RV Small Talk Podcast

Stick and Tin RVs vs Fiberglass and Aluminum

The first questions people ask when they're just starting to learn about RVs are "What am I looking for" and "What am I looking at?" Well, the first thing that catches their eyes, usually, is the exterior! Then it happens... they start hearing terms like "stick and tin" and "laminate" or "vacuum bonded." Well, it's confusing, so let's talk about it!

Our Own RV Difficulties

Sometimes it's good to just talk stuff out. This week's episode is PJ, Lindsay, and Clint coming to grips with some of the RVing errors they make on a recurring basis. You may hear yourself in a few parts, and you may not relate in the slightest. Either way, commiserate or have some fun yelling at your headphones when we bring up things that just don't make any sense!

Ticks Bite RV’ers & Places That Don’t Suck!

 

Ticks bite RV'ers and that keeps you from camping!

There is no place across the U.S., Canada, and beyond where you can't say "ticks bite." They're everywhere! The fact is, ticks rank right up there with spiders, scorpions, and other creepy crawlies that people cite as reasons not to head to the great outdoors. The fear isn't unwarranted. Ticks aren't just gross, but they have a very real capacity to spread disease and infection.

Yes, ticks bite, and here are two fantastic resources to arm yourself.

I found that the Center for Disease Control (CDC) really has a fantastic section on their website dedicated to ticks, their habits, and reporting on tick bites across the US. If there are that many detailed pages about ticks on the CDC's website, that tells me that this is a major concern, year-over-year. So, prepare yourself as we head into outdoor activity season by doing a little learning on their website.

Also, the information on CleverHiker.com is well organized and presented in a very easy-to-understand manner. The writers over at Clever Hiker have the expertise that comes with lots of real-time investments in outdoors pursuits and continued education in making those pursuits both safe and worthwhile. They know their stuff, and you can be very well-prepared just by spending a few minutes with their article, alone.

What about more places you should go, even if ticks bite?

list compiled by Lindsay Buerger

•  Anza-Borrego Park in California
  • Slot Canyons
  • First Dark Sky Park in Cali
  • Over 100 giant metal statues scattered around

• Ogden, Utah
  • Hiking, biking, rafting, and kayaking
  • The Great Salt Lake on one side, Wasatch Mountains on the other
  • The best little town you ever did see

• Assateague Island
  • Camping a little offsite
  • Beach Camping with beautiful views and WILD HORSES
  • Did I mention WILD HORSES?!
  • They couldn’t drag me away…..
  • WIIIIILDDDDD WWWIILLLLLDDDD HORSES

• Little Compton, Rhode Island
  • Charming small beach town with no grocery stores or chain restaurants
  • Quiet and calm
  • Lighthouses, Museums, etc. 

• Woodstock, Vermont
  • Beautiful foliage and flowers
  • Good shopping
  • Excellent restaurants, lots of ‘farm to table’ freshness
  • Mountain biking and hiking wonderland

• Lindsborg, Kansas
  • Swedish community with lots of fun events
  • Food, architecture, and Dala horses!
  • Sounds like my name (Lindsay) if I was a robot

• Jerome, Arizona
  • Jerome was once known as the Billion Dollar Copper Camp, but after the last mines closed in 1953, the booming population of 15,000 dwindled to 50 determined souls. Although its population has risen back to almost 500, Jerome still holds on to its "ghost town" designation, and several B&Bs and eateries regularly report spirit sightings. Jerome saw its first revival during the mid-1960s when hippies arrived and turned it into an arts colony of sorts, and it has since become a tourist attraction. In addition to its shops and historic sites, Jerome is worth visiting for its scenery: it's built into the side of Cleopatra Hill, and from here you can see Sedona's Red Rocks, Flagstaff's San Francisco Peaks, and even Eastern Arizona's Mogollon Rim country.

• PicketWire Canyon, Colorado
  • Largest and most dino tracks in the US
    Lots of RV parks and great hiking trails nearby
  • Guided Jeep Tours - also it's super hot so probably a Spring/Fall thing

• De Smet, South Dakota  Ingalls Homestead

Helpful Links for this Episode:

• CDC Website on Ticks
• CleverHiker Article on Ticks
• All RV Small Talk Episodes
• Princesscraft.com | Princess Craft RV
• TexasTinyTrailerRally.com | Texas Tiny Trailer Rally

Themed RV Travel Plans

A little inspiration or a creative angle can go a long way to inform your RV travel plans and all the research that goes into them. So, how about themed RV travel plans? If we come up with an over-arching idea that helps to drive planning ideas and destination research, that can instantly level up the types of trips we take and the places and adventures we set out for! 

