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The RV Gear We'd Buy Again, and the Stuff We'd Never Waste Money On Again
Wednesday, August 5, 2026 • Duration 31:54
After years of RV travel, thousands of camping nights, and more gear than we'd like to admit, we've finally learned an important lesson: the most expensive gadgets aren't always the ones that improve your RV lifestyle.
In this episode, Mike and Jennifer share the RV purchases they'd happily buy again tomorrow, along with the products they wish they'd skipped entirely.
From washer and dryers, lithium batteries, solar power, mattresses, dash cams, air fryers, and cordless tire inflators to gravity chairs, countertop ice makers, RV toilet paper, and black tank chemicals, this is an honest conversation about what actually delivers value and what simply takes up space.
You'll also hear practical advice about black tank maintenance, how much water really matters, and why buying gear based on someone else's camping style can be an expensive mistake.
Plus, Jennifer answers a listener who is afraid of driving a large RV if her husband can't, and Mike offers advice to longtime RVers wondering if it's time to downsize from their Class A motorhome.
Whether you're shopping for your first RV or your fifth, this episode will probably save you money, storage space, and a few buying regrets.
Will Camping World's $100 Million Cut Hurt RV Service?
Monday, August 3, 2026 • Duration 20:15
Camping World is cutting another $100 million in costs. What does that mean for RV owners?
In this week's RV Podcast News, Mike Wendland looks beyond the headlines to explain why Camping World's latest announcement could matter the next time you need service for your RV.
Also this week:
Camping World lowers its sales forecast as the RV market continues to soften
A tariff break brings some welcome news for RV manufacturers
Why your next RV trip could cost hundreds of dollars more than last summer
How RVs are helping families displaced by the devastating Texas floods
More than 200 outdoor recreation businesses urge Congress to invest in America's aging campgrounds before lawmakers leave Washington
If you own an RV, are thinking about buying one, or simply want to stay informed about what's happening across the RV lifestyle, this weekly news roundup is for you.
FREE CHAPTER
Download a free chapter from our new ebook, The Complete Guide to RVing in Retirement:
The Freedom We Dreamed About... And What Nobody Told Us
Wednesday, July 1, 2026 • Duration 29:39
For years, we dream about retirement. We imagine freedom, open roads, and finally having the time to do everything we've always wanted. But what happens when that day finally arrives?
In this episode of Stories from the Road, Mike and Jennifer share an honest conversation about what they've discovered in the second half of life. After more than 15 years of RV travel, they've learned that retirement isn't really an ending, it's the beginning of a whole new adventure.
They talk about slowing down without giving up, finding purpose beyond a career, making time for family, embracing curiosity, and why some of life's greatest moments happen when you stop rushing to the next destination.
Along the way, they answer your RV questions, share practical travel advice, and reflect on the friendships, experiences, and unexpected lessons the RV lifestyle has brought into their lives.
Whether you're already retired, planning for retirement, or decades away from it, this episode offers a thoughtful reminder that the best years of life may still be ahead.
In this episode:
Why retirement isn't the finish line
Learning to slow down without stopping
The importance of purpose at every age
How RV travel changes the way you see America and yourself
Jennifer answers a listener's question about preparing for full-time travel
Mike answers an RV technical question from a listener
For complete show notes, visit RVPodcast.com.
Join our free daily RV Lifestyle newsletter, delivered every morning by 7:30 a.m. Eastern, at RVLifestyle.com/newsletter.
The Freedom We Dreamed About... And What Nobody Told Us
Wednesday, July 1, 2026 • Duration 14:56
For years, we dream about retirement. We imagine freedom, open roads, and finally having the time to do everything we've always wanted. But what happens when that day finally arrives?
In this episode of Stories from the Road, Mike and Jennifer share an honest conversation about what they've discovered in the second half of life. After more than 15 years of RV travel, they've learned that retirement isn't really an ending, it's the beginning of a whole new adventure.
They talk about slowing down without giving up, finding purpose beyond a career, making time for family, embracing curiosity, and why some of life's greatest moments happen when you stop rushing to the next destination.
