Another Hurricane! Plus Tips, Trends and RV News

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This week on the RV Podcast: 

• The Hurricanes just keep coming. As recovery is still underway from Hurricane Helene, a new one, Hurricane Milton, is taking direct aim at millions of Florida residents and many of the favorite snowbird campgrounds in Florida. 
• Why are so many campgrounds adding treehouses, covered wagons, and tiny homes instead of more campsites? Blame the millennials. At least, so says Kampgrounds of America.
• RV Prices are starting to drop. And that’s good news for consumers after years of jacked-up dealer prices.
• All this, plus the RV News of the Week and your questions coming up in Episode #518 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. Click the CC logo on the right side of the player, and you can follow along in a word-for-word transcript of the podcast as it plays.

We're at our “GATHERING AT THE GULF” Fall MeetUp

We just set up camp in anticipation of our Gathering at the Gulf with 70 or so of our friends and supporters. We are on the panhandle, and from what we can tell, we will not be in the path of this latest Hurricane Milton. 

We'll be sharing all the photos from our Gathering with our Community all week. If you aren't a member yet — here's where to do that https://community.rvlifestyle.com

And we have a NEW giveaway! LUMI!

Lumi is a lightweight, portable smart projector that throws high-quality 1080P HD visuals up to 200 inches. Lumi, plugged into your RV turns empty walls into immersive entertainment experiences. And we'll be using it during our gathering, too! One lucky winner will get this super cool projector to use at your home or campground.

Check it out and enter at https://rvlifestyle-ider.wp1.sh/sweepstakes

RV NEWS OF THE WEEK

We just keep getting hammered by Hurricanes.

We have two to report on this week. The devastating destruction from Hurricane Helene that continues to isolate people. Power is still out for tens of thousands, Infrastructure massively damaged.

The National Park Service announced the Blue Ridge Parkway is closed indefinitely. 

Most of the roads in northwest North Carolina are open to essential travel only, More than 50 campgrounds were impacted, some completely destroyed, and many state parks are closed for at least several more weeks.

It’s been heartbreaking reading of all the pain and suffering from Hurricane Helene. And yet in the midst of that, so many are helping and offering assistance.

Here’s one example: The Mountain River Family Campground in western North Carolina, which was all but wiped out by flooding from the North Toe River.

Every building and every bit of infrastructure was erased.

The owners thought about just leaving it, moving away.

But as Steve Hartman of CBS News reported…

This was such an encouraging story and we’ll link to Steve’s story. If this story doesn't tug at your heartstrings, nothing will.

Now on to Hurricane Milton…

As this podcast is being released, it’s forecast to slam into Florida’s western Gulf shore as a major hurricane.

The major concern for Milton is loss of life and destruction…naturally.

But for RVers who spend the winter months in Florida, you may want to check the status of your favorite winter campgrounds there and develop a plan B to snowbird somewhere other than Florida.

It's been a rough hurricane year for the Sunshine State and a lot of RV campgrounds are in bad shape.

In other RV News…

RV values are down slightly from last month, according to Black Book RV market commentary, which provides RV appraisals. The average selling price for motorized units is down 2.9% and for towables, 1.3%, with much of this drop tied to the arrival of fall.

The latest Camping and Outdoor Hospitality Report from Kampgrounds of America Inc. shows a changing camping market, especially among millennials and Gen Z. For example, campgrounds are increasingly installing options like safari tents, tree houses, and tiny homes to meet demand, and 80% of campers say they own or plan to own an electric vehicle so charging stations are important, and four in 10 view text message updates and digital check-in as important.

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 RVLifestyle Community‘s General Discussions Space Jim is thinking of putting a pad in for his RV away from his driveway and asked: “Concrete or pavement for home parking? Pros and cons of both?”

Richard said the answer really depends on where Jim lives. For example, is it warm all year, or are there four seasons with snow and ice, etc? Richard prefers concrete with rebar support.

Now Jim is in New Hampshire for all four seasons – that means frozen ground and snow.

Michael said in colder areas concrete can crack with the freeze and thaw weather, but asphalt can sink and make divots where your tires are in the warm summer.

The majority of folks did recommend cement, probably about 6 inches thick.  Hope that helped, Jim!

