One of the biggest fears many RVers have is fire. Each year, RV fires cause deaths, many injuries and tens of millions of dollars in damages.

So to help us fireproof our RVs, this week we interview one of our friends, Mark Polk of RVEduction101.com. Mark is a true expert on all aspects of RVs and RV safety and has critical and very practical advice for us in this episode about keeping our RVs safe from fire.

Plus we have lots of news, tips, RV information and, as always, your questions and comments about the RV lifestyle.

Click the player below to Listen Now or scroll down through the show note details. When you see a time code hyperlink, you can click it to jump directly to that segment of the podcast.

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Show Notes for Episode #126 Feb. 8, 2017 of Roadtreking - The RV Lifestyle Podcast:

JENNIFER'S TIP OF THE WEEK

Jennifer

We love to boondock. We also love to camp in the wintertime. Both types of RVing can pose challenges in staying clean. When on long boondocking trips, we try to conserve our water. In the winter, with no water in the fresh water tanks, it’s the same thing.

We connected with our Roadtreking friend Jan Mathews on a recent winter campout and she showed us a very handy way to clean and bathe when water is in short supply.

Jan suggests cleaning cloths available in pharmacies for bedridden patients. [spp-timestamp time="7:00"]

And be sure to send me your tips and suggestions for the RV lifestyle. You can use the “Leave Voicemail” link at Roadtreking.com. Just click it and then use the built-in microphone on your computer or mobile devise to record a message to me. You can do it over as many times as you want, until you are satisfied. And then you just click a button and it comes right to my email inbox.

If I use your tip in the podcast, we’ll send you a free Roadtreking hat!

I love hearing from you!

Jennifer's tip of the week is brought to you by RadPower Bikes (www.RadPowerBikes.com_… an electric bike manufacturer offering direct to consumer pricing on powerful premium electric bikes. Now with free shipping!

LISTENER QUESTIONS OF THE WEEK:

Jan in Tucson has a bunch of questions. She wants to know what Jennifer takes in terms of pans and silverware utensils. She asks us about storing a portable BarbeQue. We share our solution - a small Coleman two burner propane stove that cleans up easy and stores in an airtight case [spp-timestamp time="11:20"]

John is coming to the Oregon eclipse gathering in August and wonders if it’s okay to bring a dog. By all means, we tell him! [spp-timestamp time="20:40"]

Bill has a Roadtrek Versatile 190. He’s a trout fisherman and wonders how to stash is fishing rods. He also wonders about a small trailer for his kayaks and bikes. Mike tells him to check out to Yak-Shak Kayak Trailers - https://youtu.be/wEXfBRck8YY [spp-timestamp time="22:28"]

Sponsoring this part of the podcast is Van City RV in St. Louis, and their Partner Dealerships Creston RV in Kalispell, Montana, and Wagon Trail RV in Las Vegas. Bringing You the largest Inventory of class B’s from three locations.

PET TIP OF THE WEEK

There was a very sad story we came across this week from California. A dog locked in a car died of heat exhaustion on Sunday in Palm Springs. Now no one would think it’s hot out there this time of year. The day this happened, the high only reached 70 degrees. [spp-timestamp time="26:34"]

But you get direct sunlight even on cooler days. It can be very warm inside a vehicle. Think of it like a solar oven, basically, in your car.

Police say that dog left inside of a car for more than three hours in Palm Springs died of heat exhaustion on a 70 degree day. Police say the dog's body temperature reached 104 degrees by the time police came in contact with the owner.

The owner was arrested and charged with a misdemeanor.

Here’s the warning: Experts say there can be as much as a 40- to 50-degree difference between what's outside and inside a closed up vehicle.