RV Podcast: A Trucker’s Blunt Driving Advice to RVers

This week on the RV Podcast:

• What Truckers Wish Every RVer Knew: Driving advice to RVers
• How to stay warm in your RV – We have smart RV heating tips, plus a few cold-weather mistakes you definitely want to avoid.
• A longtime RV parts supplier has filed for bankruptcy: RVers are worried about parts availability.
• All this plus the RV News of the Week and your questions coming up in Episode #573 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.

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RV CONVERSATION OF THE WEEK

Jeff Barker is a professional trucker who averages about 100,000-120,000 miles on the road each year, and he has seen it all. Jeff is a Texas resident, an endurance athlete,  a past RVer AND he has a passion for making the roads safer for everyone. 

We first met Jeff in our RV Lifestyle online Group, and wanted to bring him on to share some helpful driving advice to RVers from a professional driver that could benefit us all!

In this conversation, Jeff shares insights on common mistakes RVers make while driving, emphasizing the importance of lane discipline and highway etiquette to ensure safety and smooth traffic flow.

Here are a few highway etiquette reminders from Jeff that every RVer should keep in mind:

• Stick to the right lane whenever you can. That is where slower traffic belongs, and it keeps everyone moving smoothly.
  
• If a truck has to pass you on the right, that is a sign you are in the wrong lane.
  
• Avoid hanging out in the middle or left lanes. When you camp there, you block faster traffic and create bottlenecks.
  
• If you are going slower than the flow, stay right. Let others pass on the left the way the road is designed.
  
• Staying aware of what is happening around you can prevent close calls and keep the highway safer for everyone.
  

It is simple courtesy that makes a big difference out there.

We also asked Jeff about the problem of foreign truck drivers who don't speak or read English well – a topic that has been in the news a lot recently. He said it is a significant safety problem and that most professional truck drivers welcome increased enforcement aimed at getting them off the roads.

Catch the entire interview in one of the podcast players above.

This part of the podcast is sponsored by RVOvernights, where you can stay free at farms, wineries, and attractions across the country. Go to RVLifestyle.com/rvovernights and use the promo code “RVLDEAL” to save 40% of the already low $49 annual fee.

RV NEWS OF THE WEEK

Shutdown Ends as Rangers Return to National Parks, and Early Reports Show Damage

The longest government shutdown in U.S. history is finally over, and thousands of national park rangers and Forest Service teams are heading back to work. The big question is, what are they walking into after 43 days of parks being mostly open but barely staffed?

Early reports are not great. At Arches National Park, people actually vandalized the rocks. Along the Blue Ridge Parkway, visitors camped where they should not have, and drove off-road, causing more damage. We are relieved the shutdown is behind us. Fingers crossed that the rangers do not find too many unpleasant surprises as they get back on the job.

Americans Say Hands Off the Parks as Cuts Loom

On the topic of national parks, a new poll shows that most Americans are not on board with massive budget cuts. Seven out of ten people say they oppose both the recent cuts and another one billion dollars in cuts being proposed for the next fiscal year.

The timing is something. Rangers are returning to work, and the administration is pushing a budget that could close as many as 350 park sites nationwide. The survey came from the National Parks Conservation Association, and it shows pretty clearly that people care deeply about protecting our park system.

Norcold Bankruptcy Raises Eyebrows for RV Owners

Long time RV refrigerator maker Norcold LLC filed for bankruptcy last week, and RV owners are paying close attention. The company is more than 300 million dollars in debt, and they plan to sell to a supplier of RV and manufactured housing components.

Norcold has been around since 1959 and is best known for LP gas absorption units. They also make RV toilets. So if you have a Norcold brand and might need parts or service down the road, you are not alone in being a bit concerned about what comes next.

Police Ask More RV Owners to Come Forward in Consignment Case

In Ontario, Canada, some RV owners say their consignment deals turned into a nightmare. Several people told local News that after placing their RVs with Tilbury Auto Sales and RV Parts and Service, their units disappeared or the money they were owed never arrived. Police are now investigating more than 15 complaints and are urging anyone else who may have been affected to speak up. It is an unfolding story and one RV owners everywhere are watching closely.

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.

In our private RV Lifestyle Community, we regularly conduct polls and surveys, and it’s one of my favorite things to watch unfold. Last week, we asked the group how do you choose where to camp and the results were:

76% choose based on scenic views

19% said weather

0% said local cuisine was the number one reason

3% said cultural events.

In the comments, many people expanded on their answers. A large number said family plays a major role in choosing a campground—whether they want to stay near family or travel somewhere to camp with family.

