Brand-new RVs are being liquidated in the middle of peak camping season, and that's just the beginning.

In this week's RV Lifestyle Podcast News Edition, Mike Wendland examines why the RV industry is facing growing challenges, what the newly announced Patrick-Lippert merger could mean for RV owners, and why record Fourth of July crowds created chaos in many National Parks.

Also this week:

• A look at the latest RV safety recalls

• Expanding public campgrounds that could make reservations easier

• An inspiring story about one RVer who accomplished an incredible National Park milestone

Every story featured in this episode is fully sourced. Click the transcript tab for complete show notes and links to every article referenced.

Be sure to subscribe to the RV Lifestyle Newsletter at RVLifestyle.com for daily RV news, travel inspiration, and practical advice delivered free to your inbox.

This week on the RV Lifestyle Podcast News Edition, Mike Wendland looks at a surprising new trend that may shape the future of camping in America: communities increasingly pushing back against new RV parks and campgrounds.

We also cover:

• The worst RV sales numbers of the current downturn and why used RVs continue to outperform new inventory.

• Why Grand Design and Coachmen are both betting big on luxury Class C motorhomes.

• The return of rising fuel prices and what renewed Middle East tensions could mean for summer travel costs.

• The story of a small Colorado camper van builder that sold out its entire production run months ahead of schedule.

As always, every story featured in this episode is fully sourced and documented in the show notes at RVPodcast.com so you can verify the facts for yourself.

If you enjoy the podcast, please consider leaving a review. It helps other RVers discover the show and means more to us than you know.

Safe travels, and we'll see you Wednesday for Stories from the Road

DULL TRANSCRIPT WITH ALL STORY SORUCES. CLCK THE TRANSCRIPT TAB AT THE TOP OF THIS DESCRIPTIOM

Episode #625 - RV Insurance Done Right, the New Maintenance Tracker, and Slowing Down on the Road

Are you actually covered for life on the road? Matt Jacobs, RV Product Manager at Progressive Insurance, joins Mike to break down the coverage RVers need, the mistakes people make when buying it, and why insurance is one of the topics that comes up most in our Facebook Group.

Also this week: the launch of the RV Maintenance Tracker, a one-time-purchase app for logging every service, tire check, and repair in one synced place. Find it at RVLifestyle.com/maintenance.

Then, two listener questions: whether Starlink is worth adding to your setup if you're not working from the road, and how Mike and Jennifer have adjusted their travel pace in their 70s, including the "330 Rule" that changed how they plan travel days.

Jennifer is taking the week off to recover from knee replacement surgery.

Links mentioned:

• RV Maintenance Tracker: https://RVLifestyle.com/maintenance
• Free daily newsletter: https://RVLifestyle.com/newsletter
• Send us your questions: https://RVPodcast.com (Contact link)

This week on the RV Lifestyle Podcast News Edition, Mike Wendland takes a hard look at one of the biggest frustrations facing RV owners today: service department problems at some of the nation's largest RV dealer chains.

You'll also hear about the extreme weather that disrupted RV travel from the Great Lakes to Texas, California's new effort to crack down on ghost campground bookings, a major fire-risk recall affecting many Tiffin motorhomes, an important wildlife safety reminder following a Yellowstone bison attack, and why catalytic converter thefts are once again targeting RV owners across the country.

Every story in this episode is fully researched, independently sourced, and explained in plain English, along with practical takeaways you can use to travel smarter and more safely. Complete source links are available in the transcript tab above.

If you enjoy the podcast, please subscribe and leave a review. It helps other RVers discover the show and supports the work we do every week to keep you informed.

The RV Trip Dashboard we talked about is at RVLifestyle.com/TripDashboard

Thanks for listening, and as always... Happy Trails

Meet Ron and Barbara Abler: Proof That RVing Has No Age Limit

Ron is 87. Barbara is 82. And right now, they're probably somewhere on the road, planning the next trip.

