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MEET MATT & ANDREA

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INDUSTRY SPOTLIGHT

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By Brian Newman

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EDITOR'S LETTER

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usan and I wish all of you a healthy and happy New Year as we head into 2022! We have a great lineup of exciting and helpful articles this month to get the new year started off right!

In this issue, we meet Matt from Matt’s RV Reviews! Matt and his wife Andrea release YouTube videos every day featuring their RV reviews. They have two great YouTube channels. One is for drivable RV reviews and the second is for towable RV reviews. We had a chance to interview Matt about his humble beginnings and how he has grown into one of the most well-known RV reviewers on YouTube!

The 2022 Tampa RV SuperShow is in January and we cover the show with tips and information to make sure you get the most out of this huge show! Matt’s RV Reviews and RVBlogger will all be at the show this year so be sure to say hi if you see us there!

CAMPING MAGAZINE!

In this month’s RV Renovation section, we feature an article all about the best ways to replace your RV furniture! Brian Newman does a great job of exploring whether you should consider buying an older RV and replacing the furniture or just biting the bullet and buying a brand new RV. In our Are We There Yet? department, we catch up with Renee and Kyle Hanks from HappilyEverHanks as they take us on their journey to Mammoth Cave National Park in Kentucky. But there is much more to the story than just visiting a huge cave. See how this creative YouTube couple turns lemons into lemonade!

Ever heard of an Omnia Oven? We haven’t either until we met Stu and Edye Beans who are members of our Facebook Group called RV Camping for Newbies. Stu and Edye have been making YouTube videos about how they use their Omnia Ovens to make all kinds of delicious RV camping recipes! You have got to check out this article in our RV Kitchen department!

Planning on purchasing a new (or used) RV and wondering if you should get an RV inspection? The NRVTA has some great info about getting an independent RV inspection and which inspectors to use. The folks at the NRVTA are real pros, and they are committed to training people how to service and use their RVs safely!

Speaking of buying a new or used RV, we caught up with Jeff Shelton, the founder of Wholesale Warranties about how he got into the business and why you would be wise to buy a warranty to cover your RV. Susan and I hope you have a very happy new year!

Mike and Susan at RVBlogger

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MAGAZINE

JANUARY 2022 VOL.2, ISSUE 1

EDITORIAL

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MANAGING EDITOR

SR. ART DIRECTOR

Susan McDonald Mike Scarpignato

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Privacy Promise RV Camping Magazine will never intentionally share subscribers’ names, addresses or other personal information with other companies when requested not to do so. If you do want to opt out from receiving marketing offers from other reputable companies, or you opt out and subsequently desire to opt back in, contact by email at: info@RVCampingMag.com

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DO I REALLY NEED AN RV INSPECTION?

BY THE NRVTA

W

e generally stick with giving you tips on how to work on your RV yourself should you have any issues, but in this article we want to reach out to all of you who are looking to purchase a new or used RV. When we purchase our brand new or used RV, there could be some issues that need to be repaired. That being said, I want to discuss a good way to prevent those issues and that is by having an independent inspection done before you complete your purchase.

Just like when we purchase a house, an inspection has to be completed before your loan is given. So it should be the same for RVs, right?

Unfortunately RV inspections are optional and do not affect the loan approval process. But you should still go ahead and have an inspection performed by a certified RV inspector?

An independent RV inspector is someone who’s been through training and has a better eye than those of us who have simply been online researching how to inspect an RV. We’ve all done it; we get online or we belong to some Facebook groups, and ask “Hey, I’m about to purchase my RV. What should I look for before I take delivery?” and then we’re given a list of 10-15 things that others found most important. When you hire a certified inspector, they’re not looking for just 5, 10 or 100 things- they could be looking at 300 points depending on what you contract with them.

That being said, I do want to talk about one company, and that’s the National RV Inspectors Association. The reason I can talk about them is that I know they’ve been trained thoroughly.

NRVIA inspectors have gone through the same training that a certified technician has, along with additional training on not only how to inspect, but how to convey the information in a

JANUARY 2022

Let FMCA Help You

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RV CAMPING way you can understand.

When you’re looking at purchasing an RV, there are certain things you’re going to want to look at such as, the floor plan or brand you want, but you definitely should have a third party inspector come out and inspect the unit. Buying an RV is a very emotional experience and an independent inspector will be more objective.

Some of you may be asking, “Well don’t you get the inspection at the dealership?”

I could tell you hundreds of stories where that IS supposed to happen but doesn’t.

The bottom line is that you want an independent inspection, simply because they’re going to give you all the facts.

A quick example is a story I recently saw on Facebook where a woman had purchased a very high end 5th Wheel, over $90,000, and she wanted an inspection.

The dealership told her the inspection

“When you hire a certified inspector, they’re not looking for just 5, 10 or 100 things- they could be looking at 300 points depending on what you contract with them.”

JANUARY 2022

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RV CAMPING was unnecessary since the unit was brand new. Regardless, she brought in a certified inspector from the NRVIA who found not only minor issues and a few major, but there were two life safety issues that had to be repaired before she could take delivery.

Sadly this is not just a one time thing, it happens every single day. This is why there are so many people that say not to buy new, but to wait a couple of years and let those problems be sorted out by someone else.

But if you get the inspection before making your purchase, you’ll save yourself a lot of grief and headache down the road.

If you would like to be able to fix the majority of the problems on your RV, or let’s say you want to open a business and become a certified technician or inspector? Head over to our website at www.nrvta.com, select the programs tab and get started today!

The National RV Training Academy

The National RV Training Academy is the premier licensed career school for RV Technicians and RV Inspectors and provide training for RV Owners. For more information about the National RV Training Academy, Call (903) 386-0444 or visit www.nrvta.com.

JANUARY 2022

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RV GEAR

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D

ragonfly Energy is proudly based in the Battle Born State of Nevada – a state rich in lithium and steeped in history. Founded in 2014, our company set out to revolutionize the lithium battery industry, making renewable energy more affordable and accessible, all without sacrificing quality. Now, with our tried and tested technology, we are producing batteries to solve today’s lead-acid problem and creating next-generation solid-state solutions to address tomorrow’s energy storage needs.

BATTLE BORN BATTERIES

Our founders Denis Phares and Sean Nichols met at the University of Nevada, Reno while attending business school. With diverse backgrounds in energy storage, Denis and Sean identified gaps in the industry and began researching greener and more reliable battery technology. This is what led them to lithium iron phosphate, and in Denis’s garage, the first Dragonfly Energy battery was built. After years of fine-tuning the technology in Dragonfly Energy batteries, the Battle Born Batteries brand was born to provide the same breakthroughs to consumers directly.

BY DRAGONFLY ENERGY

Dragonfly Energy batteries, along with our consumer brand Battle Born Batteries, are designed and manufactured right here in the USA. Just like the State that we call home, our products, our company, and our people are Battle Born.

Our cutting-edge technology is enabling the widespread conversion to green, renewable energy, and as we continue to change the game by offering the best technology on the market, we stand behind our unmatched customer service to ensure great experiences and build strong relationships.

With a diverse range of options, our batteries can be implemented in systems like RVs, vans, boats and off-grid cabins. We stand behind their quality as they incorporate a LiFePO4, or a lithium iron phosphate cathode, and a built-in Battery Management system, JANUARY 2022

015 RV GEAR

We know that building or upgrading an electrical system can be overwhelming, so we’re here to help. Our Reno, Nevada-based sales and customer service team is available to take your questions at (855) 292-2831 or via email at info@battlebornbatteries.com. You can also check out our battery line here.

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube to learn more about how lithium battery systems can power your lifestyle, see how others have built their systems, and gain the confidence to get out there and stay out there.

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RV CAMPING

Hot or cold environments? No problem. Battle Born Batteries can operate in extreme temperatures ranging from -4 degrees to 158 degrees Fahrenheit. Our heat model uses a proprietary, low draw technology to keep your battery warm and ready to charge no matter what weather you may face. The winterization process is simple. We recommend bringing Battle Born Batteries to a 100% charge and then disconnecting them completely for storage. After six months in storage, your batteries will remain seventy-five to eighty percent charged.

You can use any standard charger, solar or wind charge controller to charge our LiFePO4 deep cycle batteries. We’ve performed extensive testing on the RV industry’s major suppliers to ensure compatibility, and we utilize trusted brands like Victron Energy, Magnum, Progressive Dynamics, Sterling Power, Xantrex, Micro Air, and more to ensure optimal performance of a LiFePO4 power system. Our technical sales team’s experience with these brands and our technology enables us to assess your current batteries and components and build a system to power your future adventures. Whether it’s in a motorized, towable, or truck camper, Battle Born has the batteries, components, and knowledge for your lithium upgrade.

JANUARY 2022

or BMS. Having an internal BMS can protect the cells against excessively high or low voltages and temperatures, high currents and short circuits, some of the most common causes of battery failures you’ll find among other brands.

Every cell is manufactured in a state-of-the-art automated facility and cycled multiple times to ensure quality and consistency. We have designed our batteries to last for years, with an average lifespan of 3,000 to 5,000 cycles (a cycle being defined as fully charging and discharging a battery). Lead-acid batteries typically cannot be recycled below a fifty percent depth of discharge, as going below that limit can significantly shorten the lifespan of the lead-acid battery and risk the longevity of your rig’s electrical system. Lithium-ion batteries, however, can be safer than leadacid batteries, which have no protection against ground faults.

