From RV Fire to Fix: Matthew Putman of Strain Guard on Preventing RV Power Cord Meltdowns | Community Spotlight

From RV Fire to Fix: Matthew Putman of Strain Guard on Preventing RV Power Cord Meltdowns | Community Spotlight

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2522973/fan_mail/new] Community Spotlight Is Sponsored by RV Roofing Solutions [https://www.rvroofingsolutions.com/]   An RV power inlet on fire, a wife yelling, and a fire extinguisher emptied. For Navy-trained electronics tech and master-technician’s son Matthew Putman, that night didn’t end the adventure. It sparked a mission. Jennifer visits with the veteran inventor behind Strain Guard to talk about the failure point most RVers never think about, the two-year search for a fix that didn’t exist, and how a challenge from his wife turned into a patent-pending product built to protect families and their rigs.   Learn How: •        One in four RV electrical failures trace back to a single overlooked failure point •        A power inlet caught fire & haunted Matthew afterward •        Matthew’s first prototype failed his wife’s approval & what she demanded instead •        Strain Guard delivers a surprise benefit that Matthew never anticipated •        After-market solutions can help your power draw, heat, & peace of mind •        Often you should really be swapping out that heavy power cord •        A Navy tech chose slow, tested, & steady over cashing in fast   Links & Resources: 🔌 Strain Guard: strainguard.com [https://www.strainguard.com/] ✉️ Email Matthew: Matthew.putman@strainguard.com [Matthew.putman@strainguard.com] ⚡ RV Voltage Explained: learntorv.com/rv-voltage [https://www.learntorv.com/rv-voltage] 🔧 RV Basics: learntorv.com/rv-basics [https://www.learntorv.com/rv-basics] 🚐 rvroofingsolutions.com [https://www.rvroofingsolutions.com/] 📅 RV Rallies: learntorv.com/rv-rally-calendar [https://www.learntorv.com/rv-rally-calendar] 🤝 RV Community & Groups: learntorv.com/rv-community [https://www.learntorv.com/rv-community] 👥 Free Facebook Community: Learn To RV: The Community [https://www.facebook.com/groups/learntorv] 📸 Our Adventures: @LearnToRV [https://www.instagram.com/learntorv] 👉 RV Resources: learntorv.com [https://www.learntorv.com/] 📺 YouTube: Learn To RV Channel [https://www.youtube.com/@LearnToRV] 🎙️ Podcast: learntorvthepodcast.com [https://www.learntorvthepodcast.com/]   💛 Support the Pod: •        Patreon [https://www.patreon.com/learntorvthepodcast] (Join the Campfire Crew for bonus content, early access, + swag) •        Buy Me a Coffee [https://www.buymeacoffee.com/learntorvthepodcast] (drop us a tip ☕) 💬 Do you have an RV story about resilience, a clever fix, or a product that protects your rig? Share it in our Facebook community [https://www.facebook.com/groups/learntorv] or email learntorv@gmail.com [learntorv@gmail.com] to be featured on a Campfire Confessions episode! ✨ If Matthew’s story sparked something, subscribe, share, and review at learntorvthepodcast.com [https://www.learntorvthepodcast.com/]! Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/LearnToRVThePodcast/support] Watch us on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@LearntoRV/videos] Join Our Community on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/groups/141063741245555] Follow Us On Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/learntorv] Visit our Website [https://www.learntorv.com/] Join us on Patreon [https://www.patreon.com/LearntoRVThePodcast]

Pesty Buggers: How to Keep Mice, Bugs & Critters Out of Your RV the Non-Toxic Way

