Proof! There really IS an affordable RV for you

This week on the RV Podcast:

• Finding RV Gold: A Surprising Motorhome Deal that proves there IS an affordable RV out there!
• There is more information coming out on how the Trump administration’s layoffs, firings, and forced retirements in the National Parks Service threaten to seriously disrupt camping out west this summer.
• And in Mike and Jen’s storytime this week, the embarrassing tale on The Day Our RV Became Our Biggest Fan
• All this, plus the the RV social media buzz and your questions coming up in Episode 538 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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RV CONVERSATION OF THE WEEK – Finding an affordable RV deal

While staying at our Florida condo recently, I spotted something that caught my eye in the parking lot – an older but well-maintained Airstream Interstate Class B van parked just a few spaces away from us.

As Bo and I headed to the dog park, I noticed the owner outside working on his rig. I introduced myself and offered some assistance with a few Class B questions he had. That's when I learned he had just purchased this 2004 Airstream Interstate – and landed an incredible deal on it.

Over the past few days, I've gotten to know this fellow RV enthusiast better, and his story is worth sharing. His experience proves that amazing RV deals are still out there for those willing to look. If you've been thinking an RV might be out of your price range, his story might change your mind.

The price he paid for this well-maintained Airstream will surprise you – and it might just inspire your own RV search!

Scott paid just $15,000!

Watch or listen on the player above to get the details on how he did it.

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 RVLifestyle Community, we had a fun LIVE last Thursday, talking about all the little things you need to do at the start of the camping season. It is always great being together, sharing information and having fun! For those who don't know, our RVLifestyle Community is a private online community we recently started that is friendly, welcoming – we even have a motto which is have fun, make friends, find adventure. If you aren't there, come check it out!

We also, of course, have our more than half-a-million member RVLifestyle Facebook Group, where a recent post from Rafael caught my eye. Rafael wrote: Whomever recommended this for cleaning the RV thank you! I poured the 32oz bottle in a bucket halfway full of water it took off all the black streaks and dirt instantly. Cost me $3 to clean my entire 40 ft 5th Wheel.

Now the product Rafael was tallking about is called LA's Totally Awesome All Purpose Cleaner – something often sold at your local dollar store. This post got so many comments – more than 365 last I saw – and so many said this cleaner really cleaned their RV. In fact many said it was great on all sorts of things, such as clothes.

But, as much as it was loved, there were many who urged caution saying the cleaner is STRONG. These folks stressed the importance of mixing the cleaner with enough water and rinsing well after washing. Some even said the cleaner could remove your RV's paint! 

So to sum it up….. lots of enthusiasm in that it will clean your RV, but also much caution because it could also ruin it, stripping off the paint.

Also on Facebook, we had a tip from Diego. Sometimes in the news you hear about an RV being stolen and someone will share the news account in the Facebook Group. Well, Diego had seen something like this and it motivated him to do a better job hiding the AirTag he had in his RV. He showed a picture of a 3D printed holder he got, and said he is using some really strong tape to hide it the AirTag in the holder in his rig. Originally the AirTag was in a closet, but now that it is hidden, it is not as easy to find, and he shared a picture.

So many people loved this post and thanked him for the suggestion. Many said they were now going to hide their AirTag, others were going to get an AirTag. And some suggested getting other kinds of GPS trackers. It was a great conversation.

We have an invitation for you: An invitation to Have Fun, Make Friends, and Find Adventure by joining us at RVCommunity.com, our private online community created exclusively for RV enthusiasts, away from the noise and nastiness of public social media.

We truly believe the journey is always better together!

And at RVCommunity.com you’re connecting with RVers who share your passions—from boondocking under the stars to swapping campfire recipes, capturing stunning landscapes through your camera lens, or even traveling with your four-legged co-pilots. With over two dozen special interest RV groups, there’s a space for everyone. Best of all? No ads. No distractions. Just real conversations and genuine friendships.

But that’s not all! Join us at three exclusive rallies every year, held in breathtaking locations across North America. Share stories, learn from experienced travelers, and create unforgettable memories—because RVing is about the people you meet along the way.

Plus, you’ll get direct access and coaching from us—with regular livestreams, instant chat, and meetups, both regional and national. Here, you’re not just joining a community—you’re becoming part of an RV family.

Come check us out at RVCommunity.com for more information. 

We’re all about three things. Having Fun. Making Friends and Finding Adventure. That's how we live every day in the RV Lifestyle Community. Because life's greatest moments happen when you dare to explore. 

RV NEWS OF THE WEEK

Nearly 4,000 campsites in California's 18 national forests could close all or part of the summer because of safety concerns following staffing cuts. 