Our built-in BMS protects against those issues and more. While the internal BMS will not limit the charging current, you can charge at a higher rate of 100 amps when necessary. Battle Born Batteries can continuously accept higher charge currents that charge the bank substantially faster, as well.

As drop-in replacements for the standard lead-acid battery, Battle Born Batteries are designed to fit like normal Group 27, 21, 24, and GC2 batteries in your bank. Our fleet ranges anywhere from 50 AH 12V to 270 AH 12V batteries. Our batteries can be paralleled with as much power as needed for your system and can be connected in series up to 48V. Thanks to the robust BMS built into our batteries, you have the capability to range your battery bank to a higher voltage without damaging the cells. Battle Born Batteries can offer a lightweight alternative to your system, as they are 1/5 the weight with more deliverable power than a standard lead-acid battery model.

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KITCHEN

Amazing OMNIA OVEN CAMPING RECIPES! STU AND EDYE BEANS MAKE ALL SORTS OF DELICIOUS CAMPGROUND RECIPES WITH THEIR OMNIA OVEN

BY STU AND EDYE BEANS

JANUARY 2022

T

he Omnia is a portable stovetop oven.

Just pop it on your camp stove or another heat source and voilà – instant oven. The Omnia oven requires no installation and works with a variety of heat sources to provide a convenient, versatile way to prepare your favorite foods.

How It Works: Omnia is an aluminum baking pan and lid with a treated steel base plate. The burner directly heats the steel base plate, which in turn heats the air trapped between the base and the baking pan. The burner also heats air that goes up the center of the baking pan and the lid serves to distribute that hot air over the top of the food.

Thus, there's hot air both under and above the baking pan -- and in the center. A few air holes in the lid allow steam to escape so that foods bake rather than steam. Your dishes won’t be soggy like sometimes happens if you try to bake in a Dutch oven or pressure cooker.

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RV KITCHEN

1. Louisiana Bread Pudding INGREDIENTS:

6 large eggs ²⁄³ cups granulated sugar

2 cups milk

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 teaspoon cinnamon ¹⁄8 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1 large loaf of french bread, couple days old, large cubed or torn into pieces.

SAUCE:

2 sticks of butter, (I used salted butter)

1 cup light brown sugar 2 bananas ¼ cup rum

DIRECTIONS: 1. Preheat the oven and generously grease the Omnia silicone donut ring.

2. In a large bowl, mix together the eggs, granulated sugar, milk, vanilla extract, cinnamon and nutmeg.

3. Place french bread pieces and let it soak in about 5 mins.

4. Bake for about 35-45 minutes. Make sure a knife inserted in the middle comes out "sticky", not runny with the egg mixture and the tops are golden brown. cooking time may vary depending on the flame, use small to medium heat.

5. Remove from the oven and let cool for 15 minutes before serving. Don't skip this step, this gives the custard time to set up.

SAUCE: 1. In a heavy saucepan, melt the butter and brown sugar together over medium heat. Once melted, add the sliced bananas and rum. Stir until heated through.

2. Spoon the sauce over the bread pudding and enjoy!

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2. Mixed Berry Cobbler INGREDIENTS FOR THE "TOPPING":

2 cans biscuit dough (cut into cubes) ½ cup flour ½ sugar ½ tbsp cinnamon ¼ tsp salt

DIRECTIONS: 1. Lightly mix all the above ingredients of fruit, sugar & cornstarch 2. Place fruit mixture on the bottom of the Omnia oven in the red silicone mold 3. Then add the biscuit mixture on top

INGREDIENTS FOR THE FRUIT: 1 ½ cup each of berries of your choice ( i used raspberries, blueberries, blackberries) ½ sugar

3 tbsp cornstarch

4. Bake until golden and bubbly on medium heat for approx 45mins 5. Top with vanilla ice cream (optional) 6. Eat, get shirt messy and repeat.

JANUARY 2022

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3. Tortilla Enchilada Casserole INGREDIENTS:

1 lb shredded chicken

1 bag of tortilla chips

3 cups of shredded cheese

1 large can (28 oz) of red enchilada sauce

4 oz can of diced green chilies (drained)

1 tsp. ground cumin ½ cup of salsa

DIRECTIONS: 1. Pre-heat Omnia oven.

2. Shred cooked chicken.

3. Pour a bag of tortilla chips to a large mixing bowl .

4. Add green chilies, salsa, and cumin to the chicken and mix.

5. Pour the entire can of enchilada sauce in the bowl.

6. Add 1 cup of cheese and gently mix everything together.

7. Prepare red silicone omnia dish with non-stick spray.

8. Pour tortilla chip enchilada mixture into the baking dish.

9. Sprinkle remaining 2 cups of shredded cheese on top (or more to make sure it’s covered completely).

10. Cover with foil and bake for 45 minutes

JANUARY 2022

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4. Fruity Pebble Cake / Bread INGREDIENTS: 1 ¼ cup sugar

1 cup plain Greek yogurt ½ cup vegetable oil

3 large eggs ½ tsp vanilla ½ tsp salt

2 tsp baking powder 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour

2 cups Fruity Pebbles

DIRECTIONS: 1. Preheat the Omnia oven.

2. Mix sugar, oil, yogurt, eggs and vanilla until smooth.

3. Add salt, baking powder and flour.

4. Again, mix until smooth.

5. Gently fold in the cereal.

6. Spray silicone red liner with non-stick cooking spray.

7. Pour batter into silicone and sprinkle about a handful of cereal on top of the batter.

8. Bake for 45-55 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.

9.Serve and enjoy!

JANUARY 2022

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5. Deconstructed Chicken Pot Pie INGREDIENTS:

1 tbsp. olive oil

3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1" chunks or leftover rotisserie chicken cubed! kosher salt Freshly ground black pepper ½ onion, chopped

2 medium carrots, peeled and chopped

2 stalks celery, chopped

2 tsp. fresh thyme

3 tbsp. flour 1 ½ c. frozen peas

2 c. chicken broth

2 tbsp. heavy cream

1 can refrigerated biscuit dough

1 Egg, lightly beaten

DIRECTIONS: 1. Preheat the Omnia oven to 350°. In a large skillet over medium heat, heat oil. Add chicken and season with salt and pepper. Cook until golden on all sides, 6 to 8 minutes. Remove from skillet.

2. Add onion, carrots, celery, and thyme and cook until vegetables are soft, 4-5 minutes.

Sprinkle flour over vegetables and cook 2-3 minutes more. Add chicken broth and bring to a simmer, cooking 8-10 minutes more, until slightly thickened. Turn off heat and stir in cream, peas, and chicken.

3. Remove biscuits from can and slice in half horizontally. Arrange, overlapping, in a ring on the outer circle of the skillet. Brush with egg wash and bake until golden, 2530 minutes.

JANUARY 2022

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About the Author

Edye (an artist), Stu (a musician), Mozart (a retired tightrope walker) and Chopin (a petite runway model) are four weekend warriors who love camping and scuba diving. Originally from New York, they would tent camp in the Catskill Mountains and local Long Island beaches.

Currently residents of Florida, they spend extended weekends at both state campgrounds and private resorts as well as scuba diving along the east coast.

In their first few years of living in Florida, they were avid tent campers, but Stu says “sleeping on the ground is not for the aging body of a roadworn musician with an ever expanding waistband”.

In 2020, they bought a small travel trailer, and like many of its size, it did not have an oven. That led to the hunt for cooking gadgets that would broaden the usual ‘burgers and dogs’ menu. They came across the Swedish made Omnia Oven which is not widely used in the states but quite popular in the European van life community. At under one pound, it is super lightweight and simple

JANUARY 2022

to use. With Edye’s love of cooking and sharing her meals with others (“the need to feed”), it was a natural transition to share her recipes on YouTube. With over thirty ‘how to’ cooking videos, most are under three minutes, and include the recipes.

Their YouTube channel also includes campground tours, product reviews and scuba diving adventures from around the world.

If you see their travel trailer on the road, give them a honk!

WWW.LITTLEHOUSEOFBEANS.COM WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/LITTLEHOUSEOFBEANS WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/GROUPS/785139282127013 WWW.INSTAGRAM.COM/LITTLEHOUSEOFBEANS/

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Meet Matt & JANUARY 2022

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MEET MATT AND ANDREA

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FROM MATT’S RV REVIEWS

BY BRIAN NEWMAN

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RV CAMPING

JANUARY 2022

035

MEET MATT AND ANDREA

H

ollywood has become more diverse, yet there are still categories, molds, and personas people have to fit into to succeed. YouTube completely obliterated that concept. If you know what you’re talking about and can add some entertainment value, you have a chance at stardom.

Matt Foxcroft of Matt’s RV Reviews started his YouTube Channel as an RV sales representative simply to use the technology to sell more motorhomes and travel trailers.

His channel made him one of the most prominent RV influencer authorities on the latest industry offerings less than five years later.

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RV CAMPING

During the Hershey RV Show, Mike and Susan had a chance to sit down with Matt for an interview on his Podcast. They enjoyed the experience, and many of his loyal subscribers learned about RVBlogger and RV Camping Magazine.

