RV Podcast - Stories From The Road

What happens when you get sick in your RV a thousand miles from home? Your doctor is back home, you're down to your last two pills, and the nearest urgent care is in a town you've never been to. Then there's the question nobody wants to ask at the front desk. What is this visit going to cost me?On this week's RV Podcast: Stories from the Road, we talk with Dr. Stuart Hochron, a retired physician, health care attorney, and fellow RVer. Stuart started hearing the same stories from RVers around campground picnic tables. So we asked him what he'd tell a friend who was about to head out on a long trip.In this episodeAvoiding surprise medical bills. What to ask your Medicare plan about getting care away from home, especially if you're on Medicare Advantage.Getting a new doctor up to speed. What to have handy when a clinician you've never met needs to understand your medical history quickly.Refilling a prescription on the road. What to do when you're running low and your regular pharmacy is several states away.We also answer two listener questions. Jennifer shares how she'd pull off Thanksgiving dinner for eight in a 30-foot travel trailer. Mike walks through what he does when the overnight forecast drops into the low 20s and he's worried about the RV's water lines, tanks, and hoses.And if you're near Nashville Thanksgiving week, come say hello. We'll be at Nashville KOA Resort on Tuesday, Nov. 24, from 2 to 4 p.m. Central for a meet-and-greet and signing of Mike's first novel, The Tenth of Av. Stop by and talk RVing with us. We'd love to see you.Links from the episodeFull show notes and listener questions RVPodcast.comMedicare plan information Medicare.govFree Medicare counseling through your state's SHIP program SHIPhelp.orgNashville meet-and-greet location Nashville KOA ResortRead the first chapter of The Tenth of Av free LastReporterPress.comJoin our RV community RVCommunity.comGet our free daily RV Lifestyle newsletter RVLifestyle.com/NewsletterHave you ever needed medical care or a prescription refill far from home? Tell us what helped, or what you wish you'd known before you left. Your experience might help another RVer who's about to hit the road.Subscribe for RV Podcast News on Mondays and Stories from the Road on Wednesdays.#RVPodcast #RVLifestyle #StoriesFromTheRoad

How much below MSRP should you pay for a new RV? Camping World's CEO just gave buyers some revealing numbers, and anyone shopping for a travel trailer, fifth wheel, or motorhome should hear them before negotiating.On the company's latest earnings call, CEO Matthew Wagner described discounts of 27 to 30 percent off sticker price as more typical, while saying some competing dealers had advertised discounts of 37 to 40 percent.That raises a question every RV buyer should ask: If those are the discounts, what does the sticker price actually tell you?In this week's RV Podcast News Edition, Mike Wendland explains what those comments reveal about RV pricing, how to use that information when shopping, and why the biggest percentage discount doesn't automatically mean the best deal.Those numbers aren't a promise that every model should sell at the same discount. But they are a useful look inside the industry, straight from the head of America's largest RV dealer.WHAT CAMPING WORLD'S LOSS TELLS RV BUYERSThe pricing comments came as Camping World reported a $320 million quarterly loss, a 25 percent decline in new RV sales, workforce reductions, and dealership closures.We put that loss in context. About $287 million was a noncash goodwill impairment, reflecting a markdown in the value of businesses the company previously acquired. Excluding that charge, the company still lost about $33 million.For shoppers, the important question is what these pressures mean at the negotiating table. We discuss why you should compare written, out-the-door prices from at least two dealers, look closely at fees, and arrange financing before walking into the dealership.We also examine Forest River's "Zero Reasons to Wait" promotion. Zero percent interest sounds appealing, but the promotional rate lasts only four months. What happens afterward matters a great deal more over the life of a long RV loan.ALSO IN THIS WEEK'S EPISODE:CAMPGROUND FLOODING AND THE NEED TO LEAVE EARLYRecent floods have forced evacuations and destroyed RVs, including rigs that were their owners' full-time homes. We look at what happened at an Arizona RV resort and the questions every camper should ask about weather alerts, evacuation routes, and insurance coverage.A WINTER FORECAST WITH A WILD CARDThe seasonal outlook favors warmer conditions across much of the North and wetter conditions across the South. But snowbirds still need a freeze plan. We discuss the El Nino outlook, concerns about a polar vortex disruption, and practical preparations for RVs being used or stored in southern states.TOO MANY CAMERAS AT RV SHOWS?Buyers come to RV shows to walk through rigs, open cabinets, stand in showers, and ask questions. Increasingly, they find themselves waiting while content creators film walkthroughs.After 15 years of attending these shows, I share why dealers are complaining, why useful reviews are becoming harder to produce on crowded show floors, and why Jennifer and I are visiting factories to film more thorough walkthroughs.A LITTLE GIRL'S PINK CAMPER WISHWe close with 4-year-old Lennox Powell of Michigan, whose wish for a camper brought a family something more valuable than another appointment on the calendar: a place to spend time together.TELL US ABOUT YOUR RV DEALIf you've bought an RV recently, how far below MSRP did you negotiate? Share the model, model year, and your experience in the comments. Please mention whether your price included dealer fees and whether a trade-in was involved, so other shoppers can make a useful comparison.RESOURCES AND LINKSFull episode transcript and reporting sources:https://RVPodcast.comSelect this episode, open the Transcript tab, and scroll to the bottom for links to our sources.Join Mike and Jennifer's ad-free RV community:https://RVCommunity.comGet our free daily RV Lifestyle newsletter:https://RVLifestyle.com/NewsletterRV travel tips, destinations, and resources:https://RVLifestyle.comSubscribe for the RV Podcast News Edition every Monday and Stories from the Road with Mike and Jennifer every Wednesday.RV Podcast News Edition | Episode 659 | November 9, 2026

