Good Monday morning, everyone!

I hope this finds you safe, comfortable, and ready for a new week on the road - or dreaming about your next adventure. It seems Mother Nature has been working overtime lately. Between the dangerous flooding in parts of Texas, the wildfire smoke drifting across much of the northern U.S., and the relentless summer heat affecting so much of the country, it's been a challenging stretch for many RVers.

Jennifer and I are thinking of everyone dealing with these conditions. If you're traveling, take it slow, stay weather-aware, and don't hesitate to adjust your plans if conditions warrant. The beauty of the RV lifestyle is that we have the freedom to change course when we need to.

Meanwhile, today marks the second week since Jennifer's Total Knee Replacement surgery, and while she's still experiencing pain, her hourly exercises, icing, and twice-a-week PT sessions are bringing daily improvements.

Enough that she joined me in our Sunday night YouTube Ask Us Anything program and our members-only RVCommunity afterglow last night.

Do you know that we do two of those private livestreams every week on the RV Community site?

They are a lot of fun, very interactive and we always have a lot of laughs as folks check in from coast to coast and across the US and Canada, and sometimes even overseas.

​RVCommunity.com is our ad-free home base for serious RVers who want more than just another feed to scroll through. You get real access: to us, to each other, and to events you won't find anywhere else. Plus, whenever you have an RV question or troubleshooting issue, someone - usually several someones - will help you through it.

I'm constantly amazed by how helpful our community is.

And friendly! We have four in-person rallies every year, held in scenic locations across the country, plus almost monthly regional Meet-Ups.

Speaking of events: We've got four rallies planned for next year! Four.

Between the rallies, the meetups, the livestreams, and all the perks and discounts members get, membership pays for itself many times over in knowledge, connection, and fun.

Come join us at RVCommunity.com. We'd love to have you. It truly is THE BEST online RV community out there! Just ask our members.

Now... on to the news.

RV Podcast News Edition for July 20, 2026 - RV Service Nightmares at the Big RV Chains

Don't Let These RV Service Nightmares Happen to You!

This week on the RV Lifestyle Podcast News Edition, we take a hard look at one of the biggest frustrations facing RV owners today: service department problems at some of the nation's largest RV dealer chains.

You'll also hear about:

• The extreme weather that disrupted RV travel from the Great Lakes to Texas.
• A promising new effort to crack down on ghost campground bookings
• A major fire-risk recall affecting many Tiffin motorhomes
• An important wildlife safety reminder following a Yellowstone bison attack and a simple measuring technique from Mike on how to know whether you're too close to a wild animal
• And why catalytic converter thefts are once again targeting RV owners across the country.

Every story in this episode is fully researched, independently sourced, and explained in plain English, along with practical takeaways you can use to travel smarter and more safely. Complete source links are available at RVPodcast.com. You can also send us email, comments and questions through the CONTACT link there.

If you enjoy the podcast, please subscribe and leave a review. It helps other RVers discover the show and supports the work we do every week to keep you informed.

My goal with these Monday News Edition podcasts isn't just to read the headlines. It's to explain what's happening, why it matters, and how it affects all of us who love the RV lifestyle.

I'd love for you to give it a listen or watch it on YouTube. I think you'll come away with a much better understanding of where our industry is headed.

Listen to the Audio Version of the Podcast

Watch the YouTube version of the Podcast

RV Question of the Week

Q: Mike, it's 95 degrees outside, and my motorhome has a single 15,000 BTU air conditioner. What's a realistic inside temperature we should expect? We feel like it's not cooling enough. - Jake and Meqan, Franklin, KY

A: That's one of the most common questions I get every summer.

The first thing to know is that RV air conditioners aren't designed to make your coach refrigerator-cold. Under normal conditions, a properly functioning 15,000 BTU rooftop air conditioner is designed to lower the temperature inside your RV by about 18 to 22 degrees compared to the outside air.

So if it's 95° outside, don't expect it to cool your RV to 68°. A more realistic temperature is somewhere around 73° to 77°, assuming you're parked in the shade, your seals are in good shape, and you're keeping the sun out with shades or reflective window covers.

If you're parked in full sun on asphalt with the slides exposed and people constantly opening the door, even 78° to 82° may be the best it can do during the hottest part of the afternoon.

The good news is there are several things you can do to help:

• Park so your largest windows face north or are shaded.
• Close blinds and day/night shades before the sun heats up the coach.
• Use reflective windshield covers.
• Keep the air conditioner running all day instead of waiting until the RV gets hot.
• Clean the return air filter regularly and make sure nothing is blocking the ceiling vents.

One last tip: if you want to know whether your air conditioner is actually working correctly, don't measure the room temperature. Measure the temperature of the air going into the return vent and compare it to the air coming out of the closest ceiling vent. A healthy RV air conditioner should show about an 18 to 22-degree temperature drop. If it's significantly less than that, it may be time for a service check.

Have an RV question you'd like me to answer in a future newsletter? Just hit the CONTACT link at RVPodcast.com. I read every email, and your question may appear in an upcoming episode.

Follow us on all the Socials!