Rolling Home

When it comes to entertainment while traveling commercially built RV's typically have you covered. Heck, even most folks who build out a van or other platform include a small TV in their plan, or at a minimum, plan to use their computer or tablet device for those times when they want to relax by watching a favorite TV show or catch a movie. While our camper van has numerous options for occasional...

Recently, while returning to my office following a business appointment I witnessed a violent accident along the interstate. A small SUV just ahead of me swerved ever so slightly to the left, resulting in the vehicle clipping a large concrete barrier placed along the roadside during construction. The vehicle flipped two to three times, coming to rest in the center of the roadway. I don’t know what...

If you are still dreaming of jumping into van life but thought nothing was available to buy, you might just be in luck as newbie van lifers appear to be selling their custom COVID rigs as the pandemic dies down. We'll talk about it in today's edition of Rolling Home. Show notes

I love solar power! I especially like the way the 200 watts of solar on the roof of my camper van maintains my onboard coach batteries and powers many of the low-power gadgets inside the van. It's kind of one of those "set it and forget it things" of life. However, when solar doesn't work it doesn't work. That's what we'll talk about on this edition of the Rolling Home podcast. Show notes

Unless you have been living under a rock for the past several months you probably know there is a shortage of RVs for sale, and what's more, both new and used RVs are commanding premium prices. We'll discuss that and more in this edition of the Rolling Home Podcast. Show notes

Did you know the Fourth of July holiday is one of the deadliest travel holidays of the year? Defensive driving, taking time to rest, and not getting into too much of a hurry are a few practices to keep in mind during what is shaping up to be one of the busiest post-pandemic holidays yet. We talk about this and more in this edition of the Rolling Home Podcast. Show notes

Come along today as I do a pre-trip exterior and interior inspection of our Winnebago Travato 59G camper van. While it's always important to check fluid levels and tire inflation, an inspection of onboard supplies and other items can prevent you from having what you need down the road. That's the topic of today's edition of Rolling Home, and remember, "Home is where you park it." Show notes

While your next road trip may not look like you originally thought (see  Episode 25 for details), a little bit of advanced planning can make your trip not only more fun and enjoyable, it can also help you to stay safe on our country's increasingly crowded highways and interstates. In this episode of Rolling Home we'll discuss tips you need to consider as you travel for vacation or even a "wor...

Sometimes your work doesn't stop for a vacation, weekend getaway or road trip. In this episode of Rolling Home, we'll discuss how we work from the road in our Class B Winnebago Travato camper van without the need for traditional hookups provided in an RV park. Being self-contained has its advantages and having 300 watts of solar and an extra AGM on board to store power doesn't hurt either. What's...

RV Parks ain't my thing. Since buying my Class B camper van I have generally avoided camping at RV parks like the plague. Now don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with most RV parks. I just try not to depend on them. When boondocking I don't mean that I am "stealth camping" as in being completely unseen, hunkered down in a van with no windows and a utility rack mounted on top – rather as sim...

According to travel experts, a surge of people plan to hit the road in a car or RV in 2021 – many more than in previous years. While shunning air travel for road travel may seem the way to go at first glance, there are some things road trippers need to keep in mind in post-pandemic America. In this episode of Rolling Home, we discuss the impact the pandemic has had on the rental car industry, why...

I just completed my 24th episode of the Rolling Home podcast which I started in February of this year. It has been a lot of fun and is a hobby I enjoy. However, I've noticed that my audio isn't always the best, so with this podcast I discuss how I have recorded my podcast in the past and some new tools that I plan to use in the future. One of those tools is the Anchor online podcast studio. Join m...

Modern consumer society results in us accumulating more, but in many cases, results in enjoying life less. Have you noticed that advertising is always telling us to buy the latest and greatest despite what we might already own works just fine. If you are a part-time van camper owner like me or another RV owner, the coming of summer travel means clearing out the clutter from winter and preparing to...