To return the favor, we wanted to give our readers a chance to learn more about Matt, his team, and how this RV sales representative became one of the go-to guys for RV reviews.

The Life and Team of Matt’s RV Review HOW DID YOU START MATT’S RV REVIEWS, AND WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE THING ABOUT BEING A YOUTUBER?

I love being at the dealership and talking about RVs. You’d be surprised how often I get recognized in public. When someone spots me, I’m more excited than they are. So for me, it never gets old taking the time to chat with them about RVs.

I started Matt’s RV Reviews as a salesman at Leo’s Vacation Center in Maryland. I started doing RV reviews to help me gain sales.

WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MATT’S RV REVIEWS AND MATT’S RV REVIEWS TOWABLES?

My favorite thing about being a YouTuber is meeting people.

Our original YouTube channel, Matt’s RV Reviews, focuses on

JANUARY 2022

037

MEET MATT AND ANDREA

motorhomes. My wife Andrea (pronounced ann Dray ) and I record those.

my subscriber’s feedback and my perspective, separating the two seemed like the right thing to do.

I record Matt’s RV Reviews Towables videos with my friend Wil. This channel reviews fifth wheels, travel trailers, and other towables.

WHO ARE WIL AND JEN (ONE L AND ONE N), AND HOW DID YOU MEET THEM?

I realized that having one channel to cover it all was too much. Motorhome and towable audiences have different needs, and the RV industry has so many models and floorplans. Based on

Wil is the General Manager and Camera Man for Matt’s RV Reviews Towables. His wife Jen is the Editor and Creative Director for Matt’s RV Reviews. They’re also my best friends.

We met at Leo’s Vacation Center RVBLOGGER.COM

“ Motorhome and towable audiences have different needs, and the RV industry has so many models and floorplans.

Based on my subscriber’s feedback and my perspective, separating the two seemed like the right thing to do.” (a.k.a. Leo’s RV) a few years ago when I was still in Maryland.

When I moved to Florida to pursue my YouTube Channel, I promised that I would grow the channel big enough so I could hire them.

So almost two years later, that’s where we are.

HOW OFTEN ARE YOU AND ANDREA ON THE ROAD

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TRAVELING TO MAKE YOUR VIDEOS? I’m usually traveling between 2-3 weeks a month. Andrea and I travel one week a month on the road shooting video, and I’ll spend another week with Wil recording content for the towable channel.

Some months, I have to attend events or other obligations, so that’s more travel time, but we’re in the Greater Tampa Bay area a significant portion of the time. So I would say that I get to schedule things, so I have a week at home and the following week away. I truly enjoy it.

TELL US ALL ABOUT YOUR PODCAST AND WHERE PEOPLE CAN FIND IT. I tried branching out into Podcasts, but we found that it didn’t work out for us as a team.

However, we learned a lot from the experience. Our viewers may see some of those ideas in some of our videos in the future.

WHAT RV DO YOU AND ANDREA OWN, AND WHY DID YOU CHOOSE IT? Andrea and I decided to buy a Class C motorhome. So if you’re going to be in the Greater Tampa JANUARY 2022

Bay Area from Wednesday, January 19 to Sunday, January 23, come to the 2022 Florida RV Supershow at the State Fairgrounds, where we’ll have our BIG debut of our new RV. We picked this model and floorplan for a few reasons. I didn’t want a Class A. I wanted something easy to drive and park.

When you see the floorplan, you’ll know why we got it.

Matt’s Advice on Finding the Right RV WHAT’S YOUR BEST ADVICE FOR A NEWBIE LOOKING TO

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MEET MATT AND ANDREA

“ I don’t have a motto, but I’ve always been a hard worker my whole life. ” PURCHASE A NEW RV? Watch Matt’s RV Reviews and go to the RV shows. Don’t hyperfocus on the brands. Instead, pay attention to the features that the RVs have. Most RVs use the same building techniques, so go with the one that feels right.

YOU HAVE A FANTASTIC FOLLOWING OF LOYAL SUBSCRIBERS. HOW HAS FULL-TIME YOUTUBING CHANGED YOU AND YOUR PERSPECTIVE OF THE WORLD? Yes, my followers are amazing and so supportive. YouTube/Google RVBLOGGER.COM

has given me an opportunity that didn’t exist 5 or 10 years ago. I’m a short chubby guy who isn’t a “TV Star,” if you know what I’m saying.

What’s so great about YouTube is that everyday people like you and me can create our own content, and “The Market” decides if they want to watch, not some guy in NYC.

DO YOU LIVE BY ANY PIECE OF ADVICE OR MOTTO? I don’t have a motto, but I’ve always been a hard worker my whole life.

So when I first made the jump to pursue my full-time career in YouTube, we moved to Florida. To

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do this, I cashed out my 401k to move my family down there.

When we moved, we ran out of money several times. The electric company cut off the lights, and I had to sell my truck so Andrea could fly back to Maryland for her medical needs. There were days where I bought my lunch with a gift card at a gas station. Those were hard months.

Fortunately, our hard work and dedication blossomed into something awesome, and we’re not slowing down. I will never

forget what it was like when I couldn’t afford Andrea’s medicine and the other issues that came during those hard months.

I made a promise to continue to work hard so it’d never happen again. That’s why you see a Matt’s RV Reviews (and Towables) every single day. We never miss a day, and we post at least one video.

DO YOU SELL RVS OR HELP PEOPLE TO BUY RVS? Yes, we do! We partnered with RV Retailer, the second-largest RV JANUARY 2022

dealer group in the country. They own dealerships NATIONWIDE including: • Adventure RV • Bill Plemmons RV • Blue Dog RV • Camper Clinic II • Carolina Coach and Camper • Cousins RV • Explore USA RV Supercenter • Family RV Group • Lifestyle RV • Marlin Ingram RV • Midstate RV • Motor Home Specialist • Northgate RV

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MEET MATT AND ANDREA

RVBLOGGER.COM

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RV CAMPING • RV One Superstores • Sprads RV • Sierra RV • Sonny’s Camp-N-Travel • Tom’s Camperland If you read RV Business, you’ll see that they’re growing rapidly and sell almost every brand. If you’re looking to buy a new or used RV, you can go to MattsRVReviews. com to fill out the contact tab.

Someone from my team will respond and help you find the best RV that meets your needs and wants. You can also email me with your needs, wants, and avoids list at MattsRVReviews@gmail.com.

What the Future Holds and How To Connect With Matt WHAT ARE SOME OF THE BIGGEST CHANGES YOU SEE COMING IN THE RV INDUSTRY?

Lithium-Ion batteries and solar technology will continue to be a big technology advancement.

I did a video on the Venture RV Sonic X. It amazes me that it runs completely off the LithiumIon battery and 4-100 watt solar panels.

I also see much more Class B and Super C motorhome manufacturers and models coming into the industry. It’s awesome that the RV makers respond quickly to what their customers want.

WHAT’S ON YOUR BUCKET LIST? Now that I’ve reached my goal of having over 100,000 viewers on Matt’s RV Reviews (thank you, everyone), we want to see Matt’s RV Reviews Towables get there too.

One day, I want to go to the Caravan-Salon, the World’s Largest RV show in Düsseldorf, Germany.

IF YOU COULD HAVE ANY SUPERPOWER, WHAT WOULD IT BE?

JANUARY 2022

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MEET MATT AND ANDREA

I would want to be a wizard like Harry Potter. Although, I think Andrea and I could make great Jedi’s.

WHAT’S THE BEST WAY FOR OUR VIEWERS TO CONNECT WITH AND LEARN FROM YOU?

Check out my website MattsRVReviews.com to learn about the online RV communities, merchandise, and how to connect to my RV Retailer team.

You can email me at Matt@ MattsRVReviews.com with specific questions or call me directly at (301) 906-0962.

RVBLOGGER.COM

27 Seconds Can Be Just as Tough as 45 Days On November 8, 1975, a 5.6-foot senior defensive end that weighed 165 pounds took the University of Notre Dame Field for the last 27 seconds against Georgia Tech.

It was the year’s final game, and

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Notre Dame had clearly won it.

Yet for Daniel “Rudy” Ruettiger, it was the fruition of a dream he’d worked for since he was a child. On the last play, he sacked the quarterback and became the second person ever to be carried off the field by his teammates.

Matt Foxcroft of Matt’s RV Reviews could have stayed in Maryland and continued his life in RV Sales. His YouTube channel had 10,000 viewers at the end of 2019, and his life was okay. He could have worked his way into sales management or pursued other upward ladders in the RV dealership industry.

Instead, Matt and Andrea did the bravest and scariest thing of all; they cashed out and moved to Tampa, Florida, pursuing Matt’s dream. The Greater Tampa Bay Area has become one of the major

“One day, I want to go to the CaravanSalon, the World’s Largest RV show in Düsseldorf, Germany.” hubs of the RV retail business. It’s the headquarters of Lazydays, and many big-name dealers have a significant presence in the area.

Andrea and Matt didn’t expect instant success, but the effects of the move turned their whole world upside-down. In another discussion, Matt asked Andrea for 45 days of hard work. They would post new videos every other day and push themselves to the limit. The results of those days increased their viewership, income and put them back on their feet.

JANUARY 2022

As independent reviewers, Matt, Andrea, Wil, and Jen have over 163,000 subscribers on Matt’s RV Reviews and almost 42,000 subscribers on Matt’s RV Reviews Towables.