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2522973/fan_mail/new] Pesty Buggers Is Sponsored by RV Roofing Solutions [https://www.rvroofingsolutions.com/]   A farmhouse view, wildflowers, a soul finally at rest — and then a trail of nibble marks straight down a sleeve of lemon Oreos. In this episode, Jennifer and Tasha trade their most unforgettable RV pest stories, from scorpions and ghost ants to animals with a taste for roof sealant, then get practical about keeping the pesty buggers out. Because RVs have thinner walls and more ways in than a sticks-and-bricks, they focus on family-safe, low-toxic prevention you can actually use in a tight space with kids and pets and what to do when something sneaks in anyway.   Learn How: •        Your RV is an easier target for pests than any house  •        To identify penetration points most RVers never think to seal  •        To battle ants, rodents, wasps, and more with family-safe, low-tox options that won’t fill your rig with chemicals •        “Miracle” pest hacks actually hold up & which are just campground folklore •        Some sealants attract bigger pests & what crows & raccoons can do to a roof •        Seasonal critters can follow you down the road, plus what jobs you should call in pros for •        A park manager named Ralph saved the day & tried to move in   Links & Resources: 🚐 rvroofingsolutions.com [https://www.rvroofingsolutions.com/] 🐭 Mice in the RV: learntorv.com/mice-in-the-rv [https://www.learntorv.com/mice-in-the-rv-how-to-keep-critters-out-of-your-home-on-wheels] 🪲 Ticks & Alpha-Gal Syndrome: learntorvthepodcast.com [https://www.learntorvthepodcast.com/ticks-alpha-gal-syndrome-what-every-rver-needs-to-know/]       Threats to Watch For: learntorv.com/rv-travel-health-threats [https://www.learntorv.com/rv-travel-health-threats-you-might-not-know-to-watch-for-what-s-crawling-floating-lurking-along-your-route] 🔧 RV Basics: learntorv.com/rv-basics [https://www.learntorv.com/rv-basics] 🏆 RV Scavenger Hunt: learntorv.com/the-ultimate-summer-scavenger-hunt [https://www.learntorv.com/the-ultimate-summer-scavenger-hunt] 🎤 learntorvthepodcast.com [https://www.learntorvthepodcast.com/] 👥 Free Facebook Community: Learn To RV: The Community [https://www.facebook.com/groups/learntorv] 📸 Our Adventures: @LearnToRV [https://www.instagram.com/learntorv] 👉 RV Resources: learntorv.com [https://www.learntorv.com/] 📺 YouTube: Learn To RV Channel [https://www.youtube.com/@LearnToRV]   💛 Support the Pod: •        Patreon [https://www.patreon.com/learntorvthepodcast] (Join the Campfire Crew — first 7 days free! Early access + bonus content + swag) •        Buy Me a Coffee [https://www.buymeacoffee.com/learntorvthepodcast] (drop us a tip ☕)   💬 Got a pesty bugger horror story or a fix that saved your rig? Share it in our Facebook community [https://www.facebook.com/groups/learntorv] or email learntorv@gmail.com [learntorv@gmail.com]. If it’s read on air, we’ll send you a sticker!   ✨ Subscribe, share learntorvthepodcast.com [https://www.learntorvthepodcast.com/], and leave a review. Your support keeps the stories and rigs rolling! Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/LearnToRVThePodcast/support] Watch us on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@LearntoRV/videos] Join Our Community on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/groups/141063741245555] Follow Us On Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/learntorv] Visit our Website [https://www.learntorv.com/] Join us on Patreon [https://www.patreon.com/LearntoRVThePodcast]

Just Buy the RV: Ashliy & Jake of WanderAboutFullTimeRV on Roadschooling, Workamping & Full-Time Family Life | Community Spotlight