In this episode, Mike Wendland sits down with longtime friends of the RV Lifestyle community, Ron and Barbara Abler, to talk about what it actually takes to keep RVing in your 80s. Ron retired three times, from Penn State University in 1995, the Association of American Geographers in 2002, and the International Geographical Union in 2016. Barbara spent her career as a professor of geography at the University of North Carolina before retiring from the federal government in 2005. They bought their first RV, a Roadtrek Clas B, in 2018, and haven't slowed down since, traveling this past year from their home in Sheboygan, Wisconsin all the way to California, with stops at RV Lifestyle rallies in Fredericksburg, Texas, St. Augustine, Florida, and Empire, Michigan.

They talk candidly about the health scares and mechanical breakdowns that come with life on the road, how their travel style has changed since 2018, and what they'd tell any retiree who thinks they might be getting too old for another adventure.

Jennifer is off this week recovering from knee replacement surgery, we hope to have her back at the mic soon.

Also in this episode: Mike shares the new RV Maintenance Tracker app, plus listener questions on flat towing versus tow dollies and choosing between solar and a generator for boondocking.

Got a question for a future episode? Send it through the CONTACT link at https://RVPodcast.com.

Sign up for the free RV Lifestyle newsletter: https://RVLifestyle.com/newsletter

Check out the RV Maintenance Tracker: https://RVLifestyle.com/maintenance

Roadtrek has a new owner, again.

In this breaking news episode, Mike examines the sale of Roadtrek from France's Groupe Rapido to Conestogo Partners, a U.S.-based investment group focused on outdoor recreation.

Roadtrek has one of the most fascinating histories in the RV industry, from pioneering the Class B motorhome market to surviving bankruptcy and multiple ownership changes. Mike explains what this latest sale means for owners, dealers and the future of one of RVing's most iconic brands.

The episode also covers the end of the Westfalia experiment in North America, the uncertain market facing RV manufacturers today, and why this ownership change comes at such an interesting time for Canadian-built RVs.

Could this finally be the long-term home Roadtrek has been searching for?

More details can be found at RVLifestyle.com/roadtrek-sold-again

For more RV news and practical RV lifestyle advice, visit RVLifestyle.com and subscribe to our free daily newsletter at RVLifestyle.com/Newsletter.

This week, Mike examines a string of reckless incidents in America's national parks, from Yellowstone "tourons" walking across fragile thermal features to dangerous wildlife encounters that could have been avoided.

He also questions the RV industry's growing optimism after spending time in Elkhart and seeing signs that manufacturers are still slowing production while inventories remain high.

Plus:

• An AI-powered fake RV dealership scam targeting buyers on Facebook

• Roadtrek's latest ownership change and what we do, and don't, know about Conestogo Partners

• Major wildfires closing Minnesota's Boundary Waters and affecting summer travel

• New investments aimed at easing congestion in America's national parks

Stay informed with practical RV news and analysis you won't hear anywhere else.

Helpful Links

• CampBuddy Setup & Departure Checklist

https://rvlifestyle.com/campbuddy

• Join Our Free Daily Newsletter

https://rvlifestyle.com/newsletter

• Florida RV Travel Guides

https://rvlifestyle.com/allflorida

• RV Lifestyle Community

https://community.rvlifestyle.com

Retirement isn't the end of the adventure. For many RVers, it's just the beginning.

In this episode of the RV Podcast, Mike and Jennifer Wendland celebrate the release of their new book, The Complete Guide to RVing in Retirement: What to Expect at Every Age, and share some of its most valuable lessons.

They discuss what RV life typically looks like through each stage of retirement, from the Bucket List Years to the Sweet Spot, the Adjustment Years, and beyond. Along the way, they explain the 330 Rule for more enjoyable travel, how to choose an RV based on the physical work it requires, how to prepare for unexpected medical issues while on the road, and why having a sense of purpose is one of the biggest keys to enjoying this lifestyle for decades.

If you've ever wondered whether your best RV years are still ahead of you, this episode is for you.

Learn more about the new book at:

https://rvlifestyle.com/retirementguide

And don't forget to subscribe to our free Daily RV Newsletter at:

https://RVLifestyle.com/Newsletter