The Smart RVer Podcast

This is Eric Stark with The Smart RVer Podcast, Delivering the Smarts you need to enjoy the freedom of the RV Lifestyle without the fear of breaking down!

Your RV can serve as a vital second home in emergencies, providing a safe haven when unexpected situations arise. Eric and Alexis delve into the joys of RV living, discussing practical tips for residing in your RV on your property while maintaining comfort and safety. They also share important money-saving tips, including traveling during the off-season and improving gas mileage, which can significantly reduce your expenses. The episode features a fascinating segment on must-see historical sites in the Western U.S., highlighting landmarks that offer a glimpse into the rich history of the region. Additionally, they discuss simple upgrades to enhance your RV experience, such as modernizing your shower head, proving that small changes can make a big difference in your home away from home.

The podcast offers a rich exploration of the RV lifestyle, particularly its practical applications during emergencies. Eric sets the stage by discussing how RVs can function as a secondary home, providing a necessary refuge during crises such as natural disasters or unexpected home repairs. This segment delves into the importance of preparedness, with Eric stressing the need for RV owners to stock their vehicles with essential supplies like food, water, and medicine. Alexis complements this discussion with insights on creating a comfortable and safe living environment within an RV, especially in regions that experience harsh weather. The hosts share tips on how to enhance the RV living experience, transforming it from a mere vehicle into a cozy home base.

As the conversation progresses, the focus shifts to financial wisdom tailored for RV enthusiasts. The hosts present practical money-saving tips, emphasizing the benefits of off-season travel to take advantage of lower campground rates. Eric elaborates on how planning trips during these times can make RVing more accessible and affordable. Additionally, the discussion includes essential vehicle maintenance advice to improve gas mileage, which is crucial for making the most of travel budgets. By weaving personal stories into these segments, the hosts create a relatable atmosphere that invites listeners to engage with the content on a personal level.

The episode culminates in a travel-oriented segment, showcasing a curated list of historical sites in the Western U.S. that RV travelers should not miss. From the opulence of Hearst Castle to the artistic charm of the Gamble House, the hosts illustrate how these destinations can enrich one’s journey. This travel segment serves as a reminder that the RV lifestyle is not just about the journey but also about discovering the cultural richness of America. The podcast is a comprehensive guide for RV enthusiasts, blending practical advice with inspiring travel stories.

Takeaways:

Always inspect an RV thoroughly before signing a contract to avoid future issues.

Living in an RV on your property can be a great way to save money.

Preparation for emergencies includes having supplies and a plan for unexpected situations.

Shower head upgrades can enhance your RV experience without the cost of a new vehicle.

Traveling during the off-season can help you save significantly on campground fees.

Be aware of local laws before parking an RV on your property for long-term use.

Top Rated Podcast - The Smart RVer Podcast Website

Staying warm while RVing in cold weather is the main focus of this podcast episode, where Eric Stark shares essential tips and insights for those who want to embrace the RV lifestyle during the chillier months. He emphasizes the importance of using proper insulation techniques, such as vent pillows and ensuring that all seals are tight, to keep the cold at bay. Additionally, listeners will learn about the necessity of having multiple heat sources to combat extreme temperatures, including both RV furnaces and electric heaters. The podcast also touches on the importance of maintaining your RV's systems, particularly the furnace, to avoid unexpected breakdowns when temperatures drop. Join Eric and Alexis as they dive into their experiences, offer practical advice, and even reminisce about the joys of bakeries, all while keeping RV enthusiasts informed and prepared for winter adventures.

Cold weather RVing can present unique challenges, particularly when it comes to staying warm and comfortable. Eric Stark shares essential tips for RVers who wish to continue their adventures despite the chill. The discussion begins with the importance of insulation, emphasizing that while RVs come with some factory insulation, additional steps must be taken to enhance warmth. Practical solutions include installing vent pillows to block cold drafts and ensuring that all potential air leaks around windows and doors are sealed. Eric also stresses the necessity of dual heating sources, recommending a combination of RV furnaces and electric heaters to maintain a cozy temperature during frigid nights. As temperatures drop, having reliable heating becomes crucial—Eric advises RVers to prepare for the worst-case scenario, especially when temperatures plummet to double digits below zero. By applying these strategies, RV enthusiasts can embrace the winter months without compromising their comfort or safety, allowing them to explore even the coldest regions with confidence.

