DANGER ZONE! The Most Dangerous Part of an RV

This week on the RV Podcast:

• The most dangerous part of an RV…Between the Truck and Trailer: Why RV Hitching Is so Dangerous.
• If you drink beer on your camping trip, you’re going to make the mosquitoes very happy.
• The great debate about light pollution and campers who light up their RVs like the Vegas Strip,
• All this plus the RV News of the Week and your questions coming up in Episode 565 of the RV Podcast

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Greetings from the Great River Road! 

We're on week three of our 34-day Fantasy RV Tour tracing the Mississippi River all the way from its quiet source in northern Minnesota down to the Gulf of Mexico. We are now in St. Louis, MO, and we can't help but feel grateful for the incredible journey that's unfolding before us. 

The mighty Mississippi continues to remind us why this river has captured hearts and imaginations for generations. There's something truly magical about following the path of America's great waterway, and St. Louis has proven to be one of our most memorable destinations yet.

We've explored the Amazing Gateway Arch – did you know it is an official U.S. National Park? – strolled through the beautiful Missouri Botanical Garden, and even toured the huge Anheuser-Busch Brewery here.

But honestly, the best part of this adventure isn't just the places we're seeing – it's the people we're sharing them with. Our tour group has become like an extended family on wheels. There's nothing quite like the camaraderie that develops when you're exploring new places with fellow travelers who share your passion for the road. 

We've laughed until our sides hurt, helped each other navigate tricky parking situations, and created memories that will last long after we've returned home.

The energy and enthusiasm of everyone on this tour has been absolutely infectious. It's amazing what happens when you bring together people who have chosen adventure and community over staying put.

RVers Crave Community!

This incredible sense of belonging and shared adventure is precisely what we're building every day at RVCommunity.com. 

If you're an empty nester ready to turn the page to your next great chapter, or if you're over 50 and feeling that call of the open road, we want you to know there's a place for you in our community. While our site welcomes RVers of all ages and stages, we especially understand the unique joys and challenges of those who are rediscovering freedom later in life. 

Whether you're a seasoned road warrior or just dreaming of your first RV adventure, RVCommunity.com is where you'll find the support, inspiration, and friendship to make your travel dreams a reality. 

If you are interested in following along, we’re sharing daily updates, photos, and behind-the-scenes moments inside the community.

And, yes, we have a modest paywall (starting at less than a cup of coffee per month) because quality communities require boundaries. It keeps out the spammers, the scammers, and the social media parasites looking for their next viral moment. 

What you get in return is invaluable: genuine connections in an ad-free community with like-minded adults, in-person rallies and events, comprehensive RV master courses, expert help with campground selection and travel planning, and troubleshooting advice from people who've actually been there.

But the best part? Genuine friendships are formed in the community. Because at the end of the day, that's what this journey is really about – connecting with real people living real adventures.

Ready to join a community that gets it? Sign up today and discover what authentic RV fellowship looks like.

Now, on to the RV News of the week below.

RV LIFESTYLE NEWS OF THE WEEK

​Why Mosquitoes Pick You: The Surprising Science from a Music Festival​

Ever notice on a camping trip that the mosquitoes swarmed you, but seemed to leave your travel companions alone? A unique study that tested 500 volunteer music festival attendees in the Netherlands found beer drinkers were 44 percent more likely to be swarmed, ditto with weed smokers. How to keep them away? Sunscreen. 

​Pump Pain: Northwest Drivers Hit Hard by Pipeline Outage​

Washington and Oregon drivers experienced sticker shock this past week after a pipeline outage caused fuel prices to spike. A gallon of gasoline cost $4.62 in Washington and $4.24 in Oregon over the weekend. Nationally, the average price for a gallon of gasoline was $3.12, and the lowest price was in Mississippi at $2.70. The Olympic Pipeline is now back on, so hopefully prices will decrease this week. 

​Get Outside — For Free! National Parks Celebrate Public Lands Day Saturday​

If you are near a national park this Saturday, Sept. 27, entry is free in celebration of National Public Lands Day. There are six free entry days to the nation's national parks, and on Saturday, parks will waive entrance fees and host numerous volunteer activities to celebrate. 

​Grizzly Swipes Yellowstone Hiker in Park’s First Attack in Four Years​

Yellowstone National Park reported its first bear attack in more than four years last week when a startled grizzly swiped at a solo hiker, causing significant but not life-threatening injuries. The 29-year-old man was hiking alone at Turbid Lake Trail, located northeast of Mary Bay in Yellowstone Lake, and used bear spray to get away. Because the bear was surprised and acted defensively, it will not be put down.

​Ohio State Parks Crowned Best in the Nation​

Ohio State Parks were just crowned best in the country by the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration in partnership with the National Recreation and Park Association. The other finalists were Florida and Wyoming. Ohio's 76 state parks are free to enter, offer 9,300 campsites, and some 1,200 miles of trails. We are planning our summer 2026 RV Lifestyle Community rally just outside one of Ohio's state parks – can't wait!

