402. Why Are Recreation.gov's Campsite Length's So Confusing, and Vail Trip Report

Get 30% off your next RV Mattress at https://rvmattress.com/rvmiles with code RVMILES at checkout. There’s a lot of confusion right now about diesel engines, DEF, and what the EPA actually changed—and in this episode, we’re cutting through the noise. We break down the latest announcement from the EPA, what it really means for diesel emissions systems, and why rumors about DEF going away aren’t exactly accurate. Plus, oil prices are climbing again, Buc-ee’s continues its rapid expansion, and there are some interesting developments across the RV industry—including a possible return of Winnebago fifth wheels, and a behind-the-scenes technology that could change how RVs are designed. ****************************** Connect with RV Miles:  RV Miles Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/rvmiles Shop the RV Miles Amazon Store: https://www.amazon.com/shop/rvmiles RV Miles Mailing List: https://rvmiles.com/mailinglist Mile Marker Membership: https://rvmiles.com/milemarkers 00:00 Intro 01:25 How DEF and SCR Work 01:58 Deletes Limp Mode and EPA Changes 03:53 New Sensor Guidance and What It Means 06:16 Sponsor RV Mattress by Brooklyn Bedding 07:06 Oil Prices Hit Four-Year High 08:00 Buc-ees Expansion Plans 08:33 Winnebago Fifth Wheels Tease 09:30 REV Group New PDI Center 10:14 Digital Design Studio For Future RVs 11:27 Newsletters and Sign Off

In episode 403 of the RV Miles podcast, Jason and Abby share spring RV prep tips that go beyond flushing the water system, including doing a nearby campground “spring shakedown” to wash the rig, check seals, test smoke detectors, and more. Abby explains RV Miles’ rebranded, curated newsletter now publishing four times a week (podcast, news, national parks, and a weekend “Road Signs” edition) and, in the tank segment, they discuss a planned 2,300-site RV park near Abilene, a cougar under an RV in British Columbia, Abby’s bread-baking mishaps, and a recommendation to read Project Hail Mary before seeing the movie. Ross from  @RVTIPSANDTRAVELS  has done a couple great de-winterizing videos, this general one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9VMN0o9GLxg And this one for folks with a tankless water heater: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L27Me5ggTlw The giant RV parn near Abeline: https://www.bigcountryhomepage.com/news/big-rv-park-bigger-water-needs-abilene-makes-exception/ *Get links and more in the show notes at https://RVMiles.com/403 *Support independent RV journalism and unlock great perks by becoming a Mile Marker 👉 https://rvmiles.com/milemarkers *Get your FREE weekly Road Signs Newsletter at https://rvmiles.com/mailinglist/ *HOMECOMING tickets go on sale April 1st for Mile Marker members and May 1st for the general public https//rvmiles.com/homecoming Support our Sponsors: *Check out all Blue Ox has to offer at https://BlueOx.com *Get a free quote for an extended warranty on your RV at https://wholesalewarranties.com *Find all the RV parts and gear you need at etrailer: https://www.etrailer.com/vehicle-finder.aspx?etam=p0001 *Find Liquified at https://liquifiedrv.com/ Track SSTK_MUSIC_ID  437726– Monetization ID MONETIZATION_ID AMXDXB4BX5FLHUYE 00:00 Intro 02:12 Newsletter Relaunch 10:06 Spring Shakedown 13:27 Water System Basics 14:17 Safety Checks First 16:27 Etrailer Sponsor Break 17:52 Tires Fluids and Running Gear 20:21 Exterior Seals and Wiring 23:32 Inside Checks and Toilet Seal 24:39 Swap Kids Clothes 25:39 Moisture & Mouse Check 26:35 Restock & Wash Linens 29:22 Test Appliances 30:36 Share Your Tips 31:28 Mega RV Park Debate 36:45 Cougar Under RV 40:09 Sourdough Fail Story 44:17 Project Hail Mary 45:55 Wrap Up

Fuel prices keep climbing, with gasoline near a $4 national average, though oil fell after President Trump said talks to end the war in Iran are productive and the U.S. would delay attacking Iran’s infrastructure for five days. Ember says its next major project will be a fifth wheel, GM is testing next-gen 2027 Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra 1500 trucks, including a new small-block V8. The House passed a bill to redesignate Chiricahua National Monument as a national park, while a Mammoth Cave boundary expansion advances.  Get free shipping on orders over $99 at Etrailer: https://www.etrailer.com/vehicle-finder.aspx?etam=p0001 The  @RVingWithJoe  video with  @EmberRecreationalVehicles : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHUEXj4Xtns The episode with Jason: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5xy5dBMEo4 ****************************** Connect with RV Miles:  RV Miles Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/rvmiles Shop the RV Miles Amazon Store: https://www.amazon.com/shop/rvmiles RV Miles Mailing List: https://rvmiles.com/mailinglist Mile Marker Membership: https://rvmiles.com/milemarkers 00:00 Intro 00:32 Fuel Prices 02:00 Ember Teases Fifth Wheel 02:48 Etrailer Sponsor Break 03:35 2027 GM Truck Updates 04:41 New National Park Push 05:40 Mammoth Cave Expansion 06:05 National Park Week Shift 06:48 Cougar Under The RV 07:48 Wrap Up And Subscribe