Post World War II America ushered unprecedented change in the way Americans worked, lived, and traveled. What's more, many technologies we depend on today were born through the space program of the 1960s. They include things like satellite TV and navigation, laptop computers and smartphones, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, and the joystick used in computer gaming – technologies that also make...

As a kid growing up in rural Missouri and later Arkansas, I loved watching the short-lived TV series, "Then Came Bronson." Then Came Bronson began with a TV pilot that aired on NBC on March 24, 1969; and was also released in Europe as a theatrical feature film. This was followed by a single season of 26 episodes airing between September 17, 1969, and April 1, 1970. There was a lot to fascinate a y...

The arrival of warmer temperatures across the U.S. officially ushers the traveling camping season in earnest. Unfortunately, warmer temperatures also bring bugs, mosquitoes and all types of other insects out in force. While I love exploring the outdoors, insects seem to always be a constant nuisance. Traveling in a camper van affords a lot of amenities that can help fight back bugs and other flyin...

In today's episode of Rolling Home we talk about the various YouTube channels I watch regularly and how they have helped enhance my Class B and RV travel experiences. Yes, TV isn't what it used to be because today you don't have to just watch "what's on" but can learn and grow and discover something new and skills that help you in everyday life on platforms like YouTube. #vanlife #ClassB #travel #...

Many people suffer from springtime allergies like me. While it's unavoidable while traveling, there are some things that you can do to prepare your rig  — and your body's immune system — for the onslaught of springtime pollen and other allergens. In today's episode of Rolling Home, we discuss how one allergy sufferer (me), does just that. #vanlife #RV #Winnebago #Travato #springtime #allergie...

Gulf Shores, Alabama, has been a favorite destination for my wife and me for more than 35 years. If you love gorgeous white sand, surging surf, seagulls, and a variety of activities, Gulf State Park is definitely where to camp near the Gulf. Join me on this episode of Rolling Home as we explore the Gulf Shores area and stay at Gulf State Park. I'll also include a tip on a boondocking location, as...

Summer is almost here in many parts of the United States, so it's time to plan on how to stay cool while boondocking in an RV. Already, I have come up with a number of ways to keep my van cool, while at the same time conserving energy off-grid. Join me today as I discuss how I keep my van 10 to 20 degrees cooler than the outside temperature without air conditioning. #summertime #heat #vanlife #Win...

The day after we completed the purchase of our Winnebago Travato 59G we hit the road. I learned a lot about our new rig and the way it handled high winds and stormy weather. It's easy to see why the Travato is the No. 1 selling Class B camper van in the United States. Join me on our maiden voyage that includes a few twists and turns, as well as a number of pleasant surprises. I learned that someti...

We've all heard the American idiom, "Go big or go home!" In this episode of Rolling Home, I discuss how we "went small and brought home" our Winnebago Travato 59G Class B camper van. It is just what the doctor ordered to replace our Sportsmen Classic travel trailer that was stolen. You could say the 59G is built with boondocking in mind with its onboard solar and other amenities. Join me today for...

If you're like me you are seeing a lot of advertisements online and in print about portable power stations, which are sometimes referred to as "solar generators." Well, the ones I've seen don't "generate" power, rather store it. These devices are convenient for off-grid power and boondocking. Using a lot of items I already had I recently built my own 800-watt power station. In this episode, I disc...

Have you noticed our country seems to be changing before our very eyes? The social and cultural unrest the United States is experiencing today was laid out in 1958 in the book, The Naked Communist by American political theorist W. Cleon Skousen , a former FBI employee. In this episode of Rolling Home, we discuss social and cultural change and how it could limit our freedoms like RV and van leisure...

Sometimes we don't think about security while traveling or RVing until it's too late. On this episode of the Rolling Home Podcast I discuss my approach to security while boondocking and staying at RV parks. In addition to typical security measures everyone should exercise in everyday life, I discuss a new security system I am planning to implement based on the new Wyze 3 camera. #boondocking #RV #...