When Rudy played those 27 seconds, he was 5-foot nothing and 100 and nothing pounds.

When Matt pursued his YouTube dreams full-time, he was broke and had people counting on him.

So what does success look like; Matt Foxcroft and his team.

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MEET MATT AND ANDREA

Come check your price with Matt from Matt’s RV Reviews right next to the Jayco display!

IF MATT CAN’T BEAT OR MATCH YOUR OFFICIAL PRICE QUOTE AT THE 2022 TAMPA RV SUPERSHOW HE WILL GIVE YOU A $100 AMEX CARD ON THE SPOT!

RVBLOGGER.COM

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SuperShow

JANUARY 2022

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2022

Tampa RV SuperShow EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE SHOW

BY BRIAN NEWMAN

RVBLOGGER.COM

©PR NEWSWIRE

2022 TAMPA RV SUPERSHOW

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I

n January, the third week has a holiday-like excitement for RVers, similar to the second Sunday in February for football fans. While many RVers are Super Bowl fans, the Tampa RV SuperShow has become one of the most significant RV shows in the U.S. The RV community hitches up and makes their annual pilgrimage to Tampa, Florida, to enjoy the first RV show of the calendar year. Campgrounds, dealers, manufacturers, vendors, and other related representatives gather at the Florida State Fairgrounds.

RVers learn about the mid-model year new releases, the latest products and take advantage of incredible prices during the event. As a regular attendee, I’ll show you how to prepare for the SuperShow Under the Sun and point out some of the best highlights of the 2022 RV show.

On average, over 73,000 people attended the Tampa RV SuperShow in recent years.

During the 2021 show, around 60,000 attended despite the Pandemic. For the 2022 SuperShow, attendance forecasts expect record-breaking numbers.

JANUARY 2022

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STampa RV SuperShow

2022 TAMPA RV SUPERSHOW

RVBLOGGER.COM

•BEGINS: WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 19, 2022 •ENDS: SUNDAY, JANUARY 23, 2022 •HOURS: 9 A.M.- 6 P.M., SUN: 9 A.M.5 P.M. •MILD-TEMPERED DOGS ON LEASHES AND BAGGIES ARE WELCOME •SEE WEBSITE FOR COVID-19 CONCERNS

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7 Things to Expect at the Tampa RV SuperShow My wife and I attend the Tampa RV SuperShow every chance we get. So we can tell you from experience that you want to come prepared. RVBlogger has a video about how to prepare for an RV show, but here are some essentials you’ll want to prepare.

1. Sunscreen Even in the winter months, the Florida sun doesn’t kiss you; it can roast your skin to a mediumrare. Expect temperatures to reach the 70s or 80s, but still, give yourself a good layer of SPF 15 or 30 suntan lotion.

SuperShow Costs

2. Walking Shoes You’ll be walking on pavement the entire time, so let Nancy •TICKETS: $12 ADULTS (2-DAY PASS) •SENIORS/ FIRST RESPONDERS/ MILITARY $2 DISCOUNT •CHILDREN UNDER 16- FREE •PARKING: $8 CARS OR $16 RVS •DRY LOT-DOCKING: $20/NIGHT •WHEELCHAIR $30/ SCOOTER $60 RENTAL GATE 1 & 3 •CASH AND CREDIT CARDS ACCEPTED •SEE WEBSITE FOR CAMPGROUND OR HOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS

Sinatra have her boots. You want comfortable walking shoes. The fairgrounds cover a lot of acreage.

You’ll be up and down in the many different RVs, and the RV mattress companies won’t appreciate you taking over their products.

3. Shoulder Bag or Backpack By the time you walk out, you’re going to have plenty of brochures, trinkets and may have bought JANUARY 2022

a few things from the vendors.

I bring my backpack to keep my hands free despite my back problems. Of course, the security folks will want to check the bag, but it’s easier to carry than the courtesy bags the RV dealers hand out.

4. Clear Out Your Phone’s Memory Make sure you have plenty of room on your cell phone to take

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SuperShow Contact Info

2022 TAMPA RV SUPERSHOW

•ADDRESS: FLORIDA STATE FAIRGROUNDS •4800 U.S. HIGHWAY 301 NORTH TAMPA, FL 33610 •PHONE: 813-6217821 •EMAIL: INFO@ FLORIDASTATEFAIR. COM

take a photo with fans and have a quick chat. However, like you, many others want their chance to say hello.

After you get your autograph, you may want to take some notes about specific RVs, a vendor you like, or other things you want to look up when you get home. If you try and take mental notes, it’s hard to retain it all.

all the pictures you want. If you’re looking to buy an RV, try and keep your feet on the ground (since emotions can get the better of you) by photographing those critical points—plumbing, electrical, hidden storage, quality control spots, floorplan model code, and other essentials.

If you can be sneaky, bring a USB cable with you. All the RVs will be powered up. You might be able to

get a few minutes to get a quick power-up. Be courteous about it, though. Remember, others want to look inside the RV too.

5. Bring a Pen and Notepad Many of your favorite RV influencers are going to be there. Keep in mind that they’re working on getting content for their YouTube channels and other things. Many of them are happy to RVBLOGGER.COM

6. Remember, You Can Come Back Tomorrow The Tampa RV Supershow sells two-day tickets only. They do this for a reason. First, if you’re buying an RV at the show, you’ll need to come back another day to complete the buying process.

Despite the backlog, some of the RVs may be for sale. Some of the dealers may have finance personnel on-site purchases. If so, you’ll need to come back on Sunday afternoon to pick up your new RV. Another situation is that the show is enormous. To walk through the whole show, you’d have to skip many things. Your tickets are good

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RV CAMPING from Wednesday to Sunday, so you don’t have to use them backto-back.

The Best Exhibits to Look for at the 2022 Tampa RV SuperShow After looking through the interactive map on the FRVTA’s

website, I found some fantastic exhibits and vendors I plan to check out while I’m at the show.

Some even surprised me. You may want to add some of these to your checklist of must-sees when you attend the SuperShow. To help you find them, I’ll add their location on the map.

The Main Expo Hall The Booth Section of the Expo Hall: You’ll find many different

©KOA

©KOA

7. Stay Hydrated There will be concession stands throughout the show, but you’ll want to keep water with you. The RV dealers won’t let you bring food or open container drinks inside the RVs, but a sealable water bottle that can fit in your shoulder bag will keep you going.

Although it’s winter in Florida, people have been given a ride to the nearest hospital via EMS due to dehydration.

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2022 TAMPA RV SUPERSHOW

booths set up in the second half of the Expo Hall. As you look through them all, you may have to visit B434: The Stress Stop. Some of the brands you’ll see include: • B101: KOA • B104: Virginia Tourism • B122: America’s Mailbox • B124: Defiance Tools • B227: Sun RV Resorts • B231: RV Trip Wizard/RV Life • B302: My RV Inspection • B401: Glastop RV Furniture

• B411: Passport America • B427: B&W Trailer Hitches • B430: Escapees RV Club • B522: Dexter Axles • B601: MORryde International • B616: Camp Margaritaville • B700: Lazydays • 155 Expo Hall-Airstream: Airstream is back! The company hasn’t attended RV shows in the past year due to its focus on catching up on backlogged

RVBLOGGER.COM

customer orders. However, if you enter through Gate 1, the first thing you’ll see when you get inside is the iconic Silver Bullet travel trailers.

Airstream X Pottery Barn Exterior

• 100A Expo Hall-Prevost: If you’ve attended the SuperShow before, you’ll find the Prevost luxury Class A motorhomes in their usual spot. The last time we went, my wife disappeared from me. So when I saw a line

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building up in front of one, and two sales reps were talking to security, that’s when I knew where she was. She was overstaying her welcome.

There are two different walkway sections. The ones surrounding the small lake close to the main Expo Hall are named “Lakeside.”

East Lakeside stretches from the Expo Hall and T-bones the Midway. When you turn left on the Midway, you’re heading south.

They divide the southern Midway into East and West.

Before entering the Expo Hall at Gate 1 or the Arena Building at Gate 3, you’ll see tables with brochures and printed maps.

I recommend looking at the interactive map now to get a good feel of the layout and write down

those exhibit spaces you want to see. If you’re a landmark person, like me, choose those exhibits that will act as your key points to prevent you from getting turned around.

Lakeside • 240 E. Lakeside-Storyteller Overland: Storyteller Overland has made many headlines this year. Hang a left as soon as you leave the Expo Hall, and you’ll find them at the end, across from East to West.

• 330 S. Lakeside-nuCamp: The other crowd-pleaser last year was nuCamp. You have to take the long way to reach them.

Instead, walk out of the Expo Hall until you reach Jayco. Turn left and follow the Midway until you hit Coach House and Nexus.

JANUARY 2022

2022 FORETRAVEL MOTORCOACH FORETRAVEL REALM PRESIDENTIAL LUXURY

OPPOSITE TOP: Mercedes-Benz Desert unity 13 Leisure Travel Vans OPPOSITE BOTTOM: 2022 nuCamp T@G XL

Make another left, and nuCamp will be on your left side.

Midway • 415 W. Midway-Ember: Ember has ample space near the Arena. If you come in through Gate 3, once you leave the vendor’s area in the Arena building, turn right and look for the crowd on your right side.

