There’s a new trend sweeping the RV industry: Downsizing. In involves trading in big Class A or Supersized Class C motorhomes for something smaller, most usually a Class B. Today we meet a couple who have done just that: Jim and Chris Guld, otherwise known as the Geeks on Tour as they’ve traveled the country teaching about technology tools to RVers at major shows and rallies.
The Geeks share with us the factors that led to their downsizing and how they are adjusting to traveling the country in a smaller RV…. Plus we have lots of listener questions and feedback, RV tips, RV news and much more…all coming up in episode 151 of The RV Podcast.
Click the player below to Listen Now or scroll down through the show note details. When you see a time code hyperlink, you can click it to jump directly to that segment of the podcast.
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Show Notes for Episode #151 Aug. 2, 2017 of Roadtreking – The RV Podcast:
WHAT MIKE AND JENNIFER ARE UP TO THIS WEEK [spp-timestamp time=”2:08″]
- Back from Grand Rapids and a fun day with Verizon showing traveling technology gadgets
- Waiting for grandchild #8 to be born
- Hoping to enjoy spectacular northern Michigan and the Great Lakes
- Catching the total eclipse on Aug. 21
- Planning our next trip to Georgia for a grandson’s football games, to the Emerald Coast of Florida once peak tourist time passes, to our Roadtreking Blues ‘and BBQ Gathering near Tupelo, MS Sept. 14-18
- After that to Ashville, NC and the Overland East Expo, which is perhaps the world's most unique event for do-it-yourself adventure travel enthusiasts and their rugged, 4-wheel-drive vehicles, Sept. 29-Oct. 1 at the Biltmore Estate
- And making lots of new videos on our YouTube RV Lifestyle Channel
This portion of the Podcast is brought to you by Campers Inn, the RVer’s trusted resource for over 50 years, the nation’s largest family-operated RV dealership with 16 locations and growing
JENNIFER'S TIP OF THE WEEK [spp-timestamp time=”10:18″]
Maximizing space inside an RV is Job #1 for every RVer. No matter what size RV we have, we can all use more room. So we look for ways to make that happen, especially in the kitchen.
Many of you are familiar with Mary Jane Curry. Mary Jane is our RV Recipes writer for the Roadtreking.com blog. You know her from the wonderful recipes she posts on the blog each week. Recently, I got a chance to visit her and husband, Jeff, in their RV and was most impressed by a way Mary Jane had extended the working space in her kitchen, or galley area.
She uses dish mats!
Want to learn more about these dish mats? We keep a master list of all the products, gadgets, apps and services that we mention on the podcast at http://kit.com/rvlifestyle
And be sure to send me your tips and suggestions for the RV lifestyle. You can use the “Leave Voicemail” link at Roadtreking.com. Just click it and then use the built-in microphone on your computer or mobile devise to record a message to me. You can do it over as many times as you want, until you are satisfied. And then you just click a button and it comes right to my email inbox.
I love hearing from you!
Jennifer's tip of the week is brought to you by RadPower Bikes ,an electric bike manufacturer offering direct to consumer pricing on powerful premium electric bikes. Now with free shipping
LISTENER QUESTIONS OF THE WEEK [spp-timestamp time=”15:02″]
- Jim has a lot of questions about maintenance, DEF fluid and the use of CB radios in an RV
- Joan is looking for tips on buying a used RV out of state, registering and paying for it.
- Listener Valerie heard me struggling to pronounce some Hawaiian words on a recent podcast and called in with a pronounciation guide…. With a little twist at the end. Let me share it with you.
Sponsoring this part of the podcast is Van City RV in St. Louis, and their Partner Dealerships Creston RV in Kalispell, Montana, and Wagon Trail RV in Las Vegas. Bringing You the largest Inventory of class B’s from three locations.
INTERVIEW OF THE WEEK [spp-timestamp time=”33:25″]
Jim and Chris Guld are some of our oldest friends in the RV world. We met them right after Jennifer and I started RVing and they were one of the very first interviews I did for the blog way back in 2012.
You know them as the Geeks on Tour, from their many seminars and teaching sessions at RV rallies and shows around the country, and from their weekly What Does This Button Do? YouTube video series.
But this week, we talk to them about something very different. They are RV downsizers, recently trading in their big Super Size Class C RV for a compact Roadtrek Class B campervan. You can see a larger photo o them in front of their Roadtrek 210 atthe top of the post.
