Confessions of a Camp Host
This week on the RV Podcast:
- Confessions of a Camp Host: In our conversation of the week, you’ll hear all about the Good, the Bad, and the Wonderfully Weird
- Gas prices are sky high again, but they’re blaming it on a flood at a refinery and say prices should drop again soon.
- How not to get burned out from driving to your next camping spot
- All this plus the RV News of the Week and your questions coming up in Episode 562 of the RV Podcast
You can watch the video version from our RV Lifestyle YouTube Channel by clicking the player below.
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Hey, before we get to the news of the week, let’s just take a second to tell you about something we’re really excited about. You know how RVing isn’t just about the places you go, it’s about the people you meet? Well, that’s exactly what we’ve built with our RV Lifestyle Community.
It’s private, it’s ad-free, and it’s filled with folks just like you — RVers who want to share tips, swap stories, and help each other out. We’re in there every day ourselves, so it really feels like a campfire conversation that just keeps going.
And yes, it’s a paid community, but honestly… some things are worth paying for. You get a trusted, safe space, and a group of friends who really get this lifestyle.
So if you’ve been looking for a place where you belong, come join us at RVCommunity.com. We’d love to see you there.”
RV NEWS OF THE WEEK
Labor Day Price Spike? Blame the Midwest Refinery Flood
If you are from the Midwest and winced at the sudden fuel pump price hike right before Labor Day, we feel your pain! Flooding temporarily closed the Midwest’s largest oil refinery. The result was a sudden 27-cent per gallon price hike everywhere from Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin, to some parts of Illinois and Indiana. The good news is that the BP Whiting Refinery in Indiana is now operating again. And experts expect prices to drop in the next week.
Overwhelmed and Understaffed: Leaked Report Reveals Strain on U.S. National Parks
The National Parks Service lost about one-quarter of its workforce this year, and a leaked internal parks report from July 2025 shows, “staff are overwhelmed, conditions are deteriorating, and visitors are being left without the services or protections they count on,” says the National Parks Conservation Association, an advocacy group. The effects of the staffing cuts vary and are based on how many employees were lost at a particular location through the government's early retirement offer and probationary employees' cuts. For example, Yellowstone reports no problems, while Yosemite reports a temporary halt to ranger-led tours. Zion reported a reduction in cleaning capabilities and less capacity to respond to emergencies, and Indiana Dunes dropped ranger programming from 575 last year to 100 this year.
Lightship’s Self-Propelling Futuristic Travel Trailer Nears Delivery
The first customers who purchased an all-electric, self-propelling travel trailer created by a Colorado startup will soon take delivery. We interviewed the founders of Lightship a few years back on the podcast, and have been tracking their progress since. Their all-electric travel trailers can be towed by an electric, diesel, or gasoline-fueled truck, but because they are self-propelling, the trailers reduce fuel costs. They are controlled by a tablet, fold down to a more aerodynamic size, and are quite interesting.
Keep Your Distance: Elk Mating Season Brings Meadow Closures at Rocky Mountain National Park
Love is in the air for the elk of Rocky Mountain National Park, which means meadow areas are closing Sept. 1 from 5 p.m. and 10 a.m. daily. Elk mating season lasts through the end of October. During this time, visitors are urged to stay at least 75 feet away, and the closed areas include the meadows of Horseshoe Park, Upper Beaver Meadows, Moraine Park, Harbison Meadow, and Holzwarth.
Bear Spray Saved Hiker Attacked by Mama Bear in Glacier National Park
A hiker was attacked by a bear in Glacier National Park last week while walking near Lake Janet. The bear and her two cubs jumped out of the brush, and the woman dove off the trail, covering her head when the mama bear swiped her, injuring her shoulder and arm. Her companion used bear spray, which caused the animals to flee, and the hikers then made it to Lake Janet Wilderness Campground, where help was called. The bears will not be put down as they were surprised, and the mama was trying to protect her cubs.
RV CONVERSATION OF THE WEEK – Confessions of a Camp Host
Ari Adler and his wife Jessi spend about nine months of the year traveling the country, working remotely and camp hosting at some of the most fascinating locations. They camp in a 2022 Airstream Flying Cloud (30-foot office model) and is on the road about 9 months a year. Both work remotely on the road, while camp hosting.
Recently, they spent some time in Texas camp hosting at Mustang Island State Park, Goliad State Park, and even the Lyndon B. Johnson State Park & Historic Site. Today Ari is here to share a glimpse into the Camp Host world that we think you'll find fascinating.