Others said they pick a spot because it’s close to a national park, while many choose locations that support their favorite hobbies. For example, if they love kayaking or riding their e-bike, they look for campgrounds that offer great water access or biking trails.

This was so interesting to read!

Then in our RVLifestyle Facebook Group, a common theme we saw last week was keeping warm. When that cold front hit much of the country, many people found themselves camping in areas normally warm that suddenly were very chilly. 

Many experienced heaters that did not work. And others were using space heaters and some ran into problems.

Kathy was one who had a scary experience with her space heater. Kathy was using an electric space heater to save a bit on her propane use.  She turned it on at night and went to bed, but then woke up when she smelled smoke. She got up and smoke was coming out of her space heater! She wrote: “I quickly unplugged it and after a while fell back asleep.

I got up this morning to turn on my coffee pot and it didn't come on….Tried plugging in my microwave and nothing.”

Kathy got some help and learned the entire RV outlet was completely fried, and it was a miracle she didn't have a fire! While everything is now fixed, it was frightening to think of what could have happened so she made her post as a warning, and many helpful tips were shared in the hundreds of comments.

Obviously not all RVs are the same, and not all space heaters are the same, but some safety tips include:

1. Don't leave an electric heater unattended. 

That means don't fall asleep while it is running, don't leave your rig with it running. Be awake and stay alert when using it.

2. Be careful of “high draw” appliances.

Many electricians told Kathy that RVs, in general, do not do well with “high draw” appliances. Coffee makers are high draw, but they only run for a short time. An electric heater will run longer and can be too much. So if you are using one briefly, many suggest keeping the setting on low.

3. Try other alternatives first

Furnaces, even though they often use propane which is costly, will do the best job warming your rig. But many said another tool that can really help is an electric blanket.

What about you? Do you camp when it is colder and do you use an electric heater? What are your safety tips? Would love to hear in the comments.

This part of the podcast is sponsored by Wholesale Warranties, where you can get the best deal on extended warranty coverage for your RVs. Starting January 1st, all RVs are considered one model year older, which means pricing and eligibility for warranty protection will change. Save money and protect your rig by signing up now. Get a free, personalized quote at wholesalewarranties.com/rvlifestyle

RV QUESTION OF THE WEEK

QUESTION: 

This question was posted on the troubleshooting and maintenance space on our RVCommunity.com and came from Danny:

I got tree sap on my RV roof pretty bad and its been several months since it got on there. I tried several things today to get it off but to no avail. Goof Off help a little but only got some of after alot of scrubbing. Any ideas how I can get this off?

ANSWER: 

Tree sap on an RV roof can be stubborn, and all RVs that are used extensively probably have some on their roofs. If it's fresh, warm, soapy water with a soft sponge or microfiber brush will usually get rid of it.

For stubborn sap:

• Mineral spirits or denatured alcohol work well. Again, apply with a soft cloth, let it sit for a minute, then wipe away. Test in a small hidden spot first.
• Instead of Goof Off,  try a product called Bug and Tar Remover (here's my Amazon link https://amzn.to/4oHzfiS).  It's designed for this. Again, test first.
• Another member, Suzanne, weighed in and she had another product she recommended called Release Cleaner (https://releasecleaner.com/). She said you just spray it on and let it do its magic and the sap is gone, with no need to rinse.

I asked a mobile tech I know and trust and he said tree sap is not instantly destructive, but if you let it sit season after season, it becomes a rock hard, sticky blob that is tough to remove without scrubbing. That scrubbing can damage rubber and fiberglass roof coatings. He says it can also permanently stain the roof. The pictures Danny sent didn’t look terribly bad, and the elements may eventually make it less of an eyesore. But if it bugs you… get up there and try the methods we suggested. 

Meanwhile…

If you have ever wished you could reach out to us directly with your RV questions, get honest help from people who have been there, and tap into a friendly group that actually lives the lifestyle every day, then you belong inside the RV Lifestyle Community at RVCommunity.com. 

This is where real RVers gather to trade tips, share stories, troubleshoot problems, and offer the kind of support you will never find on social media. Inside, you can message us personally, get answers fast, and learn from fellow members who have faced the same real world RV situations you deal with every trip.

Plus, you will get access to members-only tools, resources, meetups, discounts, and behind-the-scenes updates you won’t get anywhere else. If you want connection, confidence, and a place that truly feels like your RV family, the RV Lifestyle Community is waiting for you.

Just go to RVCommunity.com. We’d love to meet you and welcome you in.

That’s it for this episode. We’ll see you down the road.

Happy Trails!