Takeaways:

Staying warm in cold weather while RVing is crucial for comfort and safety.

Investing in quality RV parts, like Wago connectors, ensures better performance and longevity.

Proper insulation and sealing in your RV can significantly improve heating efficiency.

Always check RVs for leaks and functionality before finalizing any purchase or contract.

Having multiple heat sources in your RV, such as electric heaters, is highly recommended.

Consider using dehumidifiers to reduce moisture and improve comfort during cold weather.

Companies mentioned in this episode:

Wago

Camco

Lippert

Barker

Wholesale Warranties

Links referenced in this episode:

thesmartrver.com

thesmartrver.com/162

Wholesale Warranties Free Quote

YouTube Channel

Chapters:

00:00 - Intro to Cold Weather RVing

04:39 - Staying Warm in Your RV

05:45 - Insulating Your RV for Cold Weather

07:54 - Essential Heating Tips for RV Living

15:27 - Furnace Maintenance and Repair Tips

13:53 - Choosing the Right Warranty for Your RV

38:39 - Exploring Bakeries on the East Coast

47:32 - Conclusion and Next Episode Teaser

This is Eric Stark with The Smart RVer Podcast, Delivering the Smarts you need to enjoy the freedom of the RV Lifestyle without the fear of breaking down!

Alexis thoughtfully discusses the importance of handling disruptive fellow RVers while camping. While certain individuals may test our patience and threaten to spoil the experience for us and our families, Alexis offers guidance on how to navigate these situations calmly. Her advice helps us find ways to manage these challenges without escalating tensions, allowing us to still enjoy our stay at the campground.

1. Have You Ever Considered Boondocking or Spending the Night in A Parking Lot? One common challenge for RVers is finding a place to park for the night. While there are countless RV parks, resorts, and campgrounds across the country, they often come with a price tag. Some fees might be reasonable, but in areas with limited camping options, you could be looking at over $100 per night!

If you're looking to save on overnight costs, consider dry camping. This is where you park for free on public lands, like those managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) or national forests. While you won't have hookups, you can rely on your RV's battery and water storage systems. It’s a great way to enjoy the freedom of the road while keeping more money in your wallet!

Another budget-friendly option is to stay overnight in a parking lot. You won’t be able to set up a full campsite, but several business chains welcome RVers for a night or two. Popular spots include Walmart, Cracker Barrel, Bass Pro Shops, and Cabela's. To make things easier, use a trip planner like RV LIFE Trip Wizard to locate these convenient stops along your journey.

Eric delves into the importance of preparing your RV for winter storage, sharing insights from his years of experience as an RV expert. He explains that winterizing an RV goes beyond just preparing the fresh water system—it requires a comprehensive approach. Tune in to the episode now, and visit The Smart RVer website for more helpful tips to make your winter preparations as thorough as possible.

Episode 134 - How to Winterize Your RV

The Next Stop:

We're hitting the road in our RVs, racing toward the excitement of NASCAR—one of the nation's favorite pastimes. Eric and Alexis share the thrill of attending a NASCAR event, highlighting how it offers fun for the whole family, with plenty of activities for all ages. Whether it's a NASCAR race, a rodeo, a county fair, or another fan-based event, there's no shortage of family-friendly experiences to enjoy. Make sure to add one of these events to your plans this year!

RV Envy:

Goal Zero offers powerful self-contained power centers for a variety of uses, from camping and hiking to fully off-grid RV setups. The Yeti 4000 Pro is a standout solution for RVers looking to disconnect from the grid entirely. Listen to Eric’s review of this exceptional product and discover how a Yeti Power Center can enhance your off-grid adventures

To prepare your RV for winter storage, ensure you drain the fresh water system thoroughly to prevent freezing.

Inspect the roof, vents, and windows of your RV for potential leaks before covering it for winter.

Maintaining proper tire pressure and occasionally moving your RV can prevent flat spots on tires.

Using battery maintainers during storage helps ensure your RV's batteries remain functional and charged.

When dealing with difficult fellow RVers, maintain a calm demeanor and know the park rules.