RV CONVERSATION OF THE WEEK – The most dangerous part of an RV – the Hidden Danger in Hitching Up Your RV

A 65-year-old woman died after she was pinned between a Fifth Wheel and a truck at the Moosehead Lake Campground in Michigan's Upper Peninsula last week. The campground is in a national forest in a remote area, and police are investigating how the Michigan woman was pinned.

According to a press release from Sheriff Jorge H. Cruz of the Gogebic County Sheriff’s Office, law enforcement and emergency personnel were dispatched to the campground at about 3:26 p.m. on Monday after being advised of an unresponsive woman who had been struck by a camper.

Upon arriving at the scene, officers discovered a 65-year-old woman, who was a resident of downstate Roscommon, pinned between a fifth wheel camper and a truck. Despite immediate efforts, including application of CPR and other life-saving measures, she was pronounced dead at the scene due to the severity of her injuries.

We don't have a lot of details on this, but it is very easy to see how it could occur. If you have ever towed a fifth wheel or a travel trailer, you almost always need someone at the rear of your tow vehicle to spot you as you back up into position to hitch up.

In a fifth wheel, the tailgate is down and the best view to line everything up is right behind the tailgate and in front of the fifth wheel. But the best view is NOT where the spotter should stand. The spotter needs to stand off to the side and clear from both vehicles.

There is very little space between a tailgate and the RV, and as you back up, that space gets very tight. If you back up too fast, your spotter is in great danger. It’s a pinch point and, sadly, there are stories every year about people being mangled, suffering horrible injuries, or being killed – just like what happened last week in Michigan’s UP.

We did some research, and it happens all the time.

Here’s a story from Florida: “A 60-year-old man was pinned by a pickup truck and critically injured Sunday when a 60-year-old woman backed into him in what Jacksonville police described as a tragic accident. Police said the woman's foot slipped off the brake and hit the accelerator as she tried to back into a space beside a camper, running over the man as he guided her.

Here’s a story from Utah: “A Vernal man was killed early Saturday after being pinned between a camper and a vehicle while on a family camping trip. Investigators say the vehicle rolled backward and pinned the man. It's unclear whether the parking brake had been set or what other factors led to the incident, which is still under investigation.” 

From Seattle: “A 73-year-old man was killed in a tragic accident when a fifth-wheel trailer pinned him against a fence at a home in Seattle. According to the Seattle Police Department, a driver was trying to park a fifth-wheel trailer on his property around 2:30 p.m. Police said the driver realized that he struck a fence, but did not realize that a family member was pinned between the truck and the fence.

One more, this one from North Carolina: “A man was killed when he was pinned between a camper and a pickup truck at a Rowan County campground Thursday. The incident happened around 11:30 a.m. at the Tamarac Marina Campground on Blackfoot Lane. According to the Rowan County Sheriff's Office, the 63-year-old man was attempting to hook up a fifth-wheel camper to his pickup when the accident occurred. Burrow's wife told officials he asked her to back the truck up so he could put the linchpin in place, but when she did the camper fell, pinning him between it and the bed of the truck.” 

We don’t need to read more. This happens way, way too often.

We can attest to the danger from our own experience just the other day. As many are aware, we have a new Fifth-Wheel hitch that requires the fifth-wheel kingpin to be positioned exactly over a gooseneck ball. Jen and I are slowly getting used to it, but it clearly is a two-person job.

Jennifer knows well enough NOT to get directly behind the truck. She stands off to the side and, while the angle may not be the best, it's the safest and sometimes, it takes a couple of passes to get it right.

That’s what we were doing, maneuvering the truck and lining it up when a neighbor – who sincerely thought he was helping – came over and said, “Let me help.” Before we could stop him, he got right behind the tailgate, with the fifth wheel at his back. 

“This is how you line it up,” he said to Jen. “This is where you need to stand.”

I jumped out of the truck and told him absolutely not. Maybe I was a bit too harsh. He insisted he was right. We explained that yes, right behind does offer the right view, but it is too dangerous.

He insisted he could quickly get out of the way if needed, and he wasn't a fool. I bit my tongue. Some people are just so stubborn, and so I thanked him and told him we had this, and Jennifer, from a safe side position, guided me in.

Folks, don't stand in pinch points. 

Most of us have a system in backing up and hitching up, and it often relies on a lot of cameras. Cameras can indeed be helpful, but if that’s all you use to back up, you are trusting in technology too much. Cameras do not give the best view. You need a spotter.

And you need to take your time. It’s okay if it takes a couple of approaches to get it right. 

Here’s how we hitch up. We get the truck square to the fifth wheel, not on an angle, and position it about four or five feet from the fifth wheel. Then, I drop the tailgate. I have put reflective tape on the kingpin and have a spot out the truck rear window that I line up so I can see a straight projection.

Then Jennifer gets to stand at the rear side of the truck, even with the kingpin. With my window down and looking out the rear mirror at my trajectory marks, I very slowly back up, listening to her cues. 

Jennifer will say five feet, four feet, three feet, stop. Then I put the truck in park and get out of it, joining her at the side to see for myself if it is on the right course. Sometimes, we start all over again. But once it's lined up from three feet out, I very slowly back up, listening through my open window as she tells me the distance… two feet, one foot, six inches. 