SOCIAL MEDIA BUZZ – Wendy Bowyer
Wendy Bowyer reports on the hot issues most talked about this past week on social media and our RV Lifestyle Community group.
This week in my Social Media report, I'd like to tell you about a post Douglas placed in our RV Lifestyle Facebook Group seeking guidance. Perhaps one of you can relate.
Douglas was feeling a bit discouraged and was beginning to wonder if the RV life was for him. Here's the background. Douglas and his wife bought a 36-foot motorhome in 2019. They planned to head out and have RV adventures right away, but COVID happened, then some new grandkids, so Douglas and his wife really started hitting the road for the first time this year.
Their first trip was a Fantasy RV Tour to Calgary for 15 days. They enjoyed it. Motorhome ran great. But he wrote: “The driving seemed a bit tedious and at times nerve-racking, crazy drivers, narrow roads, and road construction.”
Douglas and his wife scheduled another trip in Maine in late September, and in a relatively short amount of time they left North Idaho, went through Missoula, MT; Chinook, MT; Williston, ND; Woodworth, ND; Lake Elmo, MN; Sturgeon Bay, WI; Sister Bay, WI; took the ferry boat to Ludington, MI; then to Jenison, MI; Mackinaw City, MI; went to Mackinac Island, MI and then Belleville, MI, where he wrote this post.
Douglas said, “So this is the problem. We are burned out on all the driving. It seems like this is not a vacation but a lot of work and stress. I keep asking myself. ‘When does this become fun?'”
Poor Douglas! He and his wife are wondering if they should sell their motorhome, as RV life may not be for them. They are also thinking about maybe spending the winters in a southern state and summers in a northern state and only drive from place to place twice a year. But then they aren't really seeing America which is why they got into this. And the last thing Douglas shared is he is 75, his wife is 70, and he is wondering if they are basically too old to drive a 36-foot diesel pusher around the country.
He needed advice, and Douglas received some wonderful advice – nearly 900 comments. First, the common theme is he is driving way too much each day.
Sean wrote it beautifully when he said in part: “I appreciate you sharing all this so honestly. What you’re feeling is actually really common for folks who are new to motorhome life. A lot of people go into it with the dream of “seeing America,” but then the reality of constant driving, long days on the road, construction, and dealing with other drivers can turn it into more work than fun—especially on those marathon cross-country trips… The pace may be what’s draining you. Covering that much ground in such a short time can make it feel like you’re always “pushing” instead of actually enjoying the places you’re going.”
Others suggest they spend a week or more in a spot instead of moving every couple days. Mark had great advice. He urged Douglas and his wife to think about what they actually want to do while traveling. Is it to go to museums? Meet people? Hike? Experience nature? Explore cities? Then build your trips around this. Mark also reminded them they are not on vacation but are retired, so they don't have to squeeze everything into a small time window, but can and should schedule downtime.
Also many said it is ok to reevaluate whether this is the right RV. Is the motorhome too big? Would a small rig or a travel trailer work better?
Lots of great advice. And it makes me wonder, what advice would you give to Douglas and his wife? Drop it in the comments.
Thanks, Wendy! We want to again remind you that the conversation doesn’t stop when the podcast ends. Come hang out with us in the RV Lifestyle Community at RVCommunity.com. It’s where all the best tips, stories, and ideas keep rolling in.
RV QUESTION OF THE WEEK
QUESTION: Question for RVers with 50 AMP rigs. We have a 5th Wheel that takes 50 AMP. We are booked at a campsite next month that is 30 AMP. We booked before we upgraded our RV. Hopefully, we won’t need A/C, but if we do, will it work to run just one unit? Is it okay to do that?
ANSWER: A 50-amp RV typically has two 120V legs (totaling 12,000 watts), while a 30-amp connection provides a single 120V leg (3,600 watts max). This means you'll have significantly less power available.
Most 50-amp RVs can use a dogbone adapter to connect to a 30-amp pedestal, but this limits you to the 30-amp supply.
A typical RV A/C unit (13,500–15,000 BTU) draws 12–16 amps when running (higher during startup, up to 20 amps). Running just one A/C unit on a 30-amp connection is usually possible, but you’ll need to manage other appliances carefully to avoid tripping the breaker.
So, Yes, it’s okay to run one A/C unit, provided you limit other high-draw appliances (e.g., microwave, water heater, electric heaters, or hair dryers) to stay under the 30-amp limit.