In this week's episode, Jason recaps his visit to Vail, Colorado, and the drive out of the mountains in a blizzard on the way home. Plus, we answer a listener's question about why campsite length listings on Recreation.gov are so confusing. *The  RVing With Joe video with Ember: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHUEXj4Xtns *The episode with Jason: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5xy5dBMEo4 *Aspen Jacobsen's "We'll Create Better": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qq4eWoh_e4g Get links to all the past podcast episodes mentioned at https://RVMiles.com/402 *Support independent RV journalism and unlock great perks by becoming a Mile Marker 👉 https://rvmiles.com/milemarkers *Get your FREE weekly Road Signs Newsletter at https://rvmiles.com/mailinglist/ *HOMECOMING tickets go on sale April 1st for Mile Marker members and May 1st for the general public https//rvmiles.com/homecoming Support our Sponsors: *Check out all Blue Ox has to offer at https://BlueOx.com *Get a free quote for an extended warranty on your RV at https://wholesalewarranties.com *Find all the RV parts and gear you need at etrailer: https://www.etrailer.com/vehicle-finder.aspx?etam=p0001 *Find Liquified at https://liquifiedrv.com/ Track SSTK_MUSIC_ID  437726– Monetization ID MONETIZATION_ID AMXDXB4BX5FLHUYE 00:00 Intro 02:29 Vail Ski Trip 07:42 Skiing Costs And Passes 14:14 Vail Town Vibes 18:16 Snowy Drive Lessons 25:34 Etrailer Sponsor 26:20 Wholesale Warranties 27:15 Campsite Length Confusion 34:29 Overhang and Fit Strategy 37:08 Total Length and Tight Turns 39:06 Backup Plans and Parking 43:49 Speed Camera Tickets Rant 47:12 Ember Fifth Wheel News 55:13 Two Weeks of Sick Kids 01:00:15 Shoutout to a Young Musician 01:02:24 Homecoming Event Details

Get 30% off your next RV Mattress at https://rvmattress.com/RVMILES with code RVMILES at checkout.  Fuel prices are climbing fast—and it could be a rough spring for RV travel. Plus, we’ve got the latest from the National Park Service on 2025 visitation numbers, a new overland micro-camper from  @StorytellerOverland , wildfire closures in South Dakota’s Custer State Park, and a major accessibility upgrade coming to Indiana State Parks. RV shipments are down double digits to start the year, while Buc-ee’s—one of the most beloved travel stops in the country—has been hit with a surprising “F” rating from the Better Business Bureau.  ****************************** Connect with RV Miles:  RV Miles Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/rvmiles Shop the RV Miles Amazon Store: https://www.amazon.com/shop/rvmiles RV Miles Mailing List: https://rvmiles.com/mailinglist Mile Marker Membership: https://rvmiles.com/milemarkers 00:00 Headlines 00:30 Fuel Prices Surge 02:11 National Parks Visitation 02:51 RV Mattress Sponsor 03:42 Storyteller Grand Bohemian 04:51 Custer State Park Wildfire 05:28 Indiana Track Chairs 06:20 Buc-ee's BBB F Rating 07:37 RV Sales Decline Data 08:16 Homecoming Rally And Mile Markers 08:51 Wrap Up And Goodbye

In episode 401 of the RV Miles podcast, Jason and Abby read Mile Marker survey responses about destinations inspired by the show, and with fuel prices rising, they revisit practical ways to cut fuel costs: proper tire inflation, avoiding interstate-adjacent stations, watching state-line price differences, and more. Jason critiques an overbuilt, tightly packed campground near Iowa City, Abby calls out daylight saving time, and celebrates learning “piecemeal” is the correct term, and Jason fresh-tanks a new route-checking app, RV Route Finder. Get links to all the past podcast episodes mentioned at https://RVMiles.com/401 *Support independent RV journalism and unlock great perks by becoming a Mile Marker 👉 https://rvmiles.com/milemarkers *Get your FREE weekly Road Signs Newsletter at https://rvmiles.com/mailinglist/ Support our Sponsors: *Check out all Blue Ox has to offer at https://BlueOx.com *Find all the RV parts and gear you need at etrailer: https://www.etrailer.com/vehicle-finder.aspx?etam=p0001 *Find Liquified at https://liquifiedrv.com/ Track SSTK_MUSIC_ID  437726– Monetization ID MONETIZATION_ID AMXDXB4BX5FLHUYE 00:00 Intro 03:31 Mile Marker Trip Survey 09:25 Sponsor 10:11 Fuel Prices Context 12:45 Fuel