• 600 N. Midway-Newmar: Newmar has the same landmark space. Each year, they bring a different wheelchair-accessible motorhome. Since there are slight differences between the five models, you can get an idea about the floorplan, no matter which motorhome version you choose.

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• 645 E. Midway-inTech: inTech drew the biggest crowd last year with their 26-footTerra travel trailer. Even though they’re behind Newmar, that shouldn’t stop people from lining up to check it out. I can’t wait to see the Flyer Discover.

It’s a teardrop-style toy hauler that sleeps 4 with hybrid trailerstyle foldout beds.

• 725 N. Midway-MercedesBenz: A dealer from Georgia with different Sprinter models will sit between Alliance and Keystone.

For those looking to build DIY campervans, you’ll want to check it out. Even if you’re going to buy a Class B or C from the RV manufacturers, this is your opportunity to kick the tires on the current Sprinter models.

• 760 N. Midway-Winnebago: Winnebago is back in the north section in their usual spot. Make sure you make a left when you reach Newmar. My wife will be using her wheelchair this year, so we can’t wait to put that new Roam campervan to the test.

• 845 W. Midway-Jayco: Jayco has a prime real estate spot at the T-bone of East Lakeside and the Midway. If you’re looking at the Jayco exhibit, glampers will want to turn right to look at the luxury liners. Campervans, midsize towables, and many of the teardrops will be to your left.

•900 W. Midway-Kid Zone: The Kid Zone is next to Forest River’s Shasta exhibit from the Arena Building. It’ll be open JANUARY 2022

Introducing the all-new 2022 Winnebago EKKO 22A/24C

on Saturday and Sunday only.

Besides standard playground equipment, they’ve had bounce houses and other blow-up things to play on in past years.

Some of it will make you wish you could turn in your adult card and join in the fun.

Arena Building Over by Gate 3 on the far west side is another indoor vendor’s area. You’ll find more vendors inside. Some of the popular brands include: • A8 & A152: Happy Feet • A23: Six Flags • A61: Dometic • A69: Battle Born Batteries • A98: Campers Inn • A133: Gerzeny’s RV World • A200: Lippert

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2022 TAMPA RV SUPERSHOW

• A215: Habitat for Humanity

Seminars

2022 Jayco Jay Flight 34RSBS

• Noon: RV Chassis Maintenance- Presented by Spartan RV Chassis

The Tampa RV SuperShow organizers lined up some great seminars this year. All of the presenters will answer those questions you either want to know or never knew you had. Some talk about major maintenance procedures, while others discuss lifestyle or RV vacation ideas.

• 1 p.m.: Nomadic Living 101: How to Live Nomadically for a Month, a Season, a Year or Forever- Presented by Tara Sage

Wednesday-Saturday Schedule • 10 a.m.: Operation and Maintenance of Cummins Generators and EnginesPresented by Cummins

• 3 p.m.: RVing to AlaskaPresented by Adventure Caravans

• 11 a.m.: Guided VacationsPresented by Fantasy RV Tours

RVBLOGGER.COM

• 2 p.m.: Maintenance for Lippert Components- Presented

by Lippert Components

Sunday • 10 a.m.: Operation and Maintenance of Cummins Generators and EnginesPresented by Cummins

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• 11 a.m.: Guided VacationsPresented by Fantasy RV Tours • Noon: RV Chassis Maintenance- Presented by Spartan RV Chassis • 1 p.m.: Nomadic Living 101: How to Live Nomadically for a Month, a Season, a Year or Forever- Presented by Tara Sage • 2 p.m.: Maintenance for Lippert Components- Presented

by Lippert Components

Don’t Let the Fun End at 6 As the late and great Joliet Jake once said, “You don’t have to go home, but you can’t stay here,” If you don’t know the reference, you

“Tampa has excellent nightlife places to go if you’re looking to cap off the evening. Ybor City has an Old Spanish feel, but the best restaurants, clubs, and cigar shops.”

Centro Ybor Tampa

might’ve enjoyed an evening at his brother, Elwood J. Blues Club in Orlando, called The House of Blues (about an hour and a half away).

Tampa has excellent nightlife places to go if you’re looking to cap off the evening. Ybor City has an Old Spanish feel, but the best restaurants, clubs, and cigar shops.

A few miles down the road, we have Busch Gardens Amusement Park for some wild rides.

JANUARY 2022

Channelside is an open-air two-level structure with plenty of nightlife. The public parking structure across the street will fit standard-sized vans, but I’d leave the truck camper at the RV SuperShow.

For more Tampa fun ideas, or if you want to join in on the lotdocking fun, but you couldn’t bring your RV, check out RVBlogger’s Best RV Rentals in Tampa. We’ll see you at the SuperShow.

Come check your price with Matt from Matt’s RV Reviews right next to the Jayco display!

IF MATT CAN’T BEAT OR MATCH YOUR OFFICIAL PRICE QUOTE AT THE 2022 TAMPA RV SUPERSHOW HE WILL GIVE YOU A $100 AMEX CARD ON THE SPOT!

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Industry Spotlight WITH JEFF SHELTON AT WHOLESALE WARRANTIES

BY BRIAN NEWMAN

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uring online research or campfire discussions, you’ve probably learned about a company named Wholesale Warranties. They’re a provider of RV extended warranty contracts from teardrops to the luxury Prevost Class A motorhomes. When you look at their long list of credentials, you’ll see that they have an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.

Their affiliated partnerships are a long list of the “Who’s Who” in the RV Influencers, Service Tech, and RV Inspector Communities.

We had the opportunity to have a conversation with the founder, Jeff Shelton, to learn more about his background and his goals for the future.

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Jeff Shelton Is One of Us The RV Community knows how to spot an outsider. We are an inviting and friendly subculture of America. Still, we tend to get a little cautious around people who don’t know the difference between a stabilizer jack and a tongue jack. But rest assured, Jeff is a legacy RVer.

As a child of the 1980s, he grew up part-timing with his family in a mid-1970s Winnebago motorhome. Based on a little Q & A, our best guess is the original Chieftain series. His family owned marinas in St. Paul, so he also has experience in the boating lifestyle.

Vikings. Even though he now lives in San Diego, California, he hasn’t missed a game yet. His ice fishing adventures have rewarded him with some 5 pound Walleye, but we can’t say too much because our attempts at ice fishing resulted in frostbite and a nasty cold.

He’s a finance graduate of St. Paul State University (Go Tigers) and a serious fan of the Minnesota

In adulthood, he had a 2004 Gulf Stream Crescendo diesel pusher Class A motorhome for a

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“Jeff had dipped his toes into the RV warranty world before hitting the road, but his big “aha moment” came with that 2004 Gulf Stream Crescendo.” knew what hard work was and didn’t shy away from it. However, the validation of a job-well-done didn’t resonate with him.

while. As his business started to skyrocket, his rig was in storage more than in use, so he found a good home for his motorcoach.

When he and his family find time to head out, they book an RV rental through RVshare.

For his needs, it allows him to still enjoy the RV Lifestyle without letting a good coach develop problems due to dormancy. Also, the Shelton family gets to enjoy

the various RV types they feel like trying during a particular trip.

Jeff’s “Aha Moment” After college, Jeff’s original plans didn’t start with RV extended warranties. Instead, he tried a few different jobs in the financial industry, where he did well, but it didn’t feel right. Growing up in a family-owned business, he RVBLOGGER.COM

Jeff had dipped his toes into the RV warranty world before hitting the road, but his big “aha moment” came with that 2004 Gulf Stream Crescendo. While he was traveling, the radiator sprung a leak. Not knowing what to do, he ended up continuing to drive slowly to the next exit to find a qualified RV service center to get it repaired (praying the repair wouldn’t tap into his retirement savings or other important finances).

The repair made him adjust a few things, but it could’ve been worse. He knew repairs were part of the RV Lifestyle, but that didn’t mean he had to like it. Also, he had no idea if what he paid was a reasonable price or not. That was one of the catalysts that led him

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RV CAMPING to continue building Wholesale Warranties, with a big focus on reliable coverage and keeping the customer informed during stressful repairs.

Jeff’s Leadership Philosophy and Wholesale Warranties As a leader, Jeff is the type that leads by example. He’s an encourager and one of those bosses that’s easy to get to know.

To him, being called “Mr. Shelton” makes him feel like he’s a teacher or someone who sits in an official position. He runs his business where everyone feels valued and contributes to making the company the best.

One of the policies Jeff has for his employees is taking an RV out for a weekend themselves. Those

that take him up on the offer are reimbursed for one weekend a year. For Jeff, the goal is to allow his staff to enjoy the experience and learn what their customers go through. Many do take him up on the offer.

The One Question Everyone Wants Answered We discussed the benefits of buying an RV extended warranty through Wholesale Warranties during our conversation, but we took a different approach.

If you want to learn about the coverage, we recommend reading through their website and contacting one of their highly qualified representatives. Many RV Influencers also talk about the benefits Wholesale Warranties offers.

After reading through everything, we had one question. The

JANUARY 2022

question was the only one that really matters in every RVer’s mind: How does Wholesale Warranties’ coverage compare to the lifetime warranties of the Big Four Dealers (Camping World, General RV, Lazydays, and RV Retailer)?

When comparing the different RV extended service contracts, Wholesale Warranties covers more essential features on your motorhome or travel trailer and even have a consequential damage feature.

