As winter loses its grip over the country, RV season is here and in this episode of the Roadtreking RV Podcast we talk about the many different trends that are driving the industry and, in particular, why small motorhomes are so hot right now.

We also have a great Off-the-Beaten-Path Report from Billy Cochrane this week on a truly unique cemetery he found for us in rural Alabama. And we have lots of RV news, traveling tech tips and reader comments and questions.

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Here are the shownotes:

Reader Questions and Comments

Bob, from Maine, asks about undercoating to prevent rust on his Class B RV, particularly in northern states where they use a lot of salt on the roads. We recommend a company called Krown for rust proofing, Check out their website at http://krown.com

Listener Mike asks a question about tire pressure on his RV. I share how the suggested pressure for his unit (a Roadtrek 190 on the Chevy chassis) is 50 psi for the front, and 80 0si for the back. All RVs should have a sticker mounted just inside the driver’s side door that list the ratings for tire pressure. Don’t mess with the back one. If it says 80, leave it there as that is calculated based on the weight that an RV carries at the back of the vehicle.

The front tire number can be adjusted up to about 65psi. Experiment a bit, in 5 psi increments. Never go below the rating on the door. Generally, the closer you are to that front rating on the door sticker, the smoother the ride will be. Here’s a suggested tire pressure guide for RVers - http://www.goodyearrvtires.com/tire-inflation-loading.aspx. And here’s one that offers a different approach using the maximum numbers stamped on the sidewall of the tires. http://www.thefitrv.com/rv-tips/how-to-set-the-tire-pressure-in-your-rv/

Our friends Chris and Jim Guld - the "Geeks on Tour" couple - commented on our recent podcast episode about the differences between an Android and Apple smartphone or tablet. They noted that while most apps now run on each platform, they often operate very differently. They also invited us to join them in their weekly "What Does This Button Do?"  program seen live  every Sunday at 2 PM EST

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Sponsoring this part of the podcast is Van City RV in St. Louis, Mo.

Van City RV only sells Class B. RVs. Owner Ray Dwyer has been in the RV business for 44 years and is considered the dead of Class B RVs. Nobody knows more about small motorhomes that Ray and his crew. They have new and used Class B motorhomes in stock from the major manufacturers. When you fly in to buy your RV from Van City, they'll arrange to have you picked up from the airport and will reimburse you $500 toward your airfare. Then, your RV will be fully prepared for travel, complete with full tanks of fuel and propane. After a complete orientation with their staff on your new RV, you can take delivery and set out for home. Dan the Van Man gives the week's specials on the podcast.

RV News of the Week:

There's a sure sign of Spring - Glacier National Park is starting to open for the new season (Read More)

Maybe because of the TV servies Breaking Bad but more and more drug dealers seem tousing RVs as their base of operations. In Maryland, police made a pretty big bust involving an RV (Read More)

Elgin Ill. RVers are starting a petition drive to get the city to allow RVs to be kept on private property (Read More)

Traveling Tech Tip:

Don’t run out of power for your gadgets while on the road.

Power. We all need more of it.

I used to run out of juice about 4 p.m. most days on my iPhone. About an hour later, the tablet died.

No longer. I carry back-up.

That’s because with so many of us using smartphones and tablets all day long and more and more USB devices becoming “necessities” for daily life, the standard batteries that accompany our gadgets just don’t cut it for all-day use.

I talk about why I always carry the Mophie Powerstation Duo External 12000 mAh Battery.