RV Lifestyle

Do we have an RV industry slowdown?​ rvlifestyle.com/rv-industry-slowdown/

If you've been thinking about buying an RV, upgrading your current rig, or even selling the one you own, the latest news out of northern Indiana deserves your attention.

Manufacturers are cutting production. Dealers are ordering more cautiously. Industry forecasts have been lowered. None of that is speculation. It's happening now, and while those headlines may sound alarming, they don't necessarily spell bad news for RVers. In fact, for many buyers, they could create some very interesting opportunities...

1 day ago | [YT] | 11

RV Lifestyle

Hi there,

If you bought our RV Trip Dashboard, we just pushed a huge update to the RV Lifestyle Trip Planner, and every single feature is yours automatically — no extra charge, no download required. Just log in and it's all there.

Here's what's new and what it actually means for your next trip:

🗺 Smarter Trip Mapping

You can now let the planner suggest a route for you, or build your own from scratch and drag stops into any order you want. Less time clicking, more time driving.

🏕 Campground Finder with Distance Search

Search for campgrounds within 10, 50, or 100 miles of any destination — not just the town you typed in. Plus we added AI-summarized reviews from real RVers so you know what to expect before you book.

⚠ RV Height Clearance Alerts

Enter your rig height once in your profile and the planner will flag low bridges and tunnels along your route. One less thing to worry about on mountain roads.

⛽ Built-In Fuel Cost Estimator

Tell us your MPG and local gas price and we'll estimate your total fuel cost for the trip — then automatically add it to your budget tracker.

🍳 Meal Planner

Plan meals for every driving day, synced right to your itinerary. No more "what's for dinner?" at 6pm in an unfamiliar town.

🚻 Rest Stop & Dump Station Finder

Need a break or a dump? Find stops along your route with one click.

🌤 5-Day Weather Forecasts

See weather for every destination before you pack.

📸 Digital Photo Journal

Attach photos and memories to each campground and stop — your trip story, saved forever.

📋 Customizable Pre-Trip Checklist

Tick off propane, tire checks, sewer kits, and whatever else you need before you roll. Customize it once, use it every trip.

📄 Printable PDF Trip Binder

Export the whole plan — maps, stops, budget, campgrounds — into a clean, printable binder you can toss in the glove box.

🆘 Emergency Info Card

Keep insurance, roadside assistance, and emergency contacts one tap away.

All of this is live right now. If you already bought the planner, you got this upgrade for free. If you haven't grabbed it yet, it's $49 for lifetime access — every feature above, plus everything we add later.

rvlifestyle.com/TripDashboard

Happy trails,

Mike & the RV Lifestyle Develoment Team

2 days ago | [YT] | 9

RV Lifestyle

This week on the RV Lifestyle Podcast News Edition, we cover five important stories every RVer should know before hitting the road.

In this episode:

• Why the slowdown in Elkhart could mean some of the best RV buying opportunities of the year.

• AAA predicts the busiest Fourth of July travel period in American history, and what RVers need to know.

• Fuel prices have come down from their peak, but they're still much higher than last summer.

• Starlink changes its pricing and equipment policies again. Here's what it means if you travel by RV.

• Love's continues expanding RV-friendly services, and Dolly Parton opens an incredible new travel stop in Tennessee.

5 days ago | [YT] | 2

RV Lifestyle

A suspension bolt defect has triggered recalls across more than a dozen RV brands in 2026, including our own fifth wheel. rvlifestyle.com/thousands-of-rvs-recalled/ Here is how to check your VIN in 30 seconds and what to do next.

1 week ago | [YT] | 54

RV Lifestyle

There is a generation of Americans rvlifestyle.com/the-last-generation-that-knows-how… hitting the road right now that grew up doing something most people under 40 have never actually done: figuring things out without a screen. Eighty-eight of us gathered in one of the most spectacular landscapes in the Midwest, and not one of us was sitting in a lawn chair staring at a phone. If YOU were on the road and all connectivity disappeared, would you know how to get home?

1 week ago | [YT] | 16

RV Lifestyle

Most RVers have never heard of Hocking Hills, Ohio.

That's surprising because this beautiful region of southeastern Ohio is packed with towering sandstone cliffs, waterfalls, deep gorges, caves, scenic drives, and some of the best hiking in the Midwest. After spending time here, we're convinced it belongs on every RVer's bucket list.

In this video, we'll take you along as we explore some of Hocking Hills' most famous attractions, including Old Man's Cave and Ash Cave. We'll show you why this area has become one of Ohio's top outdoor destinations and why it continues to surprise first-time visitors.

2 weeks ago | [YT] | 0

RV Lifestyle

No Ask Us Anything tonight (Sunday June 14) as we are traveling to our Ohio RV Community Rally! See you next week. In the meantime we'd like to know if you've camped in Ohio...

2 weeks ago | [YT] | 9

RV Lifestyle

There is something I've been reluctant to say publicly for a long time, not because it's a secret. Anyone who follows us can do the math. And not because I'm ashamed of it. Rather, because saying it out loud somehow makes it real...

Answering the number 1 search question about us... "How old is Mike Wendland?"





rvlifestyle.com/learning-to-travel-at-the-speed-of… #RVlifestyle

3 weeks ago | [YT] | 28

RV Lifestyle

Today's Monday News Edition tackles some of the biggest stories we've seen in a long time, and they all revolve around one important question: Who can RVers trust?

We examine the headline-making lawsuit involving Battle Born Batteries and popular YouTube reviewer Will Prowse, take a closer look at the growing controversy between Wingman Wisdom and Bish's RV, and discuss why conflicts of interest and undisclosed financial relationships are becoming an increasingly important issue for RV consumers.

I also share some thoughts from my 40-plus years in journalism about how the internet has changed reporting, reviews, and consumer advocacy, and what every RVer should keep in mind before believing what they see online.

Plus, on industry news, we look at the sudden departure of Lippert CEO Jason Lippert and the chairman of the board, a major leadership shakeup that has the RV industry buzzing, and we end with some encouraging news about the tremendous economic impact RVers are having across America.

It's an episode about trust, accountability, and the future of the RV industry, and I think you'll find it fascinating.

3 weeks ago | [YT] | 3

RV Lifestyle

In this 5th episode, we're reviewing not one, but two floor plans from the Midwest Patriot lineup, one of the most luxurious Class B motorhomes on the market today. Now owned by Alliance RV, the Midwest Patriot combines premium craftsmanship, upscale amenities, and a larger-than-life feel that challenges many assumptions about what a Class B can be.

4 weeks ago | [YT] | 0