Episodes

I have been a member of Passport America for over a year, and I thought it would be an excellent time to review the program. So let’s start with what Passport America is and is not. First, Passport America does not own any campgrounds, but several campgrounds partner with them to offer 50% off a campsite stay. In fact, there are now over one thousand participating campgrounds in the Passport America lineup. Why Join Passport America Sabrina and I have heard about Passport America for several y...

Today’s show is all about power as we continue to share our live podcast interviews while attending the 106th FMCA Convention in Perry, Georgia. First up is Battle Born Batteries, followed by Cummins. Dragonfly Energy First is Eric Carter, Technical Sales Support for Dragonfly Energy/Battle Born Batteries. Eric explains the difference between Battle Born Batteries and its parent company Dragonfly Energy and who can buy which batteries for their installs. We also talk about what it means to be ...

On today’s Mini Pod, I am discussing why I chose a Jeep Wrangler as my next vehicle to tow behind our RV. Of course, a big part of my decision-making was mainly because I have always wanted to own a Wrangler, but there are many advantages to having a Wrangler or other four-wheel drive vehicles as your toad. Toad is a term used to describe pulling a vehicle behind your motorhome. Pros of having a tow car Before jumping into the reasons for my Jeep purchase, I wanted to quickly review the advant...

Day 1 of the FMCA 106th International Convention & RV Expo Welcome to day one of the 106th FMCA Convention in Perry, Georgia. On today’s episode, we are joined by Stacy Rabung, the Operations Director for Fantasy RV Tours. During this episode, we find out what makes their tours so special, how they choose a new location, what role their ambassadors play during and before a trip, and what you can expect as a guest. Fantasy RV Tours Fantasy RV Tours has been taking RVs on guided bucket list loc...

Today I am sharing my thoughts on the Camco Taste Pure Water Softener. This will be a two-part review, with the second part coming out in about six months after I have used the softener for some time. I recently purchased this water softener from Amazon for about $180. You might be like me and have never given your RV water much thought except for filtering it with blue or green inline filters. You may also wonder why bother trying to make the water softer or even what that means. Why Soften Yo...

Please take the time to leave us a rating on your podcast platform of choice. It helps our ranking and makes it easier for others to find us. If you want to take it further, you can also leave us a review. We would certainly appreciate it! Thank You FMCA First up on today’s show, we want to thank the FMCA for hosting us at their 106th Convention and RV EXPO. We had a great time, and hopefully, you could catch some of the morning shows and the afternoon RV tours. We had an incredible array of g...

Today I am reviewing Micro-Air’s EasyStart Soft Starter and EasyTouch RV Thermostat, a smart thermostat made for RVs. These are two RV upgrades we are glad we invested in. I have owned the EasyTouch RV Thermostat for about three years, and I recently purchased and installed the Micro-Air EasyStart, although I used to have one on a previous A/C unit as well. RV Upgrades – EastStart Let’s start with the EasyStart and the benefits. The EasyStart is one of those RV upgrades that does not have any...

If you have ever seen a Winnebago EKKO in person, you most likely thought, “that looks different!” Also, you may have wondered if it is a Class C or a B+. Today we are going to answer that question and more with Brian Thoreson. Brian is a product planner for Winnebago and had a big hand in developing the EKKO. The Winnebago EKKO is an all-wheel drive adventure vehicle 23ft long. But don’t let its small size fool you. It is packed with space-saving ideas and a long list of features. Brian had th...

Note: This is a follow-up to part one of this series on RVing History. Please click this link to view and listen to part one. Introduction Nothing new comes without controversy, and camping is no different. Along with the issue of slavery, Americans were also struggling with women’s rights and equality in this country. Even though women were not granted the right to vote until 1920, the fight for equality and the work by certain men to suppress that equality was alive and well in the late 1860...

RV Detailing by JM AutoStyling Who doesn’t like their RV looking shiny and new? The problem is, it’s so much work! Up and down the ladder and for me burning out my shoulders and back. Today we have Justin Madrid from JM Auto Styling on the show. Justin is an RVer and finds detailing cars, trucks, boats, and RVs very therapeutic for the mind. This is great for us who do not feel the same. Justin talks about how why he decided to put RVs into the mix of vehicles he details especially considering ...

Gas Stop Emergency Propane Shutoff Valve Hey everyone, today, we are talking about the GasStop Emergency Propane Shutoff Valve. No, not about if you ate too many beans last night type of gas Stop. We are talking about how to stop a propane leak in your RV, especially when you might not even be aware of the issue. What does GasStop do? GasStop is the only emergency 100% shut-off safety device for bottled and portable propane systems. In the event of a major leak, GasStop will instantly and aut...

Tembo Tusk Do you love cooking out on an open flame grill? If so, this episode is for YOU! Jerry and Bryan L’Ecuyer from Tembo Tusk come to discuss their Skottle grills. These American-made griddles can be used to make almost any type of meal–including those favorite meals at home or while traveling across the country in your RV. Jerry and Bryan share the inspiration behind their Skottle grill and how they were looking for Skottle to purchase here in the United States and found none were being ...

