States are Taxing RV Owners on Prices They Never Paid!

Good Monday morning!

First off, we hope all the moms in our RV Lifestyle family had a wonderful Mother’s Day weekend. Whether you celebrated around the campfire, at home with family, or somewhere out on the road, we hope it was filled with love, laughter, and good memories.

Jennifer and I are just back from a quiet week-long campout in southeastern Michigan, and honestly, it was exactly what we needed. The campground was nearly empty, just a handful of RVs scattered among the trees. Even though the temperatures felt more like early April than mid-May, there was something incredibly peaceful about it all. Cool mornings, hot coffee, long walks, and those silent evenings where the only sound was the wind moving through the trees.

Sometimes the best camping trips are not the big adventures. Sometimes they are simply about slowing down.

Now it’s back to work for us, and this week I’m putting the finishing touches on our May Live Training Workshop, and I think this one is going to help a lot of RVers heading into summer travel season.

​RV Problems on the Road, Fixed Fast​
Thursday, May 14 at 7 PM Eastern

This workshop is all about what happens when things don’t go according to plan, and how to handle those situations calmly, confidently, and without letting them ruin your trip.

We’ll walk through common RV problems we’ve personally experienced over 15 years on the road, how to diagnose issues, what you can realistically fix yourself, when it’s time to call for help, and most importantly, how to avoid panic when something breaks far from home.

And remember, these workshops are live and interactive. That means you can ask me questions in real time during the session and get practical answers specific to your situation.

Details are at RVLifestyle.com/workshop​

If you’re a member of RVCommunity.com, you’re already in at no extra cost. For everyone else, registration is just $10.

Let’s get you ready for the road ahead.

Alright, now the news. Here is what we're reporting in today's RV News Podcast.

​The RV Podcast: Monday News Edition​

This week’s RV Podcast News Edition digs into a story that could cost unsuspecting RV buyers thousands of dollars, and most people never even see it coming until it’s too late.

It’s called the MSRP tax trap.

In several states, RV buyers are being charged sales tax based not on the negotiated purchase price of the RV, but on the manufacturer’s suggested retail price, even when dealers heavily discount the unit. In some cases, buyers are paying taxes on tens of thousands of dollars they never actually spent. We explain how it works, why it happens, and what RV shoppers need to know before signing paperwork.

We also look at a growing controversy over hunting proposals connected to some National Park lands and why outdoor groups are sounding alarms about what this could mean for the future of public lands access and conservation policy.

And finally, we share a fascinating look at the booming overlanding movement and adventure-style RVs that are changing how many people think about RV travel. Rugged rigs, off-grid capability, and expedition-style camping are no longer niche; they are rapidly becoming one of the hottest trends in the RV world.

As always, we’ll also share travel tips, answer your questions, and help you stay informed about what’s really happening across the RV lifestyle.

All stories are reported in detail and sourced at RVPodcast.com. New episodes every Monday (News) and Wednesday (Stories from the Road). Subscribe so you never miss one.

🎧 Listen now at RVPodcast.com​

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Can you leave us one? Thanks in advance.

RV QUESTION OF THE WEEK

QUESTION: From Ray: Is it ok to carry fresh water in your RV tank when traveling?

ANSWER: Absolutely yes…. BUT, there are two schools of thought here.

School of thought #1: Travel with an empty or nearly empty tank

Water weighs about 8.3 pounds per gallon, so a full tank adds significant weight. Some RVers worry that bumps and potholes stress the brackets holding the tank, potentially causing it to break loose and fall out.

Has this actually happened? Yes, but very rarely. When it does occur, it's usually due to a defect, improper installation, or a very old RV with worn-out components.

This approach makes sense if your RV is already at or near its weight capacity. You'll need to know your RV's total carrying capacity and calculate how much weight you've added beyond the dry weight. If you packed a lot of gear, then cutting back on the water you carry will compensate a bit.

School of thought #2: Partial tanks are worse

But, there are critics of partially filled freshwater tanks. They argue that traveling with quarter-full or half-full tanks means the water will be sloshing around, and this creates MORE stress on the tank and mounting system than a full tank would.

Again, if this is truly a problem, we think it is extremely rare and mostly happens with very old rigs or improperly secured systems.

So what’s the bottom line?

Ask any RV question, and you'll get multiple answers. People love to debate these topics. You need to decide what makes sense for your situation.

Personally, we travel with a full tank without problems. We also travel with just a few gallons sometimes. We know our RV is well-made, including the brackets and straps holding the freshwater tank. As long as your system is installed correctly and maintained, either approach should be fine.

Got a question for us? Email by using the Contact tab at RVPodcast.com​

Know What Your RV Trip Will REALLY Cost Before You Leave

One of the biggest mistakes RVers make is underestimating what a trip is actually going to cost.

Fuel. Campgrounds. Tolls. Food. Propane. Attractions. It all adds up fast, and too many people hit the road with only a vague idea of what they’re about to spend.

That’s exactly why we created the RV Trip Budget Planner.​

This simple web app helps you quickly estimate the real-world cost of your next RV adventure before you ever leave the driveway. Just plug in your mileage, fuel costs, campground fees, food budget, activities, and trip length, and the planner does the math for you.

No complicated spreadsheets.
No confusing formulas.
No surprises halfway through the trip.

Whether you’re planning a weekend getaway or a cross-country RV adventure, this tool gives you a much clearer picture of what the journey will cost and where you may be able to save money along the way.

It works on your phone, tablet, or computer, and because it’s web-based, there’s nothing to download or install.

We built it because after 15 years on the road, we know firsthand how easy it is for travel costs to quietly spiral out of control when you’re not tracking them. This tool helps take away that stress and gives you confidence before the wheels start rolling.

You can check it out here: RV Trip Budget Planner​

At just $9, it may save you hundreds on your very next trip.

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