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2522973/fan_mail/new] Community Spotlight Is Sponsored by RV Roofing Solutions [https://www.rvroofingsolutions.com/] A year and a half of planning, a camper and a truck bought a week apart, and a launch date set. Then twenty-four hours on the road that would have sent most families straight home. Nearly five years later, Ashliy and Jake of WanderAboutFullTimeRV are still rolling in that very same rig. Jennifer met the full-time RV couple at an Xscapers event and sat down with them to talk roadschooling, workamping with kids, and the hard-won mindset that keeps them rolling when life on the road refuses to go as planned.   Learn How: •        They’re still in their original rig nearly five years later & what they do instead of buying new •        Two very different workamping jobs shaped what their kids took from the road •        The homeschool-to-roadschool path to an accredited high school diploma •        A teen learned earning his own money at a Sunday-morning volunteer gig •        Ashliy built a growing brand on short, no-fluff phone videos, no fancy gear required •        A one-word answer keeps them going when the road gets hard •        It’s really like to be a woman running RV maintenance   Links & Resources: 🚐 rvroofingsolutions.com [https://www.rvroofingsolutions.com/] 🔗 Find Ashliy & Jake (WanderAboutFullTimeRV): linktr.ee/ashliysutterfield [https://linktr.ee/ashliysutterfield] 🏆 2026 Ultimate Summer Scavenger Hunt: learntorv.com [https://www.learntorv.com/2026-the-ultimate-summer-scavenger-hunt] 📚 Roadschooling: learntorv.com/roadschooling [https://www.learntorv.com/roadschooling] 💰 Make Money While Full-Time RVing: learntorv.com [https://www.learntorv.com/how-to-make-money-while-full-time-rving-real-examples-from-my-life] 💵 Make Money on the Road: learntorv.com [https://www.learntorv.com/how-to-make-money-on-the-road] 🤝 RV Community & Groups: learntorv.com/rv-community [https://www.learntorv.com/rv-community] 📅 RV Rallies: learntorv.com/rv-rally-calendar [https://www.learntorv.com/rv-rally-calendar] 👥 Free Facebook Community: Learn To RV: The Community [https://www.facebook.com/groups/learntorv] 📸 Our Adventures: @LearnToRV [https://www.instagram.com/learntorv] 👉 RV Resources: learntorv.com [https://www.learntorv.com/] 📺 YouTube: Learn To RV Channel [https://www.youtube.com/@LearnToRV] 🎙️ Podcast: learntorvthepodcast.com [https://www.learntorvthepodcast.com/]   💛 Support the Pod: •        Patreon [https://www.patreon.com/learntorvthepodcast] (Join the Campfire Crew for bonus content, early access, + swag) •        Buy Me a Coffee [https://www.buymeacoffee.com/learntorvthepodcast] (drop us a tip ☕) 💬 Dreaming about taking your family full-time or already roadschooling and figuring it out as you go? Share your story in our Facebook community [https://www.facebook.com/groups/learntorv] or email learntorv@gmail.com [learntorv@gmail.com] to be featured on a Campfire Confessions episode! ✨ If Ashliy and Jake’s story gave you the nudge to just buy the RV, subscribe, share, and review at learntorvthepodcast.com [https://www.learntorvthepodcast.com/]! Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/LearnToRVThePodcast/support] Watch us on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@LearntoRV/videos] Join Our Community on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/groups/141063741245555] Follow Us On Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/learntorv] Visit our Website [https://www.learntorv.com/] Join us on Patreon [https://www.patreon.com/LearntoRVThePodcast]

Beyond the Breakaway: How Tow Tether Is Closing the Gap in RV Towing Safety

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2522973/fan_mail/new] Beyond the Brand Is Sponsored by Tow Tether [https://towtether.com]   If your trailer broke away at highway speed, you’d trust your breakaway cable to do its job. But where did you hook it up? Jennifer sits down with Andy Garcia, co-founder of Tow Tether, to unpack a towing safety gap most RVers don’t realize exists. What began as a fleet compliance fix for a concrete company grew into a simple, made-in-America device that could change the way you hook up your rig.   Learn How: •        A breakaway cable attached to the wrong point can fail when you need it most •        Tow Tether gives your breakaway system a dedicated, independent anchor point •        Tow Tether installs in under a minute, includes its own tool, & only goes on one way •        An overlooked DOT regulation costs some haulers hundreds of dollars per stop •        A year of real fleet testing shaped a stainless-steel design built far beyond the standard •        Tow Tether fits travel trailers, fifth wheels, boats, & utility trailers alike   Links & Resources: 🔗 towtether.com [https://towtether.com] ⛰️ 2026 Ultimate Summer Scavenger Hunt [https://www.learntorv.com/2026-the-ultimate-summer-scavenger-hunt] 👉 RV Resources: learntorv.com [https://www.learntorv.com] 👥 Free Facebook Community: Learn To RV: The Community [https://www.facebook.com/groups/learntorv] 📸 Our Adventures: @LearnToRV [https://instagram.com/learntorv] 📺 YouTube: Learn To RV Channel [https://www.youtube.com/@LearnToRV] 🎙️ Website: learntorvthepodcast.com [https://www.learntorvthepodcast.com] 💛 Support the Podcast: Patreon [https://www.patreon.com/learntorvthepodcast] (Join the Campfire Crew for bonus and exclusive content, early access, + swag) Buy Me a Coffee [https://www.buymeacoffee.com/learntorvthepodcast] (drop us a tip ☕) 💬 Know an RVer who hooks their breakaway cable to the chain? Share this episode — it could be the safeguard they didn’t know they needed. Have a story for Campfire Confessions? Email learntorv@gmail.com [learntorv@gmail.com]. ✨ Subscribe so you never miss a Beyond the Brand drop on Wednesdays at learntorvthepodcast.com [https://www.learntorvthepodcast.com]! Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/LearnToRVThePodcast/support] Watch us on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@LearntoRV/videos] Join Our Community on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/groups/141063741245555] Follow Us On Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/learntorv] Visit our Website [https://www.learntorv.com/] Join us on Patreon [https://www.patreon.com/LearntoRVThePodcast]