Today we welcome back Kent Wilson, COO of SnapPad. Kent has information on some new products, including the RV SnapPad Cap. We also get a sneak peek of some exciting new products coming in the future. RV SnapPad’s Cap for Stackers One of the new products we talk about is their Cap, which is designed for use with stackers. If you have any experience, you probably noticed stackers are a bit brittle. The Cap is made to fit on top of the stackers to help extend the life of the stacker and give you...

The Search for an E-Bike When I first started shopping around for an electric bike, I was immediately turned off by the price — with some costing thousands of dollars. So, I looked for an e-bike that would meet all my needs and stay on a budget of under $1000. I eventually found that bike: the Ecotric fat tire folding e-bike. At a $780 price tag, it was significantly under budget. Why an E-Bike? A nice bike would be a great way to run errands or explore surrounding areas after the RV is set u...

Editor’s Note: Before we get into the show notes, I wanted to share that the campground we stayed at during our Battle Born Battery install is called the Coronado Campground. It is in a town called Bernalillo, just outside of Albuquerque. The Thai Restaurant we ate at in San Francisco is called Kin Khao, a Michelin-star-rated restaurant. We both enjoyed it very much. Welcome to Drivers Edition FMCA 106th Convention & RV Expo We start this episode by letting everyone know we will be at this ...

The Father of Camping This episode begins a series of the origins of RVing in America. It really began before automobiles even existed. The 1860s was a rough time in America, with the Civil War being fought from 1861 to 1865. With that, the nation was divided over slavery and other issues. At this time, William Murray became an adult and started a major movement in the U.S. called camping! William Henry Harrison Murray, the father of recreational camping in America, was born in Guilford, Conne...

What is RV Business RV Business is a no-nonsense way to get all of your RV news. That is precisely why we turn to them repeatedly to help us stay up to date with all things RVing. So we were thrilled to have Rick Kessler, Executive Editor for RV Business, on the show. Rick tells us about the company’s long history, how it has changed over the years and gives us a look at its possible future. Rick is an RVer with a background in journalism. So it was only natural for him to put his skills to wor...

Sean was fortunate to talk to Julie Chickery, his wife and author of The Epic Retirement Bucket List, about the book. The Epic Retirement Bucket List In this minipod, we talk about why Julie wrote such a book, what it contains, how it applies to RV travelers, and how to get your hands on a copy. The book is full of information, including: 150 outside-the-box ideas and hobbies, whether ​​swimming with sharks in the Maldives, learning the art of cheesemaking in the Swiss Alps, or volunteering a...

Mind Over Land’s Mission Mind Over Land is a non-profit organization getting military veterans outdoors with vehicle-based overlanding adventures. The organization is operated by three founders who are also veterans. One of the members, Seth Smith, joins us to discuss the importance of getting vets back outdoors to help them with readjustment and enjoy the camaraderie of others and working as a team. Mind Over Land wants to make it as easy as possible for vets to join their trips, which is why...

Lava Linens Pros Today’s mini pod is a Lava Linens Review. Lava Linens makes hemp and flax towels. These towels absorb more and dry faster than cotton. I first bought a set of their classic towels last year while attending the Overland West show. The towels are of good size, offer great body coverage, and dry fast. My wife and I thought these towels would be great while we were RVing, but we have found ourselves using these towels at home as well. Some other reasons the towels are marketed tow...

Luno is making camping out in your vehicle more comfortable than ever. Luno developed an inflatable mattress lineup that is precision made to fit inside your van, SUV, truck cab, or truck bed. Pete Ducato is the founder of Luno. He talks with us about how his passion for the outdoors sparked the creation of Luno. We learn what sets Luno mattresses apart by diving deep into their R&D process. We also discuss quality control, including real-world testing with a community that loves to be outdoors...

My wife and I have been RVing for some time now, but when we started, we quickly discovered our pup’s one true love: the front dashboard of our Class A! Whenever it was parked, she’d be there in a flash to peer out through the windows – but unfortunately when summer rolled around things didn’t quite stay as cozy. With temperatures on that dash often reaching an unbearable 117F degrees, her spot quickly became off-limits due to safety concerns. Why a Magne Shade A Magne Shade became the perfect...

FMCA 106th International Convention & RV Expo Calling all RV fans! Beyond The Wheel Podcast is heading back to the FMCA International Convention & RV Expo in Perry, Georgia, for four days of daily live shows. Get ready to join us March 15th through 18th as we take our show up a notch with an exciting new addition – a PA system! Plan your trip to the FMCA event now so you can be part of this unique experience. We’ll have more information soon on times and guests – stay tuned! Thank you, FMCA for...

Safe T Plus Safe T Plus is a Georgia-based company that produces a steering control bar for RVs, buses, 18 Wheelers, and more. The Safe T Plus Steering Control Bar is designed to jump into action if a front tire blowout occurs. If you were to have a front tire blow out, the Safe T Plus bar helps keep your vehicle under control long enough to safely pull over to the side of the road. The bar is always working, which means you do not need to be in an emergency to enjoy some of the other benefits ...