Thinking about becoming an RVer? Already on the road and wondering why it still feels harder than expected?
This episode is for you.

RV life looks simple from the outside, but the reality hits fast once plans change, weather turns, budgets stretch, and things break. In this episode of Beyond The Wheel, we break down what it actually takes to become an RVer and stay sane doing it.

This isn’t about what RV to buy or which gadgets to install. It’s about mindset, flexibility, planning, and budgeting for real life on the road.

What We Cover in This Episode

Flexibility Is the Real Skill

Why rigid schedules don’t survive RV life and how learning to plan in pencil makes the experience more enjoyable and far less stressful.

Keeping Your Cool When Things Go Wrong

From breakdowns to bad weather, things will go sideways. We talk about what actually goes wrong most often and how experienced RVers stay calm while new RVers panic.

Planning Without Overplanning

How to plan the things that matter like routes, fuel, height, power, and access without killing the fun by over-scheduling every mile and minute.

Budgeting for Reality, Not Instagram

The real costs of RV life, why budgets should be ranges not fixed numbers, and the expenses nobody mentions when you’re just getting startedIs RV Life Really for You?

Honest talk about who thrives in RV life, who struggles, and why there’s no “right” way to do it.

Key Takeaways

Final Thought

Becoming an RVer isn’t about being ready.
It’s about being adaptable.

Join the Conversation

If this episode helped you, share it with someone who’s RV-curious or just starting out.
Have a “first RV disaster” story? We want to hear it.

Follow Beyond The Wheel for more honest conversations about RV life, the industry, and what really happens once you hit the road.

The post So You Want to Be an RVer? appeared first on Beyond The Wheel.

Everyone keeps asking us when we’re upgrading.
The truth is… we already did.

In this episode, Kenny and Sean get real about why they are both still traveling in RVs that are years old and why, for most RVers, keeping what you already own and upgrading it smartly is often a better move than buying brand new.

Kenny’s Class A just turned ten years old. Sean’s rig is over five. Between the two of them, they’ve logged thousands of miles, countless repairs, upgrades, and lessons that no sales brochure can teach. This conversation isn’t anti new RVs. It’s pro smart ownership.

If you’ve ever felt pressure to trade in your rig because it feels outdated, this episode will change how you look at what you already own.

In this episode we cover

• Why the RV industry constantly pushes the “upgrade cycle”
• How social media makes perfectly good RVs feel old
• The hidden costs of buying new that no one talks about
• Why knowing your rig is more valuable than owning a new one
• How targeted upgrades can outperform a brand new RV
• The stress and uncertainty that comes with new ownership
• When it actually does make sense to buy new
• Why most RVers don’t need a new RV, they need a better version of the one they already have

Why this matters

RVs are not phones.
They are houses that go through earthquakes.

New does not automatically mean better. Often it just means unproven.

By keeping and upgrading their rigs, Kenny and Sean have built RVs that are tailored to their exact travel style, off grid needs, and comfort. That knowledge, reliability, and confidence is something money cannot buy off a dealer lot.

Who this episode is for

• RVers feeling pressure to upgrade
• Full timers trying to stretch their budget
• Weekend campers who love their current rig
• Anyone who wants less stress and more time on the road

The big takeaway

Most RVers do not need a new RV.
They need a smarter version of the one they already have.

The post Why Keeping Your RV Beats Buying New appeared first on Beyond The Wheel.

In this Driver’s Edition episode of Beyond the Wheel, Kenny takes listeners behind the scenes of the RV industry to unpack what’s really happening right now. Using recent shipment numbers, dealer dynamics, and major industry moves, this episode cuts through the noise to explain where the market stands and what it means for buyers, owners, and anyone watching the RV space.

This isn’t a boom-and-bust story. It’s a look at an industry maturing, recalibrating, and adapting to a more intentional consumer.

Whether you’re shopping for your next rig, considering upgrades, or just want a clearer picture of where the RV industry is headed, this Driver’s Edition gives you the context you need without the hype.

The post Beyond the Wheel – Driver’s Edition Dec 2025 appeared first on Beyond The Wheel.

In this special episode of Beyond the Wheel, Sean flips the mic and interviews Kenny about the creation of his first children’s book, Belle’s RV Adventures.

What started as life on the road with a dog named Belle turned into a children’s book designed to spark curiosity, imagination, and a love for travel. Kenny shares why he decided to turn Belle’s real RV travels into a story for kids, what the self-publishing process actually looks like, and what surprised him most about becoming a first-time author.

This episode pulls back the curtain on the creative process, the emotional side of launching a book, and how storytelling can connect families to the RV lifestyle in a whole new way.

In This Episode, We Cover:

About the Book

Belle’s RV Adventures is a children’s book told from the perspective of Belle, a curious dog who experiences the world from the passenger seat of an RV. The story celebrates travel, discovery, and seeing the world through fresh eyes.

 Get the book here:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0G42HQH59

Don’t Forget

If you enjoyed this episode, please follow the podcast, leave a review, and share it with someone who loves RVing, travel, or reading with their kids.

The post When Your Dog Becomes an Author – The Story Behind Belle’s RV Adventures appeared first on Beyond The Wheel.

