This week on the RV Podcast:









* We have black tank revelations for you, busting some myths and learning the best way to maintain, empty and clean them







* The changing tariff landscape has the RV industry in state of confusion, but consumers are hoping it's now a buyer’s market







* In Mike and Jen's storytime, the tale of our white-knuckled Ten-Mile-an-Hour Journey







* All this plus RV ideas and your questions coming up in Episode 547 of the RV Podcast.









You can watch the video version from our RV Lifestyle YouTube Channel by clicking the player below.















If you prefer an audio-only podcast, you can hear us through your favorite podcast app or listen now through the player below.















RV News of the Week















The big announcement about a trade deal and tariff reduction by the Trump administration has brought a lot of sighs of relief from the RV Industry, but there’s still plenty of uncertainty. The industry got together for a big Power Breakfast last week in Ekhart that served as both a pep talk for an industry battered by a growing sales slump and a networking event for industry leaders seeking inspiration and encouragement.







It's an RV Buyer's Market







Personally, and based on our direct contact through our daily contact with our followers, we see consumers tightening their belts, making less elaborate camping plans, but still very excited about the RV Lifestyle. And they are also looking for deals. A constant question we can get has to do with whether this is an RV Buyer’s market and if dealers are more willing to work on prices. Our answer is… yes.







But there was some interesting data that came out last week from the camping industry. Campspot, one of the nation's largest booking platforms, spoke to campground owners in Florida and Alabama, and learned that campers were shortening their booking reservations, something that happens when people hold off on plans because of economic concerns.







Canadians staying home







Also, Campspot found a 40% reduction in Canadians making reservations at American parks. Canadian campers are definitely staying away from the U.S., most dramatically in the traditional sunbelt states where they snowbird in. That’s because, of course, there are the trade tensions and political bickering between the Trump administration and Canadian politicians.







There is a lot of false information being circulated in Canada that Canadian campers are being treated rudely in the US or given a rough time at the border. That’s not happening, of course, but all that negativity is clearly having an adverse effect and keeping Canadian RVers from coming here. 







Can we be blunt here: We hate the way politics of late seems to be souring everything. We love the RV Lifestyle because it offers us an escape from the nastiness out there. It lets us visit other places, meet other people, and do it all unfiltered by the constant negativity we are exposed to by the media.







Around a campfire, we see people clearly. We’re all friends and we have much more in common than what politicians and the media would have us believe.







So… just keep being nice. What's that silly sign? Keep Calm and Camp On. Go, find camping adventures. If you meet some Canadians along the way, welcome them. If you’re shopping for an RV, know that you have a little more leverage these days. Check out those hard-to-get campgrounds. More of them have open spots this summer. Book a spot. Tune out the politics and enjoy this summer.