Will GM Decide When You Stop Driving?

This week on the RV Podcast:

• General Motors has developed a system that displays your driving skills and response occasions, opening the door to once you cease driving as a result of it’s possible you’ll be too previous.
• If you’re tenting in bear nation this time of yr, our dialog of the week is with an professional who reveals simply what you must do once you encounter a bear. This is tremendous vital data you’ll want to know.
• Thinking a few washer and dryer in your RV? We’ll let you know what to search for and what to be careful for.
• All this plus the RV News of the Week and your questions developing in Episode #564 of the RV Podcast.

You can watch the video model from our RV Lifestyle YouTube Channel by clicking the participant beneath.

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Greetings from the Great River Road… we’re on the second week of a five-week Fantasy RV Tour of the Mississippi River. We began manner up in northern Minnesota, the place we might actually stroll throughout the river at its supply, and we’re headed right down to New Orleans, the place it empties into the Gulf.

We come to you on this episode from the Quad Cities space, the place Illinois and Iowa meet, with the river – now nearly half a mile broad – dividing the states. We’ve pushed about 800 miles up to now and have  seen and skilled a lot, from riverboat cruises to a bald eagle sanctuary.

We’ve been doing nearly day by day reviews on RVCommunity.com, our non-public and ad-free on-line neighborhood, and weekly movies on our RVLifestyle YouTube channel.

But whereas we’re speaking about it and earlier than we get to the RV News of the Week, we need to share why we predict you’ll want to be part of our RV Community.

You know, Life after 50 needs to be an journey. After all, you’re not slowing down—you’re simply getting began.
The RV Lifestyle Community is the place RVers over 50 come collectively to share experiences, commerce suggestions, and reside life on goal. It’s a personal, completely ad-free on-line neighborhood that additionally has actually enjoyable in-person rallies and meetups, all geared toward serving to empty nesters and retirees discover new adventures, actual buddies, and the whole lot you’ll want to make RV life fulfilling.

We have made so many new buddies via this neighborhood. In truth, we’re tenting proper now with a bunch of them on this tour of the Mississippi River we’re taking all month. We’re not making an attempt to “sell” you something. We’re inviting you to develop into a part of one thing actually superb.

In the RV Lifestyle Community, you will discover RVers identical to you. Yes, it has a paywall. That’s to maintain spammers and scammers out. Plans begin for lower than a cup of espresso a month. Some issues—like true connection—are price paying for. Check it out no less than. Go to RVCommunity.com.

RV NEWS OF THE WEEK

​GM Patent Would Score Your Driving—And Tell You When It’s Time to Stop​

Ever marvel if somebody is simply too previous to drive? General Motors thinks your automotive would possibly quickly have a solution. The firm filed a patent for a system that calculates a “driver retirement score”—a digital nudge that gauges whether or not you are still sharp behind the wheel. Using sensors already constructed into fashionable automobiles, the system would monitor response occasions, eye squinting, horn utilization, flip sign habits, and the way nicely drivers comply with street indicators. The system is designed to watch efficiency over time and supply a snapshot of a driver’s capabilities as they age.

Conservation Rule Under Fire: Feds Reconsider Biden-Era BLM Regulation​

The federal authorities is proposing rescinding a Bureau of Land Management rule enacted slightly over a yr in the past beneath the Biden administration that made conservation a part of its multi-pronged method to federal land administration. The Department of the Interior says the rule was an overreach, limiting logging, mining, grazing, and different such makes use of on BLM land. Conservationists strongly disagree, saying a lot BLM land is close to nationwide parks and desires safety. The public has 60 days to weigh in. To remark click on ​here​.

​Yellowstone’s Hydrothermal Lost & Found: Hats, Pizza, and a Stuffed Koala?​

Ever marvel what occurs to the hats and trash that frequently blow into the fragile hydrothermal areas of Yellowstone National Park? Chances are somebody from the Yellowstone Geology Program recovers it. Using grabber poles, fishing rods and extra-long slotted spoons, the group lately displayed an image of simply a few of the a whole bunch of hats they’ve recovered up to now this yr. The gadgets must be eliminated to guard injury to the fragile areas. Besides caps they’ve additionally eliminated a Birkenstock sandal, a pizza field with slices nonetheless inside, a pretend Louis Vuitton bucket hat, a stuffed koala toy, and extra.

​This Trailer Starts the Size of a Civic—Then Grows into a Mini Home​

A novel European journey trailer that’s the dimension of a Honda Civic when towing however opens to three-times that dimension is hitting the American market. The trailer seems kind of like an egg when compacted, however as soon as unhitched it opens up right into a a lot bigger cylinder form. It has a bed room, bathroom and moist bathe, kitchen and sitting space. It must be bought from a European vendor and shipped right here. 

