This week on the RV Podcast: * To Catch a Thief: An RV Dealer Fights Back Against RV Thefts * Two National Parks have been so devastated by wildfires they have shut down for the rest of the year. * In Mike and Jen’s Storytime, when the free-spirited serendipity approach to RV travel doesn’t work * All this plus RV Tips, the News of the Week and your questions coming up in Episode 556 of the RV Podcast You can watch the video version from our RV Lifestyle YouTube Channel by clicking the player below. If you prefer an audio-only podcast, you can hear us through your favorite podcast app or listen now through the player below. We got the fifth wheel fixed. The skirting that came loose on the dreadful stretch of I-69 in Michigan was replaced and reinstalled. We’re accessorizing our new Embassy RV Cape Cod Class C motorhome and already planning some upgrades - We want to add solar, seat belts to the lounge chairs and an on/off switch to that pesky always-on  360-degree camera monitor that causes parasitic drain to the batteries. Meanwhile, we wrote a post on our private RVCommunity.com the other day I thought I’d share on the podcast. It has to do with the huge Caravan RV show held every September in Dusseldorf, Germany. I think it has arguably become the most influential RV show in the world, eclipsing even Hershey and Tampa.  I've been reading about some of the new models to be introduced, and this one - called  "The RV of the Future" caught my eye.  It's from German manufacturer Knaus and it's called the Boxtime, a very compact little van on the Fiat Ducato chassis that comes in under 20 feet. It features what's called a "transformational bathroom" that uses a fake wall that holds the sink and the mirror that switches between shower and bath.  You can use it as a restroom with the wall in position, or it becomes a full shower room by swinging the wall to the side so that it covers the toilet. This way, in the same footprint, you get a full shower and you don't have to worry about splashing water on everything else, because everything else is safely tucked away behind the wall. Other manufacturers have also tinkered with this design, and I’m sure we'll eventually see more US RV makers using it. But in terms of innovation and design, this unit - and the Italian-made Wingham, which is now being sold in the U.S. - make most American-made RVs look old and outdated. European styling and design are years ahead of what we’re seeing from our North American manufacturers. RV CONVERSATION OF THE WEEK When Bretz RV & Marine had a Brinkley trailer stolen from its Billings, Montana, store, the family-owned dealership didn't just file a claim with their insurance and sit back. No, they decided to fight. Bretz paired up with the truck dealer down the street and issued a $20,000 reward, set up a hotline, named names, showed pictures of the stolen rig, the stolen truck, and the guy accused of taking it and put it all together to the tune "Bad Boys" made popular by the show "Cops" in a 58-second reel. Mike Wendland full false 44:34 Beating the Heat: Protecting Your RV From Summer Stress https://rvlifestyle.com/beating-the-heat-protecting-your-rv-from-summer-stress/ Wed, 16 Jul 2025 11:05:00 +0000 https://rvlifestyle.com/?p=112062 This week on the RV Podcast: Beating the Heat: Protecting Your RV From Summer Stress Wildfires roar through two national parks, causing campground evacuations and destroying an iconic hotel The health dangers of wildfire smoke and why you should drive around it, not through it.  All this plus the RV News of the Week and your questions co