Along the way, they answer your RV questions, share practical travel advice, and reflect on the friendships, experiences, and unexpected lessons the RV lifestyle has brought into their lives.
Whether you're already retired, planning for retirement, or decades away from it, this episode offers a thoughtful reminder that the best years of life may still be ahead.
In this episode:
Why retirement isn't the finish line
Learning to slow down without stopping
The importance of purpose at every age
How RV travel changes the way you see America and yourself
Jennifer answers a listener's question about preparing for full-time travel
Mike answers an RV technical question from a listener
For complete show notes, visit RVPodcast.com.
Join our free daily RV Lifestyle newsletter, delivered every morning by 7:30 a.m. Eastern, at RVLifestyle.com/newsletter.
RV Sales Are Slumping... Here's Why That's Great News for Buyers
Monday, June 29, 2026 • Duration 14:56
This week's RV Lifestyle Podcast News Edition is packed with practical information to help you travel smarter.
Mike explains why slowing RV sales could create exceptional buying opportunities, looks at what will likely be the busiest Fourth of July travel week ever, breaks down where fuel prices are headed, explains the latest Starlink changes affecting RVers, and wraps up with two travel center stories you'll definitely want to know before your next trip.
Full Transcript Available with sources
A complete transcript of this episode is available in the Transcript tab at RVPodcast.com
Have a question for a future episode?
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Don't forget to subscribe to our free daily RV Lifestyle Newsletter at RVLifestyle.com/newsletter and join our private, ad-free RVCommunity at RVCommunity.com.
Happy Trails!
Wall Street Took Over Your Campground... And Prices May Never Be the Same
Wednesday, June 24, 2026 • Duration 29:26
Wall Street has discovered camping.
Across America, investment firms, private equity groups, and large corporate operators are quietly buying family-owned campgrounds at an unprecedented pace. The result is changing the camping experience many RVers have enjoyed for decades.
In this episode, Mike and Jennifer explore how campground consolidation is reshaping RV travel, from rising campsite rates and resort fees to stricter rules and less personal service.
You'll hear from a family campground owner who continues to reject multimillion-dollar offers to sell and learn why independent campground owners are facing increasing pressure from investors eager to capitalize on the booming camping industry.
Also in this episode:
• Jennifer shares a personal update on her upcoming knee replacement surgery
• The story behind one campground family's decision to stay independent
• Tips for finding and supporting family-owned campgrounds
• RV Question of the Week: What to do after driving away with your power cord still plugged in
If you've ever wondered why camping feels different than it used to, this conversation may explain a lot.
Click the transcript tab for complete show notes and resources.
Eleven Hands at a Campfire - and What They Tell Us About the RV Market
Monday, June 22, 2026 • Duration 16:17
The RV industry is chasing the wrong generation. While manufacturers court 30-somethings with outdoor TVs and influencer campaigns, the buyers who are actually writing checks right now look nothing like the people in the ads.
Last week I sat around a campfire in Hocking Hills, Ohio with 88 members of our RVCommunity. I asked how many had bought a new RV in the past year. Eleven hands went up. A 12th would have, but he was out on a six-mile hike. He was turning 70.
That tells you everything the sales charts do not.
In this episode we dig into who is really driving the RV market right now, what experienced RVers actually want that manufacturers keep missing, the quiet but alarming shift happening in our national parks, and a dramatic rescue on the Appalachian Trail that is a reminder of exactly why preparation matters out there.
Read the companion blog post on RVing in the second half of life at RVLifestyle.com - link below.
Here is the complete episode, start to finish.
THE RV PODCAST - MONDAY NEWS EDITION Episode Air Date: Monday, June 23, 2026 - 6:00 AM Approx. Running Time: 25 Minutes Host: Mike Wendland
THE LAST GENERATION THAT KNOWS HOW TO TRAVEL ...and why the RV industry keeps ignoring them
OPEN
Last week I was sitting around a campfire in Hocking Hills, Ohio, with about 50 members of our RVCommunity.com.
I asked a simple question: how many of you have bought a brand new RV in the last year?