Have you ever sat around a campfire and said, "I've always wanted to write a book"? Maybe it's a novel, a memoir for your grandchildren, a children's story, or something you learned during a lifetime of work. This week's RV Podcast is about taking that idea seriously, and why your RV might be a wonderful place to begin.Award-winning, bestselling author J. Kevin Tumlinson joins us for a conversation about writing, travel, and finally getting those stories out of your head and onto the page. Kevin has written more than 90 books, many of them while traveling by RV with his wife, Kara. He understands both the inspiration of a changing view and the practical challenges of getting work done on the road.We talk about how travel feeds creativity, why leaving familiar surroundings can help you notice things again, and what it takes to write with limited space, unpredictable internet, and another destination waiting down the highway. Whether your goal is publication or simply leaving your family something meaningful, this conversation offers encouragement to get started.Kevin is known for his Dan Kotler archaeological thrillers and Alex Kayne thrillers. He also hosts the Wordslinger Podcast and brings experience from the independent publishing world, including his work with Draft2Digital. He knows that having an idea is only the beginning. Finding a way to keep showing up for it is where the real work happens.It's also a very personal week for us. Mike's first novel, THE TENTH OF AV, was published November 3, and a lot of it was written in our RV. Jennifer watched the process unfold, campground by campground, through many months of writing, research, and revision. In this episode, we share a little of that story and why this project means so much to me.THE TENTH OF AV introduces investigative reporter Ray Mercer in a thriller involving first-century Jerusalem, time travel, and a dangerous threat in the present. It's the first book in The Last Reporter series, available on Amazon in Kindle and paperback. When searching, include my name, Mike Wendland, with the title so you find the right book.You can read the first chapter and learn about the series at LastReporterPress.com. There's also a free Ray Mercer short story, THE SECOND SOURCE, introducing him earlier in his reporting career. If you read the novel, an honest Amazon review would mean a great deal as this new series gets underway.And we haven't forgotten the gear questions! In our RV Question of the Week, we answer a listener who wants to know which cameras we use for our RV Lifestyle videos. So grab a cup of coffee and join us. You don't have to arrive with a publishing plan or a finished outline. Maybe you just have a story you don't want your family to lose. Maybe there's an adventure you've imagined for years. We'd love to hear what you've been thinking about writing, or what you've already started. Tell us in the comments.RESOURCES AND LINKSTHE TENTH OF AV, first chapter and series:https://lastreporterpress.comFree Ray Mercer story, THE SECOND SOURCE:https://lastreporterpress.com/freeKevin Tumlinson and his books:https://kevintumlinson.comThe Wordslinger Podcast:https://wordslingerpodcast.comMike's Cameras:Insta360 Luna Ultra - https://link.amazon/B09ojVVOyCanon M50 Mark II - https://link.amazon/B0g3qjZuOGoPro HERO13 - https://link.amazon/B06UMfel0iPhone 17 Pro Max - https://link.amazon/B0cIVQxt7These are Amazon affiliate links, meaning if you purchase through them I receive a small commission.EPISODE SPONSORSWholesale Warranties:https://wholesalewarranties.com/rvlifestyle800-939-2806RV Overnights:https://rvlifestyle.com/rvovernightsUse promo code RVLDEAL for 40% off.

A surprise cash offer has added another twist to the Lippert-Patrick merger battle. Who ends up controlling some of the biggest names in RV components, and what could it mean for parts, competition and the price of your next rig?In this November 2, 2026 RV Podcast News Edition, Mike Wendland breaks down the week's stories and what they mean for RV owners:Sharks circle the Lippert-Patrick merger as LCI rejects an unsolicited buyout offer.A law firm seeks Harvest Hosts and Good Sam members over automatic renewals. We explain what its "investigation" means, and why it isn't a government investigation or proof of wrongdoing.Snowbird season meets high fuel prices, with practical ways to manage your travel costs.Electrical fire recalls raise questions before winter storage. Here's why checking your VIN matters.Arizona's Chiricahua takes the spotlight, with a look at its remarkable rock formations and the RV size limits to know before visiting.Find the transcript and source links at https://RVPodcast.com. Open this episode's Transcript tab and scroll to the bottom.GET OUR FREE DAILY NEWSLETTERRV news, travel ideas, campground information and practical tips:https://RVLifestyle.com/NewsletterPLAN YOUR NEXT ADVENTUREExplore our RV travel guides and planning tools:https://shop.RVLifestyle.comCONNECT WITH OTHER RVERShttps://RVCommunity.comA PERSONAL MILESTONEMike's first novel, The Tenth of Av, arrives November 3 in paperback and on Kindle. Read the first chapter and learn more:https://LastReporterPress.comThe RV Podcast News Edition publishes every Monday at 6 a.m. ET. Join Mike and Jennifer on Wednesdays for Stories from the Road, featuring interviews, travel ideas, RV tips and your questions.

What really gets under RVers' skin at a campground? We asked the RV Lifestyle community, and the answers came pouring in: loud music, barking dogs, bright lights, people cutting through campsites, and more.Mike and Jennifer talk about the little things that can turn us into the neighbor everyone is talking about, often without us realizing it. They share practical ways to be a thoughtful campground neighbor, how to handle a noisy campsite nearby, and why a quick look around your own site can make a big difference.Plus, Mike answers a listener's question about a GFCI outlet that trips whenever it rains, and Jennifer offers advice on adding privacy to a seasonal campsite.Have a campground pet peeve of your own? Tell us in the comments. We may share it on a future episode.Join our ad-free RV community: https://rvcommunity.comFind unique RV overnight stays and save 40% with promo code RVLDEAL: https://rvlifestyle.com/rvovernightsSign up for our free RV Lifestyle newsletter: https://rvlifestyle.com/newsletter