RV CONVERSATION OF THE WEEK – Stay Safe in Bear Country

There is nothing extra thrilling than seeing wildlife when RVing. But relating to bear, that probability encounter can shortly flip terrifying. Just the opposite week a girl was attacked by a bear at Glacier National Park when mountain climbing. Fortunately, her associate had bear spray, used it efficiently, and the feminine bear and her cubs fled, and the lady obtained medical assist.

But the entire incident bought us pondering. If you have been to come upon a bear whereas RVing, would you understand what to do?

Our visitor is Jason Schwartz, who wrote a pocket survival information referred to as “Bear Safety in the Outdoors: A folding pocket guide on how to hike, camp, fish and RV safely in bear country.” He is a bushcraft/survival specialist, a US Army veteran and founding father of Rocky Mountain Bushcraft. His bear information was lately adopted by Yellowstone National Park and is at the moment being offered at their customer facilities. Jason goes to assist us all develop into higher ready.

Among the matters coated on this dialog:

• When an RVers is tenting in an space recognized to have bears, what are some basic items to do to remain protected? 
• Is it protected to retailer meals in an RV?
• What’s the distinction between black bears and grizzly bears?  
• Is there a distinction in what you must do for those who come upon a black bear versus a grizzly? 
• Is fall a extra energetic time of the yr for bears? 
• What precautions ought to campers take when mountain climbing?
• What about pet canine – can they appeal to bears?

Social Media Buzz

Wendy Bowyer reviews on the recent points most talked about this previous week on social media and our RV Lifestyle Community group.

In our non-public RVLifestyle Community, we’ve a number of areas the place members speak about totally different matters. One of our new Spaces is known as Mike & Jen Today, and it’s changing into one in every of my favourite spots to learn every morning! In this area, Mike and Jen are journaling nearly day by day about what they’re seeing as they journey with different RVers down the Mississippi River and sharing footage of their adventures. We noticed the tiny stream the place the mighty river begins, examine websites they noticed, be it waterfalls or majestic cathedrals. It is enjoyable to learn and comply with alongside this grand journey, and it’s equally enjoyable to see the images and descriptions that different neighborhood members who’re additionally on this journey share. A day by day spotlight! 

Then, in our Facebook Group, Mona lately requested, “What does TOAD mean? “

It appears like Mona knew a TOAD was a automobile pulled behind the RV, however simply puzzled the way it bought that identify. She additionally requested in regards to the that means of FROG.

This spurred a whole lot of silliness – and a few misinformation. But it bought me pondering, RVers actually have their very own language, and when you find yourself new to the RV world,  it may be complicated!

So let’s assist Mona out! First, a TOAD is definitely a homophone RVers got here up with to discuss with a “towed” automobile. Get it? Towed … toad. So it may be any automobile you pull behind your RV and a few might bear in mind this being known as a dinghy.

As for the time period FROG, that normally refers back to the Forest River Owners Group.

Other phrases we hear loads are diesel pusher – which refers to rear-engine diesel motorhome.

There’s the pungent slinky, which is a humorous identify for a sewer hose. It has spiraled ridges and stretches out like a slinky… and, nicely, it is pungent.

Another one we see used loads is Sticks & Bricks, which refers to a home on a basis, not a “house” on wheels.

RV QUESTION OF THE WEEK

QUESTION: From David: What are probably the most dependable stackable washers and dryers for RVs on the market?

ANSWER: By far and away, the model that the majority RVers use of their RV is Splendide. We had their combo washer and dryer in our earlier fifth wheel and now in our new Brinkley, we’ve a stackable system, with the washer on the underside and the dryer on high.

Splendide is out there via many RV sellers and Amazon.

It’s vital to notice that for optimum effectivity and to keep away from extreme humidity within the RV, the dryer must be vented exterior, that means they’ve to chop a gap via the sidewall of the RV.

There are ventless manufacturers out there, however our advice is to keep away from them.

Now clearly, these are a lot smaller than the house system it’s possible you’ll be used to, or the business washers and dryers in laundromats. You will more than likely need to do a number of hundreds, so it is good to do some each day. And you need to be in a campground to make use of them, with on-site sewer and water hookups. Depending on what you set your wash cycle for, they use between 10 and 16 gallons of water… so utilizing them whereas boondocking will undergo your contemporary water provide very quick. They want no less than 30 amps to run, so, once more, you’ll need to be at a full hookup campsite.

Splendide is the best-known model, however currently, a compact, stackable system by LG additionally has a whole lot of followers. You can discover them at Lowe’s and Costco.

Whirlpool additionally manufactures a compact, stackable system that’s being utilized in some RVs. Home Depot and RV sellers promote them.

We haven’t had any expertise with these different manufacturers, simply Splendide, and we couldn’t be extra happy with their efficiency. Here’s an Amazon hyperlink to the system we had put in in our new fifth wheel – For extra data see

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