48:14,405 --> 00:48:17,565
I would not e even if you're
in the rv, it's a nice day

1102
00:48:17,565 --> 00:48:18,885
with nice night when you go to bed,

1103
00:48:19,115 --> 00:48:21,285
pull in your awnings, uh, you don't know.

1104
00:48:21,405 --> 00:48:22,525
'cause wind can come up like that

1105
00:48:22,525 --> 00:48:25,325
and we hear all these
stories of shredded RVs

1106
00:48:25,625 --> 00:48:26,885
- And when you go for a hike,

1107
00:48:27,385 --> 00:48:28,385
- You know, even for a little while.

1108
00:48:28,555 --> 00:48:31,565
- Yeah. 'cause you don't
know the local terrain,

1109
00:48:31,825 --> 00:48:33,125
you know the winds and everything.

1110
00:48:33,465 --> 00:48:35,325
It is just take care of your awning

1111
00:48:35,485 --> 00:48:37,205
'cause it's such a hassle to fix 'em.

1112
00:48:37,555 --> 00:48:39,525
- Alright, that's the
podcast for this week.

1113
00:48:39,785 --> 00:48:41,005
Um, thank you guys so much Rash.

1114
00:48:41,065 --> 00:48:43,205
We love getting your
questions, your comments.

1115
00:48:43,335 --> 00:48:46,005
Again, our personal email address is Mike

1116
00:48:46,345 --> 00:48:49,965
and jen@uhrvlifestyle.com.

1117
00:48:50,655 --> 00:48:51,565
- Happy trails.