Also in our RVLifestyle Community, we had a post from Jacqueline who is a native Californian, owns a home, has traveled much of the world but never really traveled around the US. So she has a dream of getting an RV and traveling the country, but as she researches, she has a lot of questions.

Jacqueline is concerned about selling her home, about extreme weather, about what happens to your pets if you have to go to the hospital, safety, and several other important things. 

Wendy from our group had a bunch of excellent tips including getting some weather apps so she can stay aware of weather forecasts and be ready to move preemptively. She also suggested Jacqueline gain confidence by starting out camping in national or state park campgrounds which are very safe, and not venture into boondocking on BLM land or national forests until she gains experience.

Brenda, Marc, and Mike all suggested she not sell her house right away until she really experiences RV life. Instead she should rent some RVs, try it out, make sure it is for her, and then if she wants to go for it, maybe rent her house, too, at least at first. Brenda also suggested Jacqueline look at the finances of RV life very carefully because you need to buy an RV, maintain it, rent sites, there's electric, gas & fuel costs, insurance, roadside assistance and things that come up like new tires. It can be a lot.

In all, it was so encouraging to read all the thoughtful answers, and I hope it helped.

Then in our RVLifestyle Facebook Group, David wrote that he is 6’5 and just wants to find a Fifth Wheel or toy hauler where he can stand up straight so he asked if there was anyone out there 6'4” or taller who has found one. If so, he wanted the make and model.

David shared a picture of himself in a Wolfpack 365 jPack16 and the poor guy was smushed in this tiny space, standing sort of angled because he could not stand straight. It was quite the picture and it sounds like David is not alone.

But there were a couple suggestions. Julie said they have the Jayco Pinnacle and her 6′ 6″ guy has no issues because the cabin ceiling is 9′ and the bathroom shower is also tall enough.

Karen said her husband is 6'5″ and he has no trouble standing up in the Coachman Brookstone 390RL.

I also saw the names of some Montanas mentioned, and Brinkleys.

Then Amy said her husband is also 6'5” and this very ceiling height issue is the reason why they didn't go with a 5th wheel. They chose a Class A and her man doesn't feel cramped and can even stand straight in the shower!

RV Questions of the Week

Boondocking Pros and Cons

QUESTION: We’re newbies and this has been our first year of RV living. We’ve taken four nice trips so far. Everyone keeps telling us we need to try boondocking. We do like our conveniences, like electricity. But we also are often frustrated by crowded campgrounds. In your view, what are the pros and cons of boondocking? – James and Emma 

ANSWER: Here are some benefits and drawbacks of boondocking, also known as dry camping, based on the provided sources:

Benefits of Boondocking

● Cost savings: Boondocking allows you to camp without paying fees, which can be a significant advantage for budget-conscious travelers. You can avoid nightly campground fees by camping in remote areas on public lands.

● Seclusion and peace: Unlike crowded campgrounds, boondocking offers a more secluded and peaceful experience, allowing you to connect with nature without distractions.

● Flexibility: Boondocking provides flexibility in choosing campsites, particularly in remote and scenic locations not typically found in developed campgrounds.

Drawbacks of Boondocking

● Limited amenities: Boondocking means camping without hookups, requiring self-sufficiency in terms of water, electricity, and waste disposal.

● Safety concerns: Remote locations associated with boondocking can present safety concerns, especially for solo travelers or those new to the lifestyle. However, some RVers have shared experiences of feeling safe even in secluded areas.

● Potential for danger: Some individuals express concerns about the potential dangers of boondocking, highlighting the perceived safety of supervised campgrounds.

Do we need RV Road Service?

QUESTION: Do we need RV road service for our Class C Thor Four Winds? We’re thinking about Good Sam. Your thoughts? – Terri

ANSWER: The thing about RV road service is it’s only as good as your location and how many tow trucks and service people the insurer can have. We have Good Sam and we had good luck with Good Sam when we had a flat trailer in our previous RV a couple years ago. That said, others have had different experiences, like an RVer we met in Nova Scotia this summer.

She couldn't get Good Sam to help. She called but they never sent a tow truck. But her own auto insurance company ended up coming through.

So shop around. The FMCA has a handy comparison guide to costs and what is covered at https://www.fmca.com/fmca-rv-roadside-assistance