Also, Since Jeff’s company works with multiple underwriters, his warranty specialists can find you the policy that fits your individual needs. It can be frustrating to adapt to a standardized contract that requires the MerriamWebster Dictionary to decipher.

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“Jeff runs his business where everyone feels valued and contributes to making the company the best.”

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RV CAMPING Wholesale Warranty Offers a Loophole Coverage Feature In the extended warranty world, you’ll run into parts of a contract where the company tells you what they won’t cover. Unfortunately, some of them can make you feel like your coverage works for unrealistic scenarios.

Wholesale Warranties is different.

We asked Jeff to explain the Consequential Damage feature in more detail to clarify how it works.

Suppose you’re driving your motorhome, and your fan belt breaks. As it snaps away, it causes further damage to covered parts within the engine. Once you contact your RV road service and get the motorhome to a service center or mobile service technician, you find out the situation.

Your warranty contract pays for covered engine components when they suffer mechanical failure. In this scenario, since the damage resulted from the fan belt breaking (an uncovered part), that extended service agreement may have language saying that the warranty company doesn’t have to pay.

In other words, because an uncovered part caused damage to the covered components, the claim can be denied per the contract. So if you look at this part of the contract, here’s the loophole that keeps us (the warranty administrator) from paying for the damage.

Jeff can’t stand “gotcha” scenarios like this, so he only offers contracts with the Consequential Damage feature available. This essentially closes this gray area, so if your broken fan belt breaks a covered component, your extended warranty through Wholesale Warranties does the right thing by JO AC N TO UB AE RR Y 2021 2

covering the cost of the parts and installation.

Yes, you’re still on the hook for the fan belt, but after you see the total bill for the wiring bundle and fuse box, you may have a feeling of adding Jeff and his team to your Christmas Card List.

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“Jeff can’t stand “gotcha” scenarios like this, so he only offers contracts with the Consequential Damage feature available. This essentially closes this gray area, so if your broken fan belt breaks a covered component, your extended warranty through Wholesale Warranties does the right thing by covering the cost of the parts and installation.”

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Jeff’s Future Plans We asked Jeff what his plans for the future were for the company.

His answer was amazing. At first, we thought he might add some new features to the extended warranty contracts that would be useful or something nice but mediocre. We were wrong by a lot!

Jeff and his team at Wholesale Warranties are eager to bring even more ease to the repair process, with a focus on mobile RV repair and inspections. The team is excited to make life on the road even easier for their customers, but it’s still in the development process. When he started his company in 2006, he drove that hard road, no matter how many obstacles were in the

way. If he could build Wholesale Warranties from the ground up, we can’t wait to see how this idea manifests.

You Can Feel Confident When You Buy From Wholesale Warranties We want to thank Jeff Shelton, founder of Wholesale Warranties, for taking the time to speak to us.

As a customer ourselves, it was great to have the opportunity to talk with the person in charge.

We found that he’s a great guy to know, and we’re buying essential coverage from someone who’s driven a mile in our pilot seat.

As your RV ages, its maintenance JANUARY 2022

and repair needs become more complex. Protecting your investment doesn’t stop with RV insurance; an extended warranty can manage your repair costs at affordable rates.

In addition, you can always change your mind or transfer the coverage to the new owner.

Extended service contracts give you choices allowing you to use many services centers or mobile service repair technicians around the country, and have peace of mind, most importantly.

Take some time to check out Wholesale Warranties and get your free quote. After a few minutes, you’ll know the facts, the costs and have the information to make a decision that’s right for you.

Your Adventures Matter Protect Them with Us!

RV Protection You Need, Customer Service you Deserve 800.939.2806 Peace of Mind for the Road Ahead

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MAMMOTH CAVES NATIONAL PARK WITH HAPPILYEVERHANKS

ave you ever had to make the best out of a bad situation? Kyle and Renee Hanks of HappilyEverHanks had to make an unscheduled stop in Kentucky due to a tow vehicle repair. Instead of dwelling in despair, they chose to stay happy and make the best of it. Even with the world still operating in post-curfew conditions, they had the experience of a lifetime at Mammoth Cave National Park.

WHO ARE THE HAPPILYEVERHANKS? Kyle and Renee Hanks started their traveling nurse careers in 2017. As brick and stick homeowners, they needed a mobile HQ as they traveled to their various nursing assignments across the country. They started with a rig setup that included a 2017 GMC Sierra Denali 2500 and a Grand Design Imagine travel trailer from the same model year. Their first day on the road was some time in early June of 2017.

BY RENEE & KYLE HANKS AND BRIAN NEWMAN

Most veteran full-timers will tell you to start close to home when you begin this lifestyle.

Instead, the young couple’s first gig took them from Pennsylvania, Renee’s home state, all the way to Kyle’s neck-of-the-woods, Northern California. It was a trial-by-fire JANUARY 2022

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experience, but they managed to keep a positive attitude through it all.

The Hank’s original plan was to make the traveling nurse career a temporary career move for a few years. Of course, during their journey, they were bitten by the “RV Bug.” At that point, they traded in the brick and stick house and travel trailer for a 2019 Grand Design Solitude S-Class 2930 RL fifth wheel in August of that year.

Today, they’ve packed up their stethoscopes and scrubs to focus on their YouTube Channel and enjoy the full-time RV lifestyle. As the HappilyEverHanks, you’ll see their adventures, daily living and learn some of the best RV tips. At the time of this article, they had 48,000 viewers on their channel and more miles of adventures ahead of them.

DISCOVERING MAMMOTH CAVE NATIONAL PARK If you take Interstate 65 South from Louisville, Kentucky, you’ll pass Fort Knox and continue to Elizabethtown. With a population of over 30,000 and being the 11th largest city in Kentucky, normally, Kyle and Renee could’ve found plenty of things to do.

Unfortunately, in December 2020, while the U.S. had opened its economy back up six months previously from the COVID-19 Pandemic Curfew, tourism and social gathering were still getting figured out. Pfizer had just released its vaccine for emergency use. Moderna was in the final stages of testing, and JANUARY 2022

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the distribution issue was on everybody’s mind.

That left the Hanks with two weeks in their fifth wheel with not a lot to do. It did give them time to catch up on their YouTube video editing, but even a 34.4-foot fifth wheel can give you cabin fever if you don’t get out sometimes. So, searching the area online, they discovered they were 45 minutes north of Mammoth Cave National Park.

STROLLING DOWN BROADWAY BY TORCHLIGHT Mammoth Cave National Park offers several different tours that focus on various subjects. For example, you can take tours that highlight the unique geology, the human presence in the cave system, and specific themes.

In addition, there are tours for those with mobility challenges.

Finally, some of the main tours are

OPPOSITE: Mammoth cave historic entrance

“The park has over 55 miles of hiking trails you can explore.” friendlier to those that have other sensitivities.

The Mammoth Cave system maintains a constant temperature of 54°F (12.23°C) regardless of the season. Make sure you wear comfortable shoes, bring a jacket, and not weigh yourself down too much with gear. The park states that Verizon cell service has the best connection, but there are dead zones within the park.

Kyle recommends leaving your photograph and video equipment at the RV because the low light records low-quality images.

Instead, the best thing is to enjoy the tour and the many stories the park ranger tells.

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Due to the conditions at the time, the park rangers only led one tour through Mammoth Cave.

The Broadway Tour is a two-hour excursion that takes you through the most famous entrance to the cave system. Visitors can see the chambers and rock formations that are so amazing; naturally shaped rock formations are named and have a story behind them.

You’ll see the Rotunda, Broadway Avenue, Methodist Church, the saltpeter mining ruins at Booth’s Amphitheatre, Giant’s Coffin, and the Tuberculosis Huts. At one point, the guide told a story about a man becoming lost in the cave.

To add perspective, he turned off

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the lights and asked everyone to be quiet. The absolute absence of light and sound was a bit distressing.

ADVENTURING ABOVE GROUND Mammoth Cave National Park is more than the ancient caverns formed by underground rivers and streams. The park has over 55 miles of hiking trails you can explore. The Bike and Hike trails allow mountain bikes and e-bikes, but make sure you yield to foot hikers. You’ll find there-and-back as well as loop trails for every level of hiker using two legs, four legs, and five for those using mobility equipment.

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SOUTH SIDE TRAILS

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• NUMBER OF TRAILS: 8 • BIKE AND HIKE TRAILS: 4 • MOBILITY ACCESSIBLE TRAILS: 2 • RANGE OF HIKING LENGTHS: 0.2- 8.2 miles Along the main road to the south, you’ll find entrances to eight

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different trails. Half of them are bike and hike trails if you’re looking for a short jaunt or a long ride on your mountain bike. You can see Sloan’s Crossing Pond, Mammoth Cave’s Railroad tracks, unique geography, and other highlights among the forested trails.

speaking with the rangers inside to look over the trail map. The park rangers can design a custom course for the type of hiking experience you want. Many shorter trails connect if you’re looking for a more extended day hike, making there-and-back trails into a larger loop circuit.

VISITOR CENTER TRAILS

When Kyle and Renee spent the day at the National Park, the Heritage Trail was the only open path. The there-and-back course extends a half-mile and has a broad and graded trail, ideal for everyone. It takes hikers from the on-site Mammoth Cave Hotel to Sunset Point. The cliff gives you an incredible view of the River Styx, its spring, and other natural wonders.

