RV Lifestyle

We just wrapped up our Fall Rally at Camp Margaritaville in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, and it was one for the books! Imagine 89 rigs, incredible mountain views, lazy river relaxing, lawn games, live music, and unforgettable nights at the Comedy Barn and Dolly Parton’s Stampede.

Most importantly, we loved getting to connect face-to-face, swap stories, and celebrate this wonderful community.

1 day ago | [YT] | 0

RV Lifestyle

I’ve been keeping something from you, and today I can finally share it.

For the past several years, even when I have been on the road with Jennifer, I have been writing a novel. It’s called THE TENTH OF AV, and it officially publishes November 3.

You can see the cover and read the entire first chapter right now at lastreporterpress.com/.

Here’s the story. Ray Mercer is a reporter. Somehow he ends up in first-century Jerusalem in the years before the Romans destroy the city in AD 70. He has the biggest story in the history of the world in front of him, and no way to report it. He’s a skeptic. He asks hard questions. And the danger he walks into is real.

I spent more than 40 years as a journalist covering wars and world leaders. I poured all of that into Ray. This is a thriller first. Faith is part of the story because of where and when it takes place, but this is not a preachy book. If you like history, suspense and a main character who doesn’t take anything at face value, I wrote this for you.

This is also just the beginning. THE TENTH OF AV is Book One of five. All five are outlined, Book Two is well underway, and the first chapter of Book Two is included at the back of Book One. If you start with Ray now, you’ll be with him from the first page of the whole journey.

The Kindle edition is available for preorder on Amazon now at the special preorder price of $4.99. The paperback arrives on launch day.

Here’s how you can help a friend out:

Go to lastreporterpress.com/ and read Chapter One. Please!
If it grabs you, preorder the Kindle edition.
Share this post with someone who loves a good story.

Preorders matter more than most people realize. They tell Amazon a book is worth showing to other readers. Every one counts, and I’d be grateful for yours.

Thank you for riding along with us all these years. Now I’d love for you to ride along with Ray.

Mike

P.S. And yes, an RV and camping play a big role in Book two which I just finished (writing most of it in our RV.)

2 days ago | [YT] | 9

RV Lifestyle

🎙️This Week in RVing: Harvest Hosts Sold: What Does It Mean for RVers?

The week's biggest business story is the sale of Harvest Hosts to Choice Hotels International for about $130 million in cash.

Our sources tell us that Outside Van, the high-end adventure van builder, has been sold, with an Oregon car dealership identified as the buyer.

RV shipments were down about 14 percent through August, worse than the industry's revised forecast. Dealers and manufacturers are putting more emphasis on smaller and less expensive rigs.

We end the podcast on a lighter note with Backpack, Bear 89, the 2026 champion of Fat Bear Week at Katmai National Park in Alaska.

Listen or watch today's Monday RV News Podcast for even more information.

6 days ago | [YT] | 0

RV Lifestyle

John and Cindy are taking their RV across the country on Route 66, and high fuel prices are not stopping them.

In this Stories from the Road edition of the RV Podcast, we talk with the couple about their trip, the cost of fuel, and why they decided to keep going. This is a firsthand look at what a Route 66 adventure means to RVers determined to make the miles count.

1 week ago | [YT] | 0

RV Lifestyle

If you haven'r already, please do me a favor and scroll down a couple of posts and take the survey about local news... I'd really like to get a nice sample.

2 weeks ago | [YT] | 6

RV Lifestyle

Mark and Barb Douyard, 72 and 77, rented out their Delaware home, packed up their fifth wheel, and set off on a two-year RV adventure across North America. We talk with them in the middle of their first year about how they made it happen, what surprised them, what's been hard, and what's been the best part so far.

2 weeks ago | [YT] | 3

RV Lifestyle

A little different from our usual RV talk today. Before RVing, I spent 40 years as a reporter, and I've been watching local news disappear across the country. Nearly 3,500 local newspapers have closed since 2005. The Toledo Blade, just down the road from us in Michigan, may print its last edition December 31. It has published since 1835.

I'm writing about what's happening to local news on a free Substack called The Last Reporter. Here's the latest: lastreporter.substack.com/p/the-biggest-story-in-t…

So I'm curious about our RV family. When you roll into a new town, how do you find out what's going on there?

Facebook or other social media

2 weeks ago | [YT] | 13

RV Lifestyle

🎙️This Week in RVing: A packed RV show in a shrinking industry
America's Largest RV Show wrapped up yesterday in Hershey, and the headlines are all about the crowds. Opening day drew 7,322 people, the biggest first day since 2021. Show organizers are thrilled, and they should be.

But a packed show is not the same thing as a healthy industry, and this week those two things are getting blended together in a way that does not hold up.

While all those people were walking the lots at Hershey, the RV Industry Association's own numbers were telling a different story. Wholesale shipments are running almost 14 percent behind last year, and July was the weakest July for RV shipments since at least 2015. Motorhomes took the worst of it.

Here is how we read it. Interest in the RV lifestyle is not the problem...

2 weeks ago | [YT] | 3

RV Lifestyle

Is Your RV Water Really Safe?
Campground water quality can change dramatically from one stop to the next. At the same time, one loose fitting or hidden plumbing leak can cause thousands of dollars in RV damage.

In this video, I demonstrate a complete Blu Technology RV water setup featuring the PURBLU AR3 filtration and UVC purification system, along with the new WATERSTOP automatic leak detection and shutoff system.

3 weeks ago | [YT] | 2

RV Lifestyle

Sign Up for Our RV Winterizing Workshop

One missed valve. One forgotten water line. One hard freeze. That is all it takes to face an expensive repair bill next spring.

Join us live on Thursday, October 8, at 7 PM Eastern for Ready for Winter: The Complete End-of-Season RV Shutdown Workshop. We will walk you through the essential steps for protecting your RV's plumbing, batteries, generator, tires, roof, interior, and more.

This will be a live, interactive workshop, so bring your winterizing questions. Registration is $10, and the workshop is free for RVCommunity.com members. Seats are limited, and registered attendees will have access to the replay for a limited time.

Protect your RV now so it is ready when camping season returns. rvlifestyle.com/workshop

3 weeks ago | [YT] | 7