Eleven hands went up. A 12th would have, but he was out on a six-mile sunset hike - and he was turning 70 that summer.
This was happening while the RV industry is posting some of the worst wholesale shipment numbers in over a decade.
Which raises a question the people running this industry ought to be asking themselves: who exactly are they building RVs for?
Ticks Are Exploding This Year: The Hidden Disease That Can Make You Allergic to Meat
Wednesday, June 17, 2026 • Duration 27:16
Ticks are having a banner year across much of North America, and that has outdoor enthusiasts, hikers, campers, and RVers paying close attention.
Most people know about Lyme disease. But far fewer have heard of Alpha-Gal Syndrome, a tick-borne condition that can suddenly make you allergic to red meat and trigger severe, even life-threatening allergic reactions.
In this episode of the RV Podcast, we revisit one of the most important health interviews we've ever done.
RVer Fred Church shares the remarkable story of how a single tick bite changed his life forever. What started as what seemed like food poisoning after eating a hamburger soon turned into a frightening medical mystery involving swelling, vomiting, intense itching, and a diagnosis that left him unable to eat many of the foods he had enjoyed his entire life.
Fred explains how Alpha-Gal Syndrome develops, the symptoms he experienced, how he was diagnosed, and the precautions he and his wife Kathy now take whenever they head outdoors.
The timing of this conversation couldn't be better. Earlier this summer, Mike had a tick embedded in his face that required a dermatologist to make an incision and use two stitches to remove it. The doctor told him he had already removed dozens of ticks from patients this season.
Whether you're exploring hiking trails, walking the dog around the campground, sitting around a campfire, or simply enjoying the outdoors, this episode is a powerful reminder that tick prevention is more important than ever.
If you think the only tick-borne illness you need to worry about is Lyme disease, this conversation may change your mind.
In this episode:
• Fred Church's personal Alpha-Gal Syndrome story
• The symptoms that led to his diagnosis
• How a tick bite can trigger a red meat allergy
• What RVers and outdoor travelers need to know
• Practical tick prevention strategies
Park It Outside! Massive Fire Risk Recall Hits RVers' Favorite Toad
Monday, June 15, 2026 • Duration 18:50
This week's RV Lifestyle Podcast News Edition covers five important stories every RVer should know about.
First, a major recall affects more than one million Jeep Wranglers and Gladiators, including many popular tow vehicles used behind motorhomes. Owners are being advised to park affected vehicles outside due to a potential fire risk, even when the ignition is off.
We also look at new vehicle restrictions at Zion National Park that will prevent many larger motorhomes and fifth wheels from using the scenic Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway and tunnel route. If Zion is on your travel plans this year, these changes could affect your trip.
Plus, diesel fuel prices have finally started moving lower, but many RV owners are still running into an outdated pay-at-the-pump system that makes filling large tanks unnecessarily difficult.
In this episode you'll also hear the remarkable story of how investigators finally identified human remains discovered more than two decades ago in Olympic National Park, thanks to advances in forensic genealogy.
And finally, the RV Industry Association has quietly lowered its 2026 shipment forecast, creating what may be the best buyer's market RV shoppers have seen in years. We'll explain what the numbers mean and how they could work in your favor if you're considering a purchase.
Along the way, Mike shares updates from Hocking Hills, Ohio, where RVCommunity.com members are gathering for the summer rally, and explains why these community events continue to be one of the most rewarding parts of the RV lifestyle.
Links, sources, and additional resources for every story are available through the transcript tab.
Happy Trails!
The RV Doctor Is In! Real Medical Advice for RVers + Are You Too Old to Start RVing?
Wednesday, June 10, 2026 • Duration 40:42
What should every RVer carry in their first aid kit? What medical emergencies are most common on the road? And when is a health issue serious enough to seek immediate help?
This week on Episode 616 of the RV Podcast, we're joined by Dr. Richard Raborn, a retired physician, lifelong RVer, and member of our RV Lifestyle Community. Dr. Raborn shares practical, real-world medical advice for RV travelers, including how to prepare for health emergencies, what medications and supplies belong in your RV, and how to stay safe when you're far from home. It's one of the most useful conversations we've had for anyone who travels by RV.