Boondocking can be a cost-effective way to save money while traveling in your RV.

Top Rated Podcast - The Smart RVer Podcast Website

 

This is Eric Stark with The Smart RVer Podcast, Delivering the Smarts you need to enjoy the freedom of the RV Lifestyle without the fear of breaking down!

Enjoying the RV Life: Alexis and Eric discuss recovering after an RV accident. Usually, everyone who owns an RV and has taken it out for any time has run into an issue on the road or even a full-blown accident. We talk about it because this should never scare you from continuing the RV life you love. 

Staying On The Road: Eric talks about electrical cords and why they can burn up or melt causing safety issues. This is important because it involves your camper's safety and your life. There’s nothing more important than ensuring you have a safe electrical system in your RV with quality chords and plug-ins.

The Next Stop: Eric talks about Whitehall and a sweet older man who told Eric all about the history of his unique town and all the colorful people who lived there and made the town into the landmark it is today. 

RV Envy: Eric gives a little information about changing RV Lifestyle and how it will be more about saving money as an RVer.

Hot Boat Ropes - Marine Cordage- Anchor Lines, Dock Lines, Tow Lines, etc.Top Rated Podcast - The Smart RVer Podcast Website

This is Eric Stark with The Smart RVer Podcast, Delivering the Smarts you need to enjoy the freedom of the RV Lifestyle without the fear of breaking down!

Enjoying the RV Life: Sometimes, you can feel like your family misses out on your fantastic RV trips! This can be overwhelming, especially when you don’t see them in person enough. This episode will give you some ideas and tips on keeping in touch with your relatives and allowing them to be a part of your experience, even when you’re not in person!

Staying On The Road: RV Toilets! Intimidating to work on? Not with us! We can help you learn how to identify and work on your toilet yourself! It’s not as scary as it may seem, and you can feel good about the knowledge you will gain by working out your RV issues and restoring your toilet to working condition!

The Next Stop: Alexis and Eric visit Wyoming again!! They talk about the National Elk range and the work these selfless conservationists do for the local majestic animals. The gorgeous scenery alone is also worth the drive. The Teton mountain range is a must-see landscape for any lover of the mountains.

RV Envy: Eric talks about how we can all be more mindful and careful when plugging in and using electricity in our RVs. Hughes Safe View Power Inlet is the thing to have! It has a twist lock, an excellent upgrade for any Smart RVer. So check these inlets out in our store or out online stores!

Top Rated Podcast - The Smart RVer Podcast Website

 

This is Eric Stark with The Smart RVer Podcast, Delivering the Smarts you need to enjoy the freedom of the RV Lifestyle without the fear of breaking down!

Alexis shares 9 points to help The Smart RVer conserve water while camping off the grid. The list is helpful for new RVers or seasoned RVers who have been camping for years. It can serve as good reminders for any RVer and their family. 

Eric relates how answering over 4000 (more like 7000) Questions in the last 12 months has helped shape his understanding of RVers and the struggles they have finding good service shops and knowledgeable persons who are willing to share their knowledge. Eric also explains how so many questions easily become just a few questions when you really listen. Although there a lot of questions, so many of them boil down to the same types of problems and concerns. Eric emphasizes how much we are willing to help The Smart Rver who needs some help.

The Next Stop:

Alexis takes us on another RV Road Trip to beautiful and historic Boston Mass. Boston is on the east coast showing off its rich history of the American Experiment and is reminder of determination and fortitude of the early men who built America. The rich history, beautiful architecture, great places to eat, shop and explore make this a destination for any and all RVers who love to explore.

Eric wows (haha) his listeners sharing his thoughts about Lever Wire Connectors. Lever wire connectors can be a great asset in your tool box when it comes to connecting wires. They can be much easier to use than traditional crimp style wire connectors. Although crimp connectors still have a major role to play in RV wiring, lever connectors can make some hard connections much easier because you can install these with one hand in hard to access areas. 

Top Rated Podcast - The Smart RVer Podcast Website

This is Eric Stark with The Smart RVer Podcast, Delivering the Smarts you need to enjoy the freedom of the RV Lifestyle without the fear of breaking down!