Episode Summary:
In this episode we sit down with Doug Uhlenbrock and Meagan Butler from the newly renamed FRVA. If you have known FMCA for years and wondered why the name changed or what it means for RV owners, this conversation clears it up. We talk about the thought process behind the rebrand, the challenges of changing a long-standing identity, and how FRVA plans to shape the future of RV community support, events, and member benefits.

Doug and Meagan share what the organization has learned from decades of serving RV owners and how they are adapting to a broader and more modern RV audience. Whether you are a long-time member or hearing the name FRVA for the first time, this episode gives context, clarity, and a look at what is coming next.

Topics Covered:
• Why FMCA changed its name and what FRVA represents
• How the rebranding process unfolded behind the scenes
• What the updated mission means for current and future members
• How RV ownership has changed and what FRVA is doing to stay relevant
• New and upcoming programs and benefits
• Reactions from long time members and the broader RV community
• The future vision for advocacy, education, and events

The post Why FMCA Became FRVA with Doug and Meagan appeared first on Beyond The Wheel.

Even the most seasoned RVers know — things will go wrong eventually. In this episode, Kenny and Sean share their personal stories of roadside disasters, mechanical failures, and how they handled them without losing their cool (well, mostly).

Kenny recounts his recent breakdown that left his RV immobile after a locked brake caliper destroyed his rear axle. Sean chimes in with his own tales of mishaps and misadventures from the road. Together, they dive into what it really takes to stay calm, safe, and sane when your home on wheels decides to quit rolling.

Topics Covered:

Key Takeaway:
RVing isn’t about if something will go wrong — it’s about how you handle it when it does. From breakdowns to busted axles, these are the moments that test your resolve and remind you why community, preparation, and flexibility matter most.

Have your own RV breakdown story? Share it with us — your experience might just make it into a future episode!

The post When Things Go Wrong While RVing appeared first on Beyond The Wheel.

In this episode of Beyond the Wheel, Kenny and Sean dive into a growing trend that’s reshaping RV life: people living full-time in RVs without traveling. The image of the open road is what we all think of when we picture RV life, but for hundreds of thousands of people, that’s not the reality anymore.

Since 2021, the number of Americans living full-time in RVs has nearly doubled — climbing from about 240,000 to close to half a million. For some, it’s a smart financial move in a housing market that’s gone off the rails. For others, it’s a lifestyle choice built around simplicity, minimalism, or just staying close to work or family.

Kenny and Sean break down why so many are choosing to stay put, what life actually looks like in a stationary RV, and how the RV industry might adapt to serve this growing community.

The RV lifestyle is evolving. It’s not just about freedom of the road anymore — it’s about freedom from crushing housing costs. Whether it’s by choice or necessity, stationary RV living is here to stay, and it’s reshaping what “RV life” really means.

The post More People Living in RVs — But Not Traveling appeared first on Beyond The Wheel.

In this episode of Beyond the Wheel: Drivers Edition, Kenny and Sean dive into the 2025 Hershey RV Show attendance numbers and talk with you about what those numbers really say about the RV industry right now.

We break down:

Whether you’re a buyer, dealer, or just an RV enthusiast, this episode will help you understand where RVing stands now and what’s next.

If you’ve been wondering whether now is the right time to buy an RV, or you’re curious about the future of the RV market, this episode brings you the numbers, the reactions, and the big-picture analysis you need to make sense of it all.

The post Hershey RV Show & State of RVing – What the Numbers Really Mean appeared first on Beyond The Wheel.

RVing Time Capsules: How RV Travel Has Changed in the Last Decade

How has RVing changed since we first hit the road? In this episode of Beyond the Wheel, Sean and Kenny look back on their RVing journeys — Sean starting in 2014, Kenny in 2016 — and compare those early days to how travel looks today.

From rookie mistakes and outdated gear to today’s must-have technology, they reflect on what’s changed, what’s stayed the same, and what trends caught them by surprise. The conversation then shifts forward: where will RVing and Overlanding be in another 10 years? Will we see electric rigs, smarter systems, or new cultural shifts that redefine life on the road?

What you’ll hear in this episode:

Whether you’re a seasoned traveler or just starting out, this episode is a chance to reflect on your own “RVing time capsule” — what you’ve left behind, and what you’ve added along the way.

Link to MilitaryCampgrounds.US

 We want to hear from you! Share your must-have gear and your predictions for the future of RVing by emailing us at

[email protected]

[email protected]

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The post RV Time Capsule appeared first on Beyond The Wheel.

In this episode of Beyond the Wheel, Sean and Kenny dive into a new way to think about RV travel: passion-driven RV adventures. Instead of just asking “Where should we go?”, they challenge you to ask “What do I love—and how can I build a trip around it?”

From foodies chasing BBQ trails to photographers hunting the perfect sunrise shot, passion-driven RVing is all about making the road work for your lifestyle, hobbies, and interests.

Passion-driven RVing isn’t about where the road takes you—it’s about where your passions lead.

What passion would you build your next RV trip around?
Share your ideas with us on social media or email—we’d love to feature them in a future episode!

Have comments? Reach out to us through our Contact Us page.

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We hope you enjoyed this video and wish you safe travels, but before you hit the road could you do us a favor and leave us a review or rating on your favorite podcast platform? These ratings help the show get ranked and makes it easier for new listeners to find us. 

Take care all and we will catch you next time.

The post RVing for Your Passions appeared first on Beyond The Wheel.