RVing with Joe and Kait

Join us as we navigate the transformative journey from traditional employment to full-time RV living with guest, Eric Johnson from TechnoRV. In this episode, we delve into Eric's bold leap into RV entrepreneurship, the intricacies of buying and scaling a business on the road, and the personal and professional challenges that come with such a dynamic lifestyle change. Listen in to uncover the real experiences behind transitioning to life on wheels and running a thriving business, offering insights that resonate with aspiring entrepreneurs and adventurers alike.

Episode Guest

Eric Johnson has had many different chapters in his life, from corporate America, to giving it all up to full time RV for 7 years, running an online store during his travels, to stepping back from his online business to enjoy retirement. You may know Eric as the owner of TechnoRV, or as a friend from your travels, either way, you will likely enjoy this full circle success story from the RVing community.

Dive into the challenges and rewards of living the RV lifestyle and creating content on the road with guest, Scott Watson from Go Small, Live Large. In this episode, we explore the realities of YouTube creator burnout and the pursuit of a fulfilling life on wheels, shedding light on the often-unseen struggles behind the camera. Tune-in to gain a deeper understanding of life as a full-time RVer and content creator.

Episode Guest

In 2017, Scott was unhappy with a traditional lifestyle that included a big house (or as he call it, his storage unit) a long Chicago commute to a corporate job that left him unfulfilled. In 2018, he created a plan to reinvent his life. It began with buying a Winnebago Travato GL Camper Van and then started a YouTube channel about Vanlife. In September 2021, he exited corporate America and became fully self-employed through YouTube and his RV partners. In February 2024 he completed his fifth year of full-time van travel. April 2024 begins a planned sabbatical from posting content on YouTube. Returning on August 28, 2024, he plans new types of content, including taking Viewers with him to exciting destinations such distilleries as a “bourbon hunter”. Today, Scott is most pleased with the amazing Go Small. Live Large! Community he has built with his audience through YouTube and in-person events. As he says at the end of each video, “Journey On!”.

Join us in this episode as Jonny Feld from Field Van, an expert in custom van conversions, dives into the intricacies of creating a tailor-made camper van. Jonny unpacks the advantages and challenges of building a custom van, choosing the right chassis, common regrets and must-have features in a custom camper van. Jonny also shares some unique and interesting custom van builds along with questions to ask and things to consider when choosing a custom van builder.

Tune in to absorb Jonny's valuable insights and learn how customizing a camper van could redefine your adventures on the road.

Episode Guests

Jonny has been in the adventure van industry since he was nine years old. His parents Alan and Liz started Sportsmobile West in 1989. As a child he was always around the factory and started working in sales at trade shows at age 14. In 2003 he went to work full time at Sportsmobile West in the sales department. Jonny was later promoted to Sales manager and then became President in 2014. In 2020 Jonny left Sportsmobile and started Field Van. Field Van has locations in Fresno, CA and Reno, NV. He is married with two daughters and enjoys traveling, the outdoors, spending time with friends and family and long walks on the beach.

One of the most common topics of conversation around the campfire is health insurance for full time RVers. We all hope that we won’t get sick on the road, but want to be prepared if something unexpected should happen. And frankly, navigating the world of full time RVers health insurance can be pretty daunting, especially if you've never had to find insurance on your own.

In this episode, we discuss the challenges of dealing with health insurance and medical issues while living on the road in an RV and share our experiences with different insurance plans along with tips for negotiating medical bills and managing routine medical checkups.

Resources Mentioned in this Episode

In this episode, we dive into our adventures in a Storyteller Overland MODE LT Class B RV, sharing our thoughts on what we love about the camper, what we don't like, essential modifications we've made, and personal experiences from the past two years of owning this RV.

Resources Mentioned in this Episode

Do you have an RV departure checklist? If not, it’s time to put one together. Joe and Kait share the incident that was the impetus for putting together their first RV departure checklist along with tips and experiences from years of RVing to help you get started with your RV checklist.

Resources Mentioned in this Episode

Kenny and Sabrina of Moving Forward Adventures give us an in-depth look at what full time RV life is like for a traveling doctor. Dr. Sabrina Campbell, a pulmonary critical care physician, and Kenny Phillips, her supportive partner, open up about their motivations, experiences, and the practicalities of navigating work and life in an RV.

Episode Guests

Kenny and Sabrina, along with their small dog Belle, have been traveling in their Winnebago Class A Motorhome for more than seven years – five of those years were full-timing. Sabrina is a Pulmonary/Critical Care Physician and for those five years of full-timing, they were using the RV to travel from hospital to hospital going where she was needed most. Sabrina has a passion for learning and is currently learning Spanish with the goal of becoming fluent.

Kenny is co-creator and co-host of Beyond The Wheel Podcast which offers a behind-the-scenes look at the RV industry and highlights the people behind some of your favorite RV products, campgrounds, and services. He also enjoys the outdoors, and you can usually find him out on his bike or taking a hike with Belle. Together, Kenny and Sabrina are known on social media as Moving Forward Adventures, their YouTube Channel and Instagram documents their travels as they share fun RV destinations and tips.

Keith Life from Keith and Wi Adventures shares his journey of constructing a 3,000 square foot metal barn for his RV, discussing the challenges of navigating building codes, selecting materials, and ensuring the barn enhances property aesthetics. His insights into planning, design, and practical benefits like insulation offer a wealth of knowledge for anyone considering their own metal barn project. Tune in to glean wisdom from Keith's journey and consider how a metal barn could enhance your RV lifestyle.

