This week on the RV Podcast:









* Just HOW MUCH would you pay for an RV campsite? $200? $300? $400? You won't believe how expensive it has become







* Starlink’s entire global network pretty much collapsed for hours last week, causing reliability concerns for what had been pretty much a trouble-free online source for RVers







* Talk about scary! A mountain lion attacked a four-year-old girl while she was hiking with her parents out west last week. The dad saved his daughter, but she had to be airlifted to a hospital.







* All this plus the RV News of the Week and your questions coming up in Episode 557 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















Starlink's Global Blackout Leaves RVers and Ukraine Military in the Dark​







A growing number of RVers rely upon Starlink to stay connected while traveling, but last Thursday the satellite system was down for several hours world-wide. The company said the rare blackout was "due to failure of key internal software services that operate the core network" and was quickly fixed. Starlink is used by 140 countries, including Ukraine, where the outage affected combat operations.







​Packed Parks, Empty Coffers: Oregon Parks anticipates 14% shortfall by 2027​







Despite raising its fees, the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department is anticipating a 14% budget shortfall by 2027 and is seeking the public's input as it works to develop new ways to fund its parks. Oregon Parks is one of the most visited in the country, experiencing record visitation with more than 56.6 million estimated visits in 2024. The state has an online survey, and those who complete it can enter a drawing for a free Oregon State Parks annual parking permit.







​Hero Dad Fights Off Cougar That Attacked His 4-Year-Old on Popular Trail​







A family hike turned terrifying when a cougar pounced on a 4-year-old near Hurricane Ridge's Victoria Overlook in Olympic National Park. The child's father immediately pursued the animal, heroically forcing it to release his child. The child was airlifted to a medical center and released the next day. And rangers hunted down the animal and euthanized it.







​Mountain Lion Kills Colorado's Reintroduced Wolf ​







Speaking of big cats, last week, the state provided an update on the cause of death of two wolves that were part of its efforts to reintroduce gray wolves back to the state. The wolf found dead at Rocky Mountain National Park died from a mountain lion attack, and a second wolf's death was traced to injuries from a foothold trap used for coyote control. Other reintroduced wolves died after crossing into Wyoming, where at least one was shot, but others do remain alive and free in Colorado.







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<title>To Catch a Thief: An RV Dealer Fights Back Against RV Thefts</title>
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<pubDate>Wed, 23 Jul 2025 11:05:00 +0000</pubDate>
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<description>This week on the RV Podcast:

To Catch a Thief: An RV Dealer Fights Back Against RV Thefts

Two National Parks have been so devastated by wildfires they have shut down for the rest of the year.

In Mike and Jen’s Storytime, when the free-spirited serendipity approach to RV travel doesn’t work

All this plus RV Tips, the News of the Week and your questions coming up in Episode 556 of the RV Podcast</description>
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<itunes:subtitle>This week on the RV Podcast: To Catch a Thief: An RV Dealer Fights Back Against RV Thefts Two National Parks have been so devastated by wildfires they have shut down for the rest of the year. In Mike and Jen’s Storytime,</itunes:subtitle>
<itunes:summary><![CDATA[

This week on the RV Podcast:









* To Catch a Thief: An RV Dealer Fights Back Against RV Thefts







* Two National Parks have been so devastated by wildfires they have shut down for the rest of the year.







* In Mike and Jen’s Storytime, when the free-spirited serendipity approach to RV travel doesn’t work







* All this plus RV Tips, the News of the Week and your questions coming up in Episode 556 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.















We got the fifth wheel fixed. The skirting that came loose on the dreadful stretch of I-69 in Michigan was replaced and reinstalled.







We’re accessorizing our new Embassy RV Cape Cod Class C motorhome and already planning some upgrades - We want to add solar, seat belts to the lounge chairs and an on/off switch to that pesky always-on  360-degree camera monitor that causes parasitic drain to the batteries.







Meanwhile, we wrote a post on our private RVCommunity.com the other day I thought I’d share on the podcast.







It has to do with the huge Caravan RV show held every September in Dusseldorf, Germany. I think it has arguably become the most influential RV show in the world, eclipsing even Hershey and Tampa. 







I've been reading about some of the new models to be introduced, and this one - called  "The RV of the Future" caught my eye. 







It's from German manufacturer Knaus and it's called the Boxtime, a very compact little van on the Fiat Ducato chassis that comes in under 20 feet. It features what's called a "transformational bathroom" that uses a fake wall that holds the sink and the mirror that switches between shower and bath. 







You can use it as a restroom with the wall in position, or it becomes a full shower room by swinging the wall to the side so that it covers the toilet. This way, in the same footprint, you get a full shower and you don't have to worry about splashing water on everything else, because everything else is safely tucked away behind the wall.







Other manufacturers have also tinkered with this design, and I’m sure we'll eventually see more US RV makers using it. But in terms of innovation and design, this unit - and the Italian-made Wingham, which is now being sold in the U.S. - make most American-made RVs look old and outdated. European styling and design are years ahead of what we’re seeing from our North American manufacturers.







RV CONVERSATION OF THE WEEK















When Bretz RV & Marine had a Brinkley trailer stolen from its Billings, Montana, store, the family-owned dealership didn't just file a claim with their insurance and sit back.







No, they decided to fight. Bretz paired up with the truck dealer down the street and issued a $20,000 reward, set up a hotline, named names, showed pictures of the stolen rig, the stolen truck, and the guy accused of taking it and put it all together to the tune "Bad Boys" made popular by the show "Cops" in a 58-second reel. </itunes:summary>
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<itunes:duration>44:34 </itunes