We also tackle two listener questions that many RVers will relate to:
• Linda and Don, both recently retired, want to buy an RV and travel the country, but their adult children think they're crazy. Jennifer explains why your late 60s may actually be the perfect time to embrace the RV lifestyle and why waiting for "someday" can be the bigger risk.
• Gary from Tennessee wonders whether the 200-watt solar package on his new travel trailer really makes him "energy independent." Mike breaks down the truth about RV solar systems, batteries, inverters, and why many RV buyers are getting an unrealistic picture of what factory-installed solar can actually do.
Plus, we share an update as we pack for our RVCommunity.com Summer Rally in Hocking Hills, Ohio, and talk about why the friendships formed through RVing may be the greatest benefit of the lifestyle.
In this episode:
✓ Dr. Richard Raborn's RV medical preparedness tips
✓ What belongs in an RV first aid kit
✓ How to handle medical issues on the road
✓ Is 68 too old to start RVing?
✓ Why RV travel may be ideal for retirees
✓ The truth about RV solar marketing claims
✓ Battery banks, inverters, and boondocking explained
✓ RV Community updates and rally news
Because I can tell you who is actually buying them. And they look nothing like the people in the ads.
OPENING
Good morning and welcome to the RV Podcast Monday News Edition. I'm Mike Wendland.
Eighteen Emmy Awards. Thirty-plus years covering everything from wars to the White House to consumer affairs. And for the past 15 years, living the RV lifestyle myself with my wife Jennifer in every type of rig you can imagine, coast to coast, all 48 contiguous states.
Today's show is a little different. Instead of leading with a breaking story, I want to start with something I witnessed firsthand that I believe tells you more about the real state of the RV market than any press release you will read this year.
And if you want to go deeper after you listen, I have been writing about this topic at RVLifestyle.com for the past several weeks. We have been exploring what it means to RV in the second half of life - the freedom, the community, the mindset, and yes, the ways the industry keeps getting it wrong. There is a link in the show notes. I think you will recognize yourself in it.
Here is what is happening on the road. And here is what the industry is getting wrong. Let's get into it.
LEAD STORY: THE LAST GENERATION THAT KNOWS HOW TO TRAVEL
The RV industry is having a rough year. A really rough year. And the numbers tell the story fast, so let me give them to you and move on, because the real story is not the numbers. The real story is who is still out there buying and camping while those numbers grind downward.
Wholesale shipments are down more than 13 percent through the first four months of 2026. Retail sales off 14 to 15 percent from last year. The industry's own forecast, just revised downward again this month, now projects this as one of the worst years for new RV sales in over a decade.
So who is still buying?
Here is what I can tell you from 15 years in this world and from what I saw last week in Hocking Hills. The people who are still writing checks for new RVs, right now, in the worst market in a decade, are the people the industry seems most determined to pretend do not exist.
Baby Boomers. Older Gen Xers. People who grew up reading paper maps. Making reservations by phone. Talking to strangers when they got lost. Fixing things with their hands. Navigating real uncertainty with nothing but experience and nerve.
According to industry research, Americans 50 and older remain the primary customer segment for RVs. Many are retirees fulfilling long-held travel dreams, and that population is still growing as the tail end of the baby boom ages into retirement. These are people with home equity, disposable income, and something even more valuable: the time and the confidence to actually use what they buy.
And yet when you look at the ads. When you watch the Go RVing campaigns. When you walk the floor of any major RV show and look at the marketing materials stacked at the booths. You see toned and trendy 30-year-olds doing yoga on the roof of a Class B. You see influencers with ring lights and perfect hair. What you do not see is the 68-year-old retired engineer who just dropped $95,000 on a new fifth wheel and is headed to Alaska.
That is a real blind spot. And I think it is costing the industry real money.
Here is what I saw at our Hocking Hills rally. Eighty-eight people, ranging from their 50s into their 80s. Riding bikes and e-bikes and scooters. Hiking up and down some of the most spectacular terrain in the Midwest. One of our members, a retired RV technician, got under a fellow member's trailer and repacked the wheel bearings on the spot. Another couple spent an afternoon giving scooter lessons to anyone who wanted to learn.