 

The Dyrt on the No. 1 Campsite Review and Booking App - episode 123 - RV Small Talk Podcast

The Dyrt is the number 1 app on both the Apple App Store and the Google Play store for campers who are looking for real-world experience-based reviews of campsites and locations. Well, Lindsay and Clint from the RV Small Talk Podcast had a chance to interview Sarah Smith, the visionary behind The Dyrt.

On The Dyrt app, reviewers are able to share their experiences in their camping locations and they can include photos and videos with their reviews. Take the quality content that's offered there and add the fact that prizes can be won by reviewers from major outdoor brands... just for helping other campers make informed decisions. So, it's been gamified!

Pairing site seekers with sites is easy. Campsites can be reserved on the app, and even private camping locations can be listed by owners and found by travelers. The Dyrt Pro users get added features, but one of Lindsay's favorites is the Trip Planner. Plug-in information like your starting point, destination, and the dimensions and weight of your rig, and you'll be presented with a clear path and perfect camping and overnight options along the way. Just amazing.

Join us for this interview with Sarah Smith, founder of The Dyrt. RV Small Talk website: https://rvsmalltalk.com The Dyrt website: https://thedyrt.com

 

RV Technicians Wanted! episode 122 RV Small Talk Podcast

One of the biggest complaints RV owners have is their experiences with RV service centers. They don't like the slow turn-around times, and there's ample reason to suspect expertise and training are inadequate. A big issue... not enough available and trained RV Technicians.

Well, Princess Craft RV, home of the RV Small Talk Podcast, has brought in RV Service expert and trainer, Bruce Heidelmark, from Dealer Pro Training, to train up our service department to really meet our customers' needs. While here, we nabbed Bruce for a quick interview on the RV Small Talk Microphones!

Also featured this week is Princess Craft service manager, Cody Kneupper. He's joined us in past episodes, but this go around he's helping to host the episode while Lindsay and PJ are enjoying some family time over Spring Break. So, welcome to the 122nd episode of the RV Small Talk Podcast!

 

RV Small Talk Podcast Website: https://rvsmalltalk.com

 

Princess Craft RV Website: https://princesscraft.com

 

Dealer Pro Training: https://dealerprotraining.com/

 

Gas Prices and the RV Waiting Game - Episode 121

The price of travel and scenic drives is going up! PJ, Lindsay, and Clint talk about what they're hearing from the RVing community about how high fuel prices will be affecting their trips and travel plans. Will you be reducing your miles, hitting fewer places, or just calling the whole thing off?

Also, RV buyers are just plain tired of the ever-extending waits they're facing when it comes to pre-ordered units. Not only that, but MSRP prices just keep climbing for and from the manufacturers with each passing day... so when customers' units do arrive, the expected prices may have sky-rocketed!

The question now is... what are buyers doing in this environment? The buyer still has options, and really they ultimately have a say on what they will and won't do with their money. ... So, how are buyers pivoting and how are they navigating these times? Join us for the 121st episode of the RV Small Talk Podcast from Princess Craft RV, in Round Rock, Texas! Show Notes: https://rvsmalltalk.com Princess Craft RV: https://princesscraft.com

 

RV Rx for a Doctor and Home Builder Family

When a family of any type needs a refresh, we naturally suggest an escape to nature! When a doctor, who knows health, and a home builder, who knows construction, get together to find escapes for their family... what do they look for in an RV and in destinations? We sat down with Matt Risinger of Risinger Build fame on YouTube, and his wife, Dr. Christy Risinger, MD. who also shares on YouTube (Christy Risinger, MD) to learn about their RVing journey and decision-making. Bonus personality, Tim Hill, the general contractor friend who advised the Risinger family when they were hunting for their first family RV, also joins us to inspire us to find the many reasons travel and RVing is so valuable!

 

A Truck Camper for Sharing Maine Magic

Where can RVers find all of the best of Maine, whether it be camping, food, foliage, or craft beer? We have an absolute expert, Riley Mitchell, with us this week to help you experience the magic of Maine, and his stories are fantastic!

 

Indoor Glamping for Treasure Hunters!

When funky fun and quirky crowds collide, sometimes we get a glimpse of heaven! Such is the case with Lone Star Camp Inn! Located in Round Top, Texas, a treasure hunter's paradise, this little inn is unique and chock full of character. Here's the scene, you want a memorable trip to one of the premiere rummage and trade destinations in the U.S. and you need a place to stay that will be just as memorable as the random gems and nick-nacks you find. Well, stay in a vintage trailer that's all dolled-up and perfect! Or, stay in a luxury tent, also set up for comfort and ease. Best yet, they're in an air-conditioned, indoor space! (That's perfect for Texas, y'all.) Sterling and Kaci VanCoutren, visionaries and owners of Lone Star Glamp Inn, sit down to talk about their little piece of glamping heaven, situated in the heart of a treasure hunter's paradise!