The U.S. Forest Service had 2,000 employees cut under the Trump administration's cost savings measures and in a memo obtained by the New York Times, the cuts in California mean there are not enough people to maintain trail safety, remove human waste, manage visitor centers or search and rescues in many remote U.S. Forest Service trails and campsites.

The National Park Service set a new record in 2024 in the number of visitors to the nation's national parks, national monuments and national recreation areas of 331.9 million visits, beating the previous record set in set in 2016. 

The numbers were released as the National Parks Conservation Association reports the NPS lost about 9% of their employees between the cuts and early buyouts and predicts big problems this summer.

If you are camping this week – and even if you're not – look for a total lunar eclipse late this Thursday night/ early Friday morning.

An eclipse happens when the Earth is perfectly positioned between the moon and the sun, with the moon having a red hue (often called a blood moon) before the eclipse occurs. While the eclipse will start before midnight Thursday, it will be at prime viewing between 2:26-3:31 am EDT Friday.

A Michigan man is facing a dozen felony charges for breaking into self-pay pipes in Michigan's Upper Peninsula state forest campgrounds and stealing money. 

The campsites all had locked pipes for campers to self-register and self-pay, which the man is accused of breaking into.

RV QUESTION OF THE WEEK

QUESTION: I was talking with my bank and shopping around for a loan to finance a new RV and he said that he had heard there was a big industry survey out that claimed the number of RVers was plummeting, and the industry was in terrible shape. I don't know whether he said that to justify a loan a couple of points higher than I found otherwise or if it’s true. Thoughts? –  Sam

ANSWER: Your banker’s probably talking about the survey released a few weeks ago by Go RVing, which is the marketing arm of the RV Industry Association. And, indeed, that survey showed the number of households that own RVs dropped significantly since 2021, the last time they did such a survey.

The 2025 survey puts the number at 8.2 million households. Back in 2021, the figure everyone was bantering around was 11.2 million.

But here’s the full picture. The 2021 survey and the 2025 survey were done much differently. I won't go into all the details, but a lot of industry observers – ourselves included – thought the 2021 survey was sort of cooking the books, whether intentionally or not. It came out right after the horrible industry downturn caused by COVID and the RVIA certainly is interested in putting a positive spin on everything.

Maybe they thought a big number like that would make it appear the industry at the time was healthier than it really was. I don't know. But I do know that those 2021 figures seemed way higher than what was indicated by wholesale and retail sales figures reported by the manufacturers and dealers. They just didn't seem to jibe.

As for the 8.2 million households the RVIA estimates are RV owners in 2025, we think that is a reasonable number.

As to your banker saying the industry is in terrible shape today, I think that is hyperbole. This is not the best year for the industry, but it is not the worst, either. RVs are still in demand. In fact, that same 2025 survey claims 9 million households plan to buy an RV at some future date. That’s a pretty big market that points to long-term stability and growth. 

So, especially since your banker is not offering competitive loan rates, I’d keep looking for better financing terms from somewhere else.

MIKE & JEN’S STORYTIME – The Day Our RV Became Our Biggest Fan

Once upon a time, in the land of well-intentioned marketing decisions, we made a choice that would live in infamy – the Great RV Wrap Catastrophe!

Picture this: a pristine white Sprinter Class B van, a blank canvas of possibilities. Then along came our sponsor's marketing director with what seemed like a brilliant idea: “Let's turn your RV into a moving billboard! People will see your faces EVERYWHERE! And go visit your website.”

What could possibly go wrong?

The graphic artists worked their magic, designs were approved, and four days later… ta-da! Our automotive masterpiece was complete.

The drive home was an ego-boosting parade. Honks! Waves! Thumbs up! “We're celebrities!” I thought.

Then I pulled into our driveway.

Jennifer's face didn't say “We're celebrities!” It said, “What fresh horror is this?”

“No way,” she declared, staring at our new mobile monstrosity.

There we were – seven-foot caricatures of Jennifer, Mike, and Bo plastered across the side windows. “MEET THE WENDLANDS” announced foot-high letters, like we were some traveling circus act. Our web address was emblazoned everywhere, just in case people missed the subtlety of our GIANT FACES.

It wasn't just a wrap. It was a cry for attention wrapped in vinyl and desperation.

The final straw came during our winter campout at Tahquamenon Falls. Our RV friends, bless their hearts, tried to contain their laughter. They failed. Miserably.

Turns out, when your RV screams “LOOK AT ME! LOOK AT ME!” what it's really saying is “MY OWNERS HAVE MADE A TERRIBLE MISTAKE!”

Back home we went, tails between our legs, to have the wrap removed and our dignity partially restored.

The moral of the story? Sometimes the best way to stand out is to blend in. And always, ALWAYS get your spouse's approval before turning your family vehicle into a rolling billboard featuring their caricature.