Nobody was stuck. Nobody was panicking. When something broke, someone fixed it. When someone needed help, someone helped them. These are people who grew up problem-solving before there was an app for it. And they brought every one of those skills out here.
I asked how many had bought a new RV in the past year. Eleven hands went up. Twelve if you count the man who was out on a six-mile hike at 70 years old.
This is happening while the industry chases 33-year-olds with solar panels and TikTok aesthetics.
I am not saying younger buyers are not important. They are the future and we need them. But the marketing case being made inside RV boardrooms right now, that the 50-plus buyer is yesterday's news, is demonstrably wrong. And in a market this soft, you cannot afford to ignore your most reliable customer.
I wrote about this at length over at RVLifestyle.com. It is part of an ongoing series we have been running on RVing in the second half of life. The link is in the show notes. If today's lead story speaks to you, that post will too.
STORY 2: WHO IS ACTUALLY DRIVING THE MARKET
The demographic picture of who owns and buys RVs is more complicated than the ads suggest, and it is worth understanding.
The median age of RV owners has come down in recent years. Younger buyers were absolutely part of the pandemic surge. Millennials and Gen Z now represent roughly 22 percent of RV owners - the same share as Baby Boomers - which tells you something about how quickly the demographics shifted during COVID.
But here is what the industry sometimes misses in that data. Younger buyers came in during a period of historically low interest rates, flush pandemic savings, and work-from-home flexibility. Those conditions no longer exist. The buyers who are proving most resilient in this market are the ones who are not dependent on 7 percent financing to make the purchase work.
Industry analyst Earl Hunter Jr., founder of The Unity Folks, put it bluntly in a recent trade publication outlook piece. He said the biggest trend in the RV industry right now is, simply, lack of growth. And that the industry has not figured out why emerging demographics and nontraditional consumers have little to no interest in the RV lifestyle.
That is a real problem worth solving. But while the industry works on reaching new audiences, there is a generation of experienced, well-capitalized, deeply motivated buyers out on the road right now who built this market and are still carrying it. They deserve a little more respect than a supporting role in someone else's marketing story.
STORY 3: WHAT EXPERIENCED RVers ACTUALLY WANT - AND WHAT MANUFACTURERS KEEP MISSING
I want to tell you one more thing from Hocking Hills, because I think it reveals something important about the disconnect between what the industry is building and what experienced RVers actually need.
During our campfire conversation, I asked people what features they most use in their current rigs. What do they love. What they would change.
Nobody mentioned outdoor TVs. Not one person. This is notable because outdoor entertainment has been one of the most aggressively marketed RV features of the last several years. Manufacturers have been loading up rigs with outdoor TVs, outdoor kitchens, outdoor speakers. The assumption is that RVers want to recreate the suburban living room experience outside.
Our members were out hiking six miles. They were packed into a campfire circle talking to each other. They were fixing each other's trailers. The last thing they wanted was a television.
What did they talk about wanting? Better towing stability. Improved service networks. Simpler systems that do not require a software update to turn on the hot water. Quality that lasts. And dealers who actually know the products they are selling.
These are people with decades of RV miles behind them. They know exactly what they need and exactly what they do not. When you have that kind of experience, you stop being impressed by features and start being impressed by reliability.
The industry could learn a lot by listening more carefully to the people who have been doing this the longest....
• Why tick-borne illnesses are becoming a growing concern
This is one of those episodes that could make a real difference for you, your family, and your travels.
Also in this episode, answers to your questions about:
Whether a Combo or a separate washer and dryer is best for an RV
and
How to best learn how to drive an RV
Get the RV Lifestyle Newsletter at https://rvlifestyle.com/newsletter
For complete show notes, visit RVPodcast.com.
Subscribe to our free daily newsletter and get RV tips, travel ideas, news, and inspiration delivered to your inbox every morning by 7:30 AM at RVLifestyle.com/newsletter.