National Park Changes 2026: What Every RVer Needs to Know Before You Reach the Gate

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2522973/fan_mail/new] National Park Changes 2026 Is Sponsored by RV Roofing Solutions [https://www.rvroofingsolutions.com/]   The rules changed at the gate this year, and a surprise there can throw off an entire trip. In this episode, Tasha and Jennifer walk RVers through the major 2026 National Park updates — from passes to pricing to staffing — so you arrive prepared instead of caught off guard. They keep it fair, factual, and friendly, with a few light campfire stories and some heavy moments along the way.   Learn How: •        The America the Beautiful Pass changed in a big way for 2026 •        New tiered pricing with an added $100 surcharge (on top of the entrance fee) now hits certain visitors at 11 of the most-visited parks •        Fee-free days got an overhaul  •        Three popular parks just dropped a requirement that frustrated trip planners •        Staffing shifts may quietly change what you find when you arrive •        One free app & a little prep time can save your trip when you step out of cell range •        A simple bookstore purchase puts money straight back into the park •        Junior Ranger booklets are still around at most locations   Note: Junior Ranger booklets are still available throughout the National Park System, but some parks now charge for them. Check nps.gov [https://www.nps.gov/] to see if there is a charge at the park you are visiting.   Links & Resources: 🏞️ NPS Trip Planning & App: nps.gov [https://www.nps.gov/] 🏆 Great American RV Scavenger Hunt: learntorv.com/2026-the-ultimate-summer-scavenger-hunt [https://www.learntorv.com/2026-the-ultimate-summer-scavenger-hunt] 🐻 Bear Safety in Yellowstone: learntorv.com [https://www.learntorv.com/bear-safety-in-yellowstone-what-every-rver-needs-to-know-before-you-hit-that-trail] 🦌 Wildlife Encounters on the Road: learntorv.com [https://www.learntorv.com/wildlife-encounters-on-the-road-how-to-safely-enjoy-and-responsibly-share-spaces-with-animals-in-the-wild] 🚐 rvroofingsolutions.com [https://www.rvroofingsolutions.com/]  |  📞 888-847-7010 👉 RV Resources: learntorv.com [https://www.learntorv.com/] 🎤 learntorvthepodcast.com [https://www.learntorvthepodcast.com/] 📺 Watch: Learn To RV Channel [https://www.youtube.com/@LearnToRV]   💛 Support the Pod: •        Patreon [https://www.patreon.com/learntorvthepodcast] (Join the Campfire Crew — first 7 days free! Early access + bonus content + swag) •        Buy Me a Coffee [https://www.buymeacoffee.com/learntorvthepodcast] (drop us a tip ☕)   💬 Heading to a park this summer? Share this episode with an RVer who books last-minute. Got a national park memory or a tip we missed? Email learntorv@gmail.com [learntorv@gmail.com]. If it is read on air, we will send you a sticker!   ✨ Subscribe, share learntorvthepodcast.com [https://www.learntorvthepodcast.com/], and leave a review. Your support keeps the stories and rigs rolling!  Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/LearnToRVThePodcast/support] Watch us on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@LearntoRV/videos] Join Our Community on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/groups/141063741245555] Follow Us On Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/learntorv] Visit our Website [https://www.learntorv.com/] Join us on Patreon [https://www.patreon.com/LearntoRVThePodcast]