• NUMBER OF TRAILS: 18 • BIKE AND HIKE TRAILS: 2 • MOBILITY ACCESSIBLE TRAILS: 3 • RANGE OF HIKING LENGTHS: 0.1- 2.1 miles Many of the main trails start from the Visitor’s Center. The National Park Service recommends

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MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR HIKES, BUT KEEP TO THE PLAN BACKCOUNTRY TRAILS

• NUMBER OF TRAILS: 30 • TENT CAMPING SITES: 13 • RANGE OF HIKING LENGTHS: 0.1- 18.6 miles Many of the U.S. National Parks have designated backcountry trails for experienced hikers.

These trails are not monitored, maintained, and have elevated risk factors. On the trail difficulty scale, they can range from 100-200. If you’re unfamiliar with the difficulty scale, make sure you bring hiking equipment, first aid kits, and emergency communication devices for a safe journey.

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If you decide to head out on these backcountry trails, stop in at the Visitor Center if you want to make your hike an overnight experience.

You can buy a permit to camp at one of the 13 tent camping sites along the way for one night. Each location gives you an incredible view of the park and the stars that few get to experience.

WHAT ABOUT THE TRUCK? The reason for the stop at Elizabethtown had to do with the loss of power on the truck. The engine indicator lit up, and the Hanks became filled with worry and fear. It was still a relatively new truck, and Kyle treated it like his other lady. Once they found a campground, Kyle took the GMC Siera Denali 2500 to the local

dealership service center.

The service manager had space in the day to look at the truck that day. Unfortunately, there was a problem with the turbo’s actuator.

This little electronic device acts as a control gate that tempers the intake a turbo gets, so it operates efficiently for those who don’t know. Luckily, the truck’s manufacturer warranty was still active, saving the Hanks over $4,000.

Once Kyle picked up the truck, it drove excellently until another issue arose. This time it was manageable. His other lady was getting a little hot under the collar, so she needed her radiator fluid refilled. Being well prepared, JANUARY 2022

he filled up the reservoir and thought they were ready to go until something caught his eye.

Is that a screw in the back passenger tire!? Breathing through his frustration, Kyle grabbed his electric drill, tire plug repair kit, and some soapy water. Pouring the soapy water around the screw, he discovered that the screw didn’t puncture the inner layers of the tire. So, knowing he didn’t need to plug a leak, he gently removed the screw, packed up, and continued their preparations to their next destination.

WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM KYLE AND RENEE? - CHOOSE HAPPY In their October 14, 2021 episode,

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titled, “SAYING BYE TO RV LIFE: The WORST Struggle an RVER Will Face,” we see the Hanks dropping off their fifth wheel for significant repairs due to tree damage and other issues. For them, it feels like the worst day in their life.

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Yet there’s a segment where we see Renee in front of the camera and Kyle speaking behind it.

Renee’s wearing a shirt with a logo, “Choose Happy.” Kyle does his best to help her from spiraling into despair by motivating her to keep a happy attitude about the situation.

At the beginning of this process, it’s easy to feel homeless and hopeless. However, the Hanks still have a lot of things to clean out of their Grand Design Solitude (which they find out later wasn’t needed), and, spoiler alert, they do end up okay.

Kyle and Renee Hanks show their viewers the ups and downs of the full-time RV lifestyle. What makes their YouTube Channel worthwhile is that they keep that “Choose Happy” positive attitude no matter where they go. The couple ended up having a good time when their tow vehicle needed a significant repair; tourism was barely open, and it was an unplanned stop.

When they return to Mammoth Cave, they plan to experience the other tours, trails, and many other exciting activities the National Park offers. In the meantime, you can watch new episodes every Thursday on their YouTube Channel and learn more about them at Happilyeverhanks.com.

About the Author Kyle and Renee Hanks created their YouTube channel, HappilyEverHanks back in 2020. They are a young, married couple that decided, 4 years ago, to live out of an RV while working as ER Travel Nurses. Their goal was to get out and enjoy traveling before settling down to start a family someday. Today, you can still find them RVing around the country and loving every second of it in their Grand Design Solitude fifth wheel. Their Siamese cat, Dexter is also rocking the RV life with them! You can expect plenty of content to get you started with the RVing on their channel if you are brand new to this life. They keep it real and humorous throughout their videos to make it an entertaining experience for everyone!

Besides their YouTube channel, you can follow them on Facebook @ HappilyEverHanks, Instagram @happily_ever_hanks, and TikTok @ happilyeverhanks.

JANUARY 2022

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Best Ways TO UPDATE YOUR RV FURNITURE

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fter searching for the best RV, you’ve come down to two options. One is an older top-end Class A motorhome that uses traditional floral fabrics on the furniture, and the captain chairs’ top layer has peeled off in some spots.

Yet, your budget allows you to stroke a check, buying it free and clear.

Your second choice is a new midlevel motor coach with the leather RV furniture you want. The captain chairs are fresh from the factory and flawless. Your budget allows you to make a big down payment but locks you into 180 (15 years) monthly payments so you can afford it. Which would you choose?

The decision is complex, but you’d be surprised how many people inadvertently place that traditional decor sofa as a significant factor.

However, if you can take a step back and look at the potential of that older RV, the cost of ownership in the long term may be a better investment.

©IKEA

BY BRIAN NEWMAN

If you found your perfect RV, but Grandmama’s sofa has to go, many RV furniture update options are available. We’ll show you what many restorers and remodelers have done. You’ll learn about some companies that do the work and even a Do-It-Yourself (DIY) project to cut costs.

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Vintage trailer interiors

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Outdoor furniture outside a motorhome decorated with lights

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“hoose a high durability foam that resists water, mold, and mildew.”

FINDING THE GOLDILOCKS ZONE As the fable goes, Goldilocks found a bed that was just right to fall asleep on. Older RVs can have cushions that are too firm or too soft due to overuse. Changing the foam inside is easy if the upholstery is still in good shape.

A quick search on Amazon will locate a roll of high-density foam.

Remember that your RV furniture deals with moisture, heat, and other elements when looking at the many foam options. So, choose a high durability foam that resists water, mold, and mildew.

Some consider using memory foam, but you want something that tolerates temperature changes for years. Also, the foam needs to be firm enough for back support.

Yet, if the cushion is too hard, your guests may cut their visit short because your RV sofa feels like a brick.

DINE DELIGHTFULLY One of the first convertible pieces RVBLOGGER.COM

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RV CAMPING of RV furniture was the dinette. In 1913, a college professor needed a travel trailer to take out in the field to conduct research. The 1913 Earl, currently housed at the RV Hall of Fame, had a dinette that folded down to a bed. The builder placed storage cabinetry on each side of the rear entry so the professor could easily access his equipment during the day.

A white kitchen and desk area with karlton standing

Over 100 years later, the only things that have changed about the dinette are the mechanics and some aesthetics. However, the convertible dinette technology dates back to the Romani of Eastern Europe centuries ago.

Try Etsy if it’s time to take your dinette’s cushions out of the Classic Era (1971-1989). Small business artisans can make your dining table time travel to the 21st century. The crafter works with you on fabric choices, and many offer additional throw pillows for your RV living room furniture to tie the look together. You’ll also find custom fitted sofa covers with elastic edges too.

IS IKEA FURNITURE A TRUE RV HACK? There have been some that have replaced RV furniture with residential counterparts.

Generally, several issues can create problems for you: 1. Residential furniture can take up more space, especially recliners. The living room set may look great, but it may eat up a lot of valuable interior space.

2. Furniture meant for a bricks

and sticks home can be heavier than their RV counterparts. In a lifestyle where every ounce matters, you could lose valuable storage weight capacity.

• It may be challenging to secure residential furniture. A hard turn or slamming on the breaks can make them fly across the room.

• Federal, state, and RVIA regulations require all motorhome passengers to use JANUARY 2022

seatbelts on secured furniture while traveling. Penalties include fines and other measures.

If you talk to some RVers, Ikea furniture translates well into an RV. Many Schoolie and DIY RV remodelers use their cabinetry because it’s cost-effective, narrow enough, durable, and lightweight.

Securing the storage systems to an RV frame is similar to traditional RV cabinetry.

Ikea’s furniture can be another matter. They have a great selection of products with the proper

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measurements and weights. If you’re going to replace your RV furniture with Ikea’s residential furniture, make sure you research if the Ikea piece can secure to the RV wall or floor. If you need seat belts for children or other family members in a drivable RV, learn how to install them correctly to the RV’s floor, so they’re DOTcompliant.

BALANCING TIME PERIODS There is a way to balance your older RV period’s furniture yet find a look you like. There are

still many Neo-Classic (19902007) motorhomes and travel trailers on the road today that are roadworthy. While the latest and greatest RV furniture piece could have everything you want, you don’t want it sticking out like a sore thumb against a different era backdrop.

After the millennium, the RV industry introduced America to the RV theatre seat. Residential theatre seating was already well established. Having that reclining hybrid of a recliner in a sofa, with JANUARY 2022

Toni Arnold_ RV shabby Chic farmhouse makeover tv nook

a cup holder, storage, and other features became the new standard of comfort. Now both spouses could sit in luxury as they yelled at the ref through the TV about a bad call (the ball was IN, you foolish so-and-so!).