They are part of a growing trend of downsizers in the RV world and I am delighted to bring them on the show to share with our RV Podcast audience what factors caused them to downsize and how they are adjusting to life in a smaller RV.
The interview of the week is brought to you by SunshinestateRVs.com, where every new or used Roadtrek motorhome is delivered to the customer free, anywhere in the country
RV NEWS OF THE WEEK [spp-timestamp time=”50:20″]
Three stories this week…
- Rare seven-week old ring-tail cat rescued after traveling 200 miles in Texas under an RV. Read more
- Camping World acquires RV dealers in Grand Rapids, Michigan and Amarillo, Texas. Read more
- Alligator eats a nine-month-old puppy on a walk with its owner at an Alabama state park. Read more
This portion of the podcast is brought to you by Alde, the only name in heat that you need to know for your RV
TRAVELING TECH TIP [spp-timestamp time=”57:30″]
By Steve Van Dinter
Verizon Wireless
We’ve talked about the best tech for elementary, high school and college students, so today we’re going to talk the best tech for the student athlete. For many students, sports is a big part of life and we want to make sure they have a leg up.
First up…the Fitbit Alta HR. If you’re training for a PR, you want definitely want to be able to track your progress and see how hard you’re pushing yourself. This lightweight wearable does that and more, automatically recognizing and recording every step, stair and calorie you burn – not to mention keeping continuous watch on your heart rate. And when you’re done, it also monitors how much sleep you’re getting as well.
Next, you want to protect your phone from drops, but wouldn’t it be nice if you had added benefits from your case? That’s exactly what you get with the Under Armour Grip. It’s shockproof design with layered ridges makes for a more secure hold. And paired with the UA Magnetic Mount it allows your phone to magnetically attach to fitness equipment, a basketball hoop, and more. Now you can watch training videos, make sure you’re lifting properly and even record your personal best to share with your friends all without having to hold your phone.
Lastly, there’s the Google Pixel. This smartphone seriously does it all. Start your pump up music, ask how to properly do a dead lift or begin a timer all via voice. And with unlimited photo and video storage through Google Photos, you never have to worry about running out of space.
This part of the podcast is brought to you by Verizon, which operates America’s most reliable wireless network, with more than 112 million retail connections nationwide.
OFF THE BEATEN PATH REPORT [spp-timestamp time=”1:01:15″]
By Ari and Jessi Adler
We recently planned a trip from our home in Michigan to Point Pelee National Park in Ontario, Canada so that we could take advantage of free admission as part of Canada’s 150th anniversary. Along the way, we took a side trip off the beaten path to an historic fort we spotted on Google Maps while planning our trip.
Fort Malden is located in Amherstburg, Ontario, about 35 minutes south of the Ambassador Bridge where you enter Canada from the U.S. It was built in 1795 by Britain to protect against an invasion by those upstart Americans. Throughout its history, it is most known for its military use during the War of 1812 and also is the site of the longest occupation of any Canadian land by the United States. Over time, however, the main building that now serves as a museum has been everything from a private residence to a lumber mill to an insane asylum.
Visitors are able to see the wide array of Fort Malden's history through the buildings that remain and the information provided in the museum. Local college and high school students get summer jobs serving as “soldiers” at the fort and help tell the history through period costumes and exhibitions of firing muskets and cannons.
The fort sits overlooking the Detroit River, so you can always take a stroll through the grounds to enjoy the view or sit and relax by the water to see if any boats happen to float by. Coming and going from the fort, you drive through the city of Amherstburg and the entrance is basically in a residential neighborhood now. I can only imagine what the soldiers from the 1800s would think of the area compared to what they saw!
Amherstburg is located along Highway 20 in the southwest corner of Ontario. It’s a pleasant drive and we think Fort Malden is a great stop to soak up some history and wander the well-manicured grounds. The staff was very friendly and welcomed questions, as they all seemed to enjoy talking about this historical treasure that is kind of tucked away. We recommend making it a stop if you’re going to be in the area.
Maybe some day soon we’ll run into you off the beaten path. Until then, happy travels everyone!
This part of the podcast is sponsored by Steinbring Motorcoach, Roadtrek’s newest dealer and a third generation family business in Minnesota’s beautiful Chain of Lakes region built on quality motorhomes and excellent pricing and service.
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Here’s how:
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