Again, at six inches, the truck goes into park, I get out again, making sure with my own eyes, not looking through the mirror, that we are still lined up. Then, back in the truck, I put the truck in reverse and creep backwards, ever so slowly, until she says stop.

Then the truck goes into park again, we lower the kingpin onto the ball, and we’re hitched. 

The key to safety is going very slowly and staying far away from that pinch point.

We're sharing these sobering details because some of you need this wake-up call. Too many of you approach hitching with reckless aggression—treating it like some kind of test of your toughness. I know I probably won't convince the stubborn ones, but for those of you who prioritize safety over ego, you're already nodding along.

Here's the truth: hitching and unhitching your RV – whether it's a trailer or fifth wheel – is the single most dangerous moment in your entire towing experience. This is when accidents happen. This is when people get hurt. This is when families get that devastating phone call.

Every time you hook up or disconnect, you're dealing with thousands of pounds of moving metal in tight spaces. There's no room for machismo here – only careful, deliberate safety practices that bring you home in one piece.

We could do an entire segment on unhitching, especially in the need to put chucks behind the wheels when you unhook, but that’s another topic for another episode.

Our entire focus today comes down to one critical goal: preventing anyone from getting caught between an RV and a truck. Think about the devastating grief those families must carry—losing someone in such a horrific way. The images and memories of what happened will haunt them forever, bringing nightmares and unbearable sorrow that no family should ever have to endure.

This is why we're spending so much time on safety protocols today. Every precaution we discuss, every procedure we practice, could be the difference between someone going home safely to their loved ones or becoming another preventable tragedy.

Please share this episode with anyone you know who tows an RV. And send us your comments. Our personal email is mikeandjen@rvlifestyle.com

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 amazing private RVLifestyle Community, some of my favorite posts are from those who share pictures of their camping adventures. It is a great way to learn about amazing campgrounds and places to visit. Recently, a member named Phyllis shared a post about her trip to Capitol Reef National Park and Antelope Island State Park in Utah.

She shared many pictures of the stunning mountains and cliffs she saw at Capitol Reef, and also gave descriptions of Antelope Island State Park, which is on an island in the Great Salt Lake. I didn't know, for instance, that this island has a large public bison herd, wild antelope, many rare birds, and so many wild animals. Needless to say, both spots are now on my bucket list!

In our RV Lifestyle Facebook Group Carolyn recently wrote: 

“Can we please create a movement to decrease light pollution? When we go camping we look forward to seeing the stars but unfortunately we have noticed a trend of camping areas being lit up like Christmas. I understand if you are outside and may have difficulty with night blindness but when you go to bed please be considerate of your neighbor and turn off your lights. Some of us want to escape the bright lights of the city.”

Then Carolyn shared pictures illustrating what she was talking about. This rig that I presume was her neighbor somewhere was massively lit up. We're talking light beams shooting across the night sky and even landing strip lights on the ground near the truck. All the people seemed to be inside for the night.

As you can imagine, this post really got people talking.

Some defended the lights, saying people need to mind their own business, there's nothing wrong with using lots of lights and this is what camping is all about.

But the majority agreed it was too much. Steve said, “I've seen campsites look like airport runways! It's beyond ridiculous!”

Some said they're starting to see campgrounds require people turn off their lights at a certain time, something they didn't see years ago. But to be honest, I think the light preference is more a clash of camping styles. Some RVers prefer to stay at resorts where there are lights, activities, and not a lot of nature. But other RVers camp to get out in nature and connect with creation and that vision of camping means the stars are the only thing that provide light at night. 

What do you think?  Do you think more people are using lights than before? And do you have a preference?

RV QUESTION OF THE WEEK

QUESTION: From Lisa: Can bleach be used in the kitchen grey tank? Will it harm anything?

ANSWER: Yes, bleach can be used in an RV's grey water tank and is actually a common method for sanitizing and deodorizing it. Many people opt for bleach-free sanitizing products because they believe bleach is too harsh; however, you can indeed use bleach for your kitchen grey tanks and even your fresh water tanks. Bleach helps kill bacteria and eliminate odors.

However, there are two important considerations:

• Use a diluted solution – typically 1/4 to 1/2 cup of unscented household bleach per 10-15 gallons of water
• Let it sit for a few hours or overnight, then flush thoroughly with fresh water

This is a touchy subject because there are purists out there who are very vocal about using bleach.

And they raise these potential concerns:

• Rubber seals and gaskets: Prolonged or frequent exposure to strong bleach solutions can deteriorate rubber components over time
• Tank sensors: Some tank level sensors may be affected by harsh chemicals
• Plumbing connections: Metal fittings could potentially corrode with repeated strong bleach exposure

Personally, I think they are overreacting a bit and that properly diluted bleach is an excellent sanitizer. Just don't use bleach too frequently – maybe once or twice per season for deep cleaning.

And always dilute properly and rinse thoroughly afterward.

Many RV owners use this method successfully for periodic deep cleaning without issues; however, as with everything, moderation is key to avoiding potential damage to your system components.