Girl Camper

Are you part of the crowd that goes to RV Shows and comes away thinking that the designers of these units are enamored with brown and grey? Do you wonder if Elkhart, Indiana is actually the set of a 1950’s TV show and it’s all in black and white? Well, I’m here to tell you that the times they are a changing, even if it is slowly. I have just returned from the annual Manufacturers Open House in Elk...

Fun with Ford! I recently had the opportunity to test drive the Ford Expedition for a week. I have been considering switching from my F150 truck to an SUV so  I put the question out there to Girl Campers – do you prefer an SUV to a truck and, if so, why? There were those who would only drive a truck and others that only want an SUV. Here are some of the pros and cons from our Girl Camper Pol...

My guest today is Marlene Caraballo. She’s a wife of 30 years, mom to three almost grown sons, an avid blogger at Cheers 2 Chapter 2 and a long time RVer who is now looking Chapter Two straight in the eye and, guess what, it’s looking good for this almost empty nester. I invited Marlene on the show today to talk about her annual RV vacation to Myrtle Beach and how what started out as a cheap...

On this week’s show I interview friends, travel companions and business partners Kelly Beasley and Marshall Wendler. Their paths crossing turned into a grand blessing for the RV world. Kelly is full of chutzpah and courage and made her dream of full time RVing a reality. Once in that world she met a “technical nerd” named Marshall Wendler. Marshall possessed all the qualities us...

Walter Cannon has dedicated his career to RV Saftey. He was a founding member of the RV Safety and Education Foundation, an organization created to increase awareness of RV saftey issues and create educational materials for that purpose. Over the years the Foundation has grown to be a comprehensive source for all things related to RV safety. I first met Walter when he and I were both speaking at t...

Does the prospect of a camping trip sometimes become stressful? Are you tempted to just settle for an evening around your neighbors fire pit? You are not alone. Today I am giving you a set of tips that I have honed over the years that make camping trips, whether just a weekend or weeks away at a time, way easier to manage. The difference between a happy camper and an unhappy one often comes down t...

I had a lot of fun last week answering listeners questions and this week I am wrapping up this installment of FAQ’s. There’s a lot of information out there and plenty of trusted resources. When I am unsure of something I pull in an expert which is why you will see links here to past podcasts with those “in the know.” Part Two – FAQ’s Submitted by: Ginny McKinney Can y...

On this week’s podcast I am answering listeners questions! I think it is so important to remember that for many, this camping thing is all brand new and we definitely want to be the site that says, “There’s no such thing as a dumb question” so, here we go! Submitted by: Michelle Cole Travel Trailer vs motor home with toad behind – Which would have better gas mileage?...

On this week’s show returning guest Mary Ellen Arndorfer returns to gives us the 411 on how to start enjoying water sports. Kayaking, canoeing, paddle boarding and surfing are great ways to play in the water and get outdoors. I grew up in the midwest and spent time at our cousins summer home on Lake Geneva, Wisconsin where we all learned to water ski. It was so much fun. I was pretty much of...

My guest this week is award winning radio and TV host Alan Taylor. Alan is a 30 + year veteran broadcaster and auto expert. He also hosts the popular Entrepreneur Weekly Podcast for Entrepreneur Magazine. He has worked with Motor Trend, Car and Driver, Inc. Magazine and Popular Science. He is a regular contributor to ABC’s “LIVE with Kelly & Ryan” as well as guest appearances...

Did you know that a campground is a great place for non RV owners to learn about camping? Did you know that they are also a great place to host an event? Hip Homeschool Moms , Trish Corlew and Wendy Hilton recently took their followers on one of their Homeschool Road Trips to explore the World’s Longest Cave System at Mammoth Cave in Kentucky. Rather than the usual hotel arrangement they&#82...

On this weeks show I welcome returning guest, Sandy Newkirk. I first interviewed Sandy way back in Episode 12 of the podcast . Sandy and I met when she happened by my house on her way to a garage sale and saw me in my driveway working on my vintage camper. She pulled up and asked if it was for sale. I explained that I was a “Girl Camper” and used it to camp with other like minded women...

Have you wondered if there’s a pecking order to setting up the RV once you arrive at the campground? Well, there is! Today I am going over the steps to help you make sure you don’t make a costly mistake but, before we cover that I want to chat for a minute about the whole backing in thing! If you’ve been at this for a while, please think back to your beginner days and remember th...

Do you love the roar and crackle of a good campfire? Are you mesmerized by the flickering lights, glowing embers and radiating warmth? I’ve got some tips on building the perfect campfire! Ingredients  Tinder or fire starters Kindling Dry hardwoods Rake Ring Fan or bellows Fireplace gloves or tongs Lighter Start by preparing your ring or stone circle. Remove old debris and rake around th...

Have you found the perfect trailer but are afraid to pull the trigger because it has a wet bath? Are you imagining sloppy pools of water on everything and mold incubating on the walls? Think again. RV’s with wet baths can keep a trailers weight down significantly and give you added floor space where you really want it. Here are a few of the tips I’ve employed in my RV wet bath. Keeping...

My Favorite RV Kitchen Hacks  I want my RV kitchen to do everything my home kitchen does and I am always scouring for RV kitchen tips because it has to do all of that in 10% of the space. Here are a few of my favorites!! Magnetic Knife Holder – Chef style magnetic knife holders have so many uses in a camper. In the kitchen they can be used to store knives obviously but also to hang othe...

On this weeks show I am walking you through the basics of matching your tow vehicle to your RV. I am breaking down and defining the terms associated with towing safety.  I’m also laying out the formula used to determine what size RV can be safely towed by what sized tow vehicle. Some terms we hear discussed at RV dealerships and on social media groups dedicated to RVing are below. It&#8...

On today’s show I am sharing the results of my online survey asking Girl Campers for their favorite things they won’t camp without. There were so many things that I decided to just start with their favorite kitchen things. Whether you Camp Like a Girl with all the comforts of home or go with a simpler style you will probably find something here that you want to take with you. Ice Maker...

On this week’s show I am highlighting some of my favorite new gear. It’s time to clean out the camper and find a spot for all the new gear, gizmos and gadgets. Out of the Box Camping is a quarterly subscription box delivered to your door for campers, glampers and RV enthusiasts. If you buy the annual subscription you can get your box with shipping included for $46.25. I think this is a...

Are you ready to shake off winter and get that camper ready to roll? Mark Polk is here today to talk about projects you can do yourself to get the camper ready for this season’s camping adventures. Mark is the founder of RV Education 101 and an industry expert on safety, maintenance and RV repairs. There are a lot of RV maintenance projects you can do and Mark provides great tutorials and vi...

On this weeks show I am sharing all the details of our Fly and Drive vacation to parts warm! We left cold and snowy New Jersey with temps in the 30’s and flew to warm and sunny LA. Once there we picked up a Class C Motorhome that we rented from El Monte RV in Van Nuys, California. We were in deep need of sun but also in need of a camping fix. Our trailer had been parked in the driveway for o...

Most people think of the Ford Ranger as that old, small, white truck that service industries used for a fleet vehicle. The cable guys truck. The pest control guy. Your local plumber. The Ranger was everywhere you looked from it’s debut in 1987 until production stopped in 2011. The truck was small, practical and inexpensive. Ford has brought back the Ranger and it is NOT your light duty, clea...

On this week’s show I am chatting with friends and co founders of the Road Trip Mojo site about the music festival scene and Rving. These two things go hand in hand and Jeff Zbar and Barry Bluth have a love for both. They’ve combined that love to create a website that helps fellow music and Rving aficionados find the festivals, navigate the best ways to get there and introduce us to th...

Have you ever dreamed a really big dream? A dream that wouldn’t make sense to most people? Have you ever thought of just chucking it?  Quitting your job, selling your house, retiring early and hitting the road for a year or two?  Leslie Abbott of southern California did and within one year of dreaming the dream, she made it happen. She retired early, sold her house and bought a Cla...

Are you stuck in analysis paralysis? Have you seen so many RV’s that you can no longer remember which one had the Murphy bed and which was the bunkhouse? There comes a time when you have to take all the spreadsheets, pros and cons and checklists and just PICK ONE before  you miss out on another season of camping!! Here’s one more checklist to help you choose the right RV for you. . Tip...