Enjoying the RV Life: Eric and Alexis discuss what to consider when trading in your RV. There are a lot of factors to consider, and it can be difficult to navigate pricing so Eric helps his listeners to know what to research and how to go about the whole process.

Staying On The Road: Eric helps the Smart RVers be even smarter in this section by giving them advice and information. We can learn so much about how to take care of our RVs by digging and researching, and Eric gives a crash course about measuring awnings and LED light facts.

The Next Stop: Shenandoah National Park, Virginia, is a wonderful destination for any RVer. Eric and Alexis discuss the many unique things you can do while you're in the area. Virginia has a lot to offer the Smart RVer. The Park is beautiful, and the state has so much natural charm. And so much history to learn and explore.

RV Envy: Eric talks about the crazy world of “spare keys.” He emphasizes the importance of having a backup plan to access your RV. Sometimes, we don’t plan for things to happen to our keys, but things can happen, so being prepared and having spares is always the way to go.

Hot Boat Ropes - Marine Cordage- Anchor Lines, Dock Lines, Tow Lines, etc.Top Rated Podcast - The Smart RVer Podcast Website

This is Eric Stark with The Smart RVer Podcast, Delivering the Smarts you need to enjoy the freedom of the RV Lifestyle without the fear of breaking down!

Eric and Alexis have a great conversation based on the article 10 Great Dog-Friendly RT Parks.  Who doesn't want to bring the family pet on a great RV Vacation? Pets can be great for traveling and finding a Pet Friendly RV Park can be a challenge sometimes. We want to travel to places where we can bring our pet and not feel like we are  not welcome. Check out the article to learn more about being  A Smart RVer.

Eric really gets into the right sealants to use on your RV and the wrong ones you should try to avoid in this section of the show. Eric also explains why Silicone should be avoided and he doesn't mince his words about his feelings towards Silicone Sealants.  He also explains how to navigate through the Glut Of Sealants available online and points out so many are low quality products and should be avoided. At the end of the day it is real simple, listen to find out what 3 products by Dicor you need to seal your RV.

The Next Stop: Discovering the Heartland of Kansas. Kansas is more that flat wasteland liek we might imagine. It is a land of rolling hills, rich in history and beautiful in its own way. Kansas is should  be on every RVers list of places to go.

RV Envy:

Black Beard Fire Starters should be in every RVers arsenal of cool tools. use this link to our home page and click on the Black Beard product link on the lower right of the page.

Top Rated Podcast - The Smart RVer Podcast Website

 

This is Eric Stark with The Smart RVer Podcast, Delivering the Smarts you need to enjoy the freedom of the RV Lifestyle without the fear of breaking down!

Enjoying the RV Life: Eric explores the value of a Jase Case from Jase Medical. The Jase Case comes with several different types of medications that can be invaluable for any RVer or traveler. The medications are the types you will most likely need when traveling locally or abroad. This is a must-have product for every Smart RVer.

Staying On The Road: Eric Delves into the world of On Demand RV Water Heaters. Often called Tankless Water Heaters, they have become a new trend with some staying power and purpose for RVers. If you are looking for an endless hot water supply in your RV, an on-demand RV Water Heater might be for you. You have a powerhouse of choices with Top Brands such as Suburban, Fogatti, Furrion, Lippert, and Girard. The Suburban Advantage is the On Demand Water Heater, which gives the Smart RV Seal Approval. Although the Girard, Furrion, and Fogatti On Demand Systems are not to be ignored, they are great products for The Smart RVer seeking Endless Hot Water.

The Next Stop: In this Episode, Eric explores Biloxi and Mississippi and highlights some of the great historical attractions for the curious visitor. Eric also makes sure to explain that Biloxi is a great adventure for any RVer who wants to explore some of the most beautiful and historic parts of the United States. RVers are used to having plenty of amenities while enjoying the camping lifestyle. 

RV Envy: Eric gives a detailed description and reasons why the new Lippert LatchXtend RV Travel Trailer and Fifth Wheel Door Lock with an Extension handle is so awesome. It brings a new level of safety to entering your trailer or fifth wheel. With a 14” extension, this is a great product for young and old RVers.

Top Rated Podcast - The Smart RVer Podcast Website