If you’re feeling incomplete without theatre seats of your own, one option is to contact an RV salvage company like RV Yard or Colaw RV Salvage. They search the RV boneyards for parts that are still useable.

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to an accident, but the interior components are in great shape.

They have the theatre seats shipped to them, strip it down to the frame, and rebuild it to your specifications. Then, the company either sends it to you in a few weeks, or you pick it up at their location.

© Brad&Hall

In many cases, restoration projects like this have a cheaper expense than buying something new. Once you bolt it in place, the theatre seats look as if they came with your coach from the factory.

Out With the Old, In With the New In today’s Modern Era, whether your RV came from the Revitalization Period (20082019) or the Remote Period (2020-present), RV manufacturers have done an excellent job choosing comfortable furniture.

Yet, when you go to the RV show and see the latest in RV furniture, you may feel it’s time for an upgrade.

For example, let’s say you want to replace your full-size sofa in your 2000 Winnebago Adventurer with a theatre seat. Contacting a salvage company like one of them would be a great option. During the discussion, they’ll ask you for the measurements of the space, your fabric/leather choices and may

want photos of your RV’s interior. If you wish the upholstery to match the original interior design, you give them the interior design code from the manufacturer.

After some searching, the salvage specialists find a 2004 Winnie Adventurer decommissioned due RVBLOGGER.COM

BOTTOM: Villaudinette detail

You can buy individual pieces or bundle packages if you’re looking to redo all of your living room and dining room furniture. Like any bundle deal, you can save money and keep the furniture sets matched up. Some of the best RV furniture brands are: • 4Seating • Lambright Comfort Chairs • Lippert • Qualitex • RecPro • Seatcraft • Thomas Payne Other recommended companies like Fjords of Norway, Lafer, and

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GO FOR THE GOLD BUY CUSTOMIZING YOUR RV FURNITURE Premier Product’s Benz Captain Chair is an integrated seatbelt system (ISS) that fits in an RV or Campervan. They also make non-ISS seats for RVs, vans, and SUVs. You can choose the color, go two-toned with the upholstery, embroidery, and piping. Optional features include a 6-way power base, power lumbar, self-leveling arms, power headrest, power leglift, massage, heating, and cooling.

If you want to go for the Ultra Glamping look, you can have an embroidered logo on the headrest.

For example, this author plans to have his name, father, and fatherin-law’s names embroidered.

Only three people are allowed in the seat, even though two of the names are memorials. (don’t ask what his wife’s conditions are for this one).

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Another company that builds custom RV furniture is Villa International. They can create complete living room sets, dinettes, freestanding table sets, or other RV furniture. Since 1969, the company has made captain chairs, dinettes, J-lounges, recliners, and sofas for the RV industry.

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The company has regular clients like Airstream, Fleetwood, Foretravel, Gulf Stream, Newmar,

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"One of the best parts of owning an older motorhome or travel trailer is the customization opportunities."

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and Winnebago. They also sell their prototypes and take individual custom orders. When you print out their EasyGuide© order form, you’ll see that their sofas do have a theatre seat option.

REINVENTING THE WHEELS One of the best parts of owning an older motorhome or travel trailer is the customization opportunities.

When these RVs were new, they were state-of-the-art, and the interior decor fit within the accepted times of the RV world.

The average lifespan of an RV is about 20 years, but with proper maintenance, we’re seeing them surpass that expectation.

The campground 10-year rule has softened with time. High-end RV resorts are still strict about the rule, but many family-friendly and

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LEFT: Grey RV sofa sectional

"RV manufacturers build their products with an unfinished look. They use neutral interior decors so you can personalize them to your

RIGHT: Toni Karlton and their son David relaxing around the dashboard

tastes. As the coach ages, wear and tear get the better of the various components inside."

middle-income level locations use it as a guideline. If your older RV looks and acts like it’s well cared for, campground management will let you onto their property.

We always recommend speaking with them directly versus booking online if this is your situation.

They use neutral interior decors so you can personalize them to your tastes. As the coach ages, wear and tear get the better of the various components inside.

Replacing RV furniture is usually a simple matter of removing four bolts from the floor.

RV manufacturers build their products with an unfinished look.

You’ll find that the captain chairs, recliner, and sofas fit through the RVBLOGGER.COM

entry door (Okay, to be clear, I didn’t say easily). Designers create the furniture with this in mind.

When RV manufacturers make a new model, they think about that second or third owner 10-30 years from the date of purchase. They ask themselves, what would that RVer want to do to the coach, and what can we do to help them out?

Hence, the wider doors.

So, before you walk away from that older RV, place your hand in front of you, blocking out that red with pink flower sofa. Then, look at the space as a whole. Do you see the potential? How would you update the RV furniture if you bought that older RV for cash?

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CamperGigs HELPING CAMPERS FIND WORK AND VOLUNTEER GIGS! NEWS PROVIDED BY CAMPERGIGS

I

magine a map-searchable planning app that helps RVers find camp or park hosting positions, work camping jobs, and volunteer opportunities all in one place. As you plan your travels around the country or even if you’re just curious, you grab your laptop or phone, open the app, zoom to a location, date range, and type, and see what’s out there, each identifiable by unique markers on the map.

Now, if you’re a state or municipal park, RV park or nonprofit and have positions open or a volunteer project in mind and space to accommodate a group of RVers, imagine a free site with nationwide reach to post your idea and find those volunteers who would like to help!

Well, it’s called CamperGigs, and it’s coming! In fact, for hosts, it’s already here!

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Phil and Shar Roos, the creators of CamperGigs, and full-time RVers themselves, are on a path to revolutionize how RVers find and apply for these types of opportunities and how organizations post them. Do Phil and Shar sound familiar? They should. They founded A Year to Volunteer, a nonprofit that finds, plans, and runs RV-friendly volunteer projects all over the country, mostly at state parks and nonprofits. “After these past two years on the road and over 23,000 volunteer hours given back,” Shar says, “we realized that RVers have incredible ability, capacity, and desire to work and help, and many

organizations want them. But the process to connect them together has been cumbersome at best.”

Phil adds, “So, we are changing that. We want organizations to post on CamperGigs so that RVers need only use one website and app to do a quick search, find the perfect fit, and apply with the click of a button.”

Do we have your attention yet?

Well, we should because Phil and Shar may be on to something.

Traditionally, a person, looking for a camp host position at a state park or RV park, has to do their own research and that search takes them to multiple RVBLOGGER.COM

sites and lists. State parks post volunteer opportunities on their volunteer pages and RV parks advertise on their own sites, but how they do it is often varied.

“There are other sites that RVers can use but most are ‘stovepiped’ into a certain niche that supports their viewers,” Phil says.

“Moreover, many nonprofits are frankly unaware of the potential help they can get from today’s RV community and they have nowhere to post.” Shar adds that, “there are so many places you have to sort through to find that next gig. CamperGigs would change that and dramatically increase the reach of these

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“20% of our proceeds will also be channeled to our nonprofit, A Year to Volunteer, so we can strive towards self-funding those volunteer projects we perform all over the country,” organizations looking for help and make it as effortless as possible for the RVer to find them. One stop shopping is the objective!”

Here’s how it works. Hosts such as state parks, RV parks, nonprofits, or any organization looking for help, would register, build their profile, and post their opportunities, or gigs, for free on CamperGigs. “The interface is really intuitive,” says Phil.

“They can create their gig using a series of drop-downs and fill-in options to provide all the information necessary. They can even add images and files and choose the specific location on a map.” Those gigs are then uploaded into CamperGigs and categorized based on the

information provided. This side of CamperGigs is live now and ready for use.

For the user, their half of the site won’t be available until sometime in January, and the interface is equally intuitive but much more expansive. Users, or ‘Campers,’ as Phil and Shar like to call them in keeping with the CamperGigs theme, will also be able to register and build their own profile “which will serve as a mini, electronic resumé of sorts,” adds Shar. “They will be able to add key details about themselves, add pictures if they’d like, and can even upload reference letters if they have them.” From there, they can tap into the search tool of CamperGigs on their computer JANUARY 2022

or phone, find, and apply for the gigs that attract them. “The visual mapping feature will really make this easy and we can’t wait for this side of CamperGigs to go live. We’re still working with our developers to put all the finishing touches together and still have a bit more testing that needs to get done before we go live with the Camper side,” says Phil.

Shar and Phil are also taking the time to get organizations to start populating opportunities now so that they’ll be available when Campers login for the first time.

When the full site and app go live, Campers will be asked to pay the equivalent of a nominal one night’s stay at an RV park for annual access to help fund the website and app, but Phil and Shar think it will be absolutely worth it. “20% of our proceeds will also be channeled to our nonprofit, A Year to Volunteer, so we can strive towards selffunding those volunteer projects we perform all over the country,” adds Phil. “At the end of the day, it’s still all about connecting the RV community with organizations that would greatly benefit from their help.”

If you are an organization that would like to post opportunities now on CamperGigs for the 2022 season, head on over to CamperGigs.com and get started.

When you first sign up, you’ll receive an initial email with information on how to get going and you can take off from there!

If you’re interested as a user, you can sign up for email alerts as the launch date nears.

CamperGigs.com Post a Gig. Find a Gig. Connecting RVers to opportunity in one simple app! Sign up today!.

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