Episode Guest

Keith Life and Wiwi are avid travelers. They currently take extended trips in their 4x4 camper van and also travel abroad to Mexico, Asia and Europe. They have recently built a 3,000 sqft metal barn to use as a workshop and to store their vehicles and belongings as they prepare to go full time on the road. The new barn is located on their small ranch located in the wine country of Northern California. They have a zest for life and search for remote places that most travelers don't go. They have a youtube channel, "Keith and Wi Adventures" where they cover most of their travels. 

The decision to spend the money to build a barn was a difficult one to make and the process took over one year to complete. They would like to share some of the decisions needed for determining the type of barn to build, the location where to place the building, some engineering requirements for the grading, foundation and erection of the building and some do's and don'ts to consider in your process of building a new barn.

Fitness experts Rod and Risa share their insights on how to stay fit and healthy while RVing. They emphasize the importance of mindset, nutrition, hydration, and movement. They discuss the benefits of tracking food intake and steps, as well as the role of strength training and balance exercises. They also highlight the power of accountability and community support in maintaining a healthy lifestyle while traveling in an RV.

Their advice focuses on simplicity, enjoyment, and sustainability in order to live a healthy, long, and fulfilling life. For anyone looking to merge the joys of RVing with a commitment to fitness and well-being, tune in to start your journey towards a healthier RV lifestyle.

Episode Guest

Rod and Risa Stewart are just a cool couple that have been running a gym and training for the past 25 years. Their mission has been simple….lead a healthy, fun lifestyle by example and coach and inspire as many as possible along the way. 

Their unique personal training gym, Club Performax is located in Melbourne, Florida. The Stewarts are pioneers in the personal training world going back to the '90s and they have more recently entered the RVing world, purchasing their adventure van in the summer of 2022.

Joe and Kait share their insights and tips for navigating RV shows. Drawing from firsthand experiences attending RV shows around the United States, this episode is more of an RV show survival guide filled with stories, strategies, and tips to help you make the most of your RV show visits.

Resources Mentioned in this Episode

Explore the topic of personal safety and preparedness while on the road with law enforcement veteran Jeff Dooley. With over 26 years of experience, Jeff shares invaluable insights into developing a safety-focused mindset, essential for ensuring a secure and enjoyable RVing experience. 

As we all know, RVing is about the freedom and joy of exploring new places. But it's equally important to do so safely and with the right preparation. We hope this episode provides you with valuable insights and practical tips for your RV adventures.

Episode Guest

Jeff Dooley is the owner and lead instructor of Personal Responsibility LLC. He is a retired Sergeant for a local law enforcement agency with over 26 years of experience. During his career Jeff served in numerous units, including the Crime Suppression and Narcotics units, SWAT and K-9 units, CID, Patrol, and Firearms Training Unit. 

Jeff is a Rangemaster with Gunsite Academy where he teaches pistol, rifle, shotgun, and CQP classes. Jeff is a life member of the NRA, NRA certified pistol instructor, member of IALEFI, a certified Tennessee P.O.S.T. firearms and tactics instructor, and certified FBI firearms instructor.

Robert Morales, a seasoned RV traveler and YouTuber known for his channel Traveling Robert shares his extensive experience RVing to and through Alaska, providing valuable insights and tips for fellow RVers who dream of exploring the Last Frontier. From practical advice on navigating Alaskan roads to must-see destinations, this episode is packed with everything you need to know for an unforgettable Alaskan RV adventure.

Episode Guest

Robert Morales is a Cuban born, Floridian by choice, insatiable traveler. He shares his RV travel stories, producing inspiring, informative, and entertaining videos, enjoying the journey as much as the destination, sampling the local cuisine, imbibing the local craft ales, visiting the main attractions, and off the beaten path destinations. 

In 2014 he acquired a small Winnebago travel trailer to explore the United States of America and beyond. In 2020 he became a Winnebago Micro Minnie brand ambassador. Having visited all 48 contiguous states and Alaska, Robert continues to travel sharing his adventures on YouTube and most of the other social channels.

Dive into the future of RVing with insights from Rick Kessler of RV Business. Discover the "2024 RV of the Year", learn why now is the best time to buy an RV, explore the latest in overlanding, and get the scoop on evolving campground trends as well as the current state of the RV market.

Episode Guest

Rick Kessler has been with G&G Media, publishers of RVBusiness and Woodall's Campground Magazines, for nearly a decade. In February, he and business partner Scott Stropkai became owners of the small publishing firm headquartered in Elkhart, Indiana. Previously, Rick spent 20-plus years in the newspaper industry.

In the first episode of our podcast, 'RVing with Joe & Kait,' we explore how RVing changed our lives, delving into the transformative journey of full-time RVing. Join us as we share our personal narrative, detailing how the RV lifestyle reshaped our perspectives and led us to a path filled with unexpected challenges and fulfilling triumphs. From the initial spark of inspiration to adapting to life on the road, we open up about the pivotal moments where RVing significantly altered our lives. 

We hope you enjoy this episode as we intimately recount the key moments and experiences that underscore how deeply RVing has influenced our lives.

Resources Mentioned in this Episode

Welcome to 'RVing with Joe & Kait' - your ultimate podcast for everything RV! Join us, Joe and Kait, as we explore the exciting world of RV living. Whether you're a seasoned RVer or dreaming about your first RV adventure, our podcast is your go-to source for the latest trends, insider interviews with industry leaders, in-depth RV reviews, travel destinations and essential tips for staying healthy, fit, and safe on your travels. Every episode is packed with fun, insights, and stories that will inspire and inform your RV lifestyle. Hit the road with us and discover the joy and freedom of RVing. Tune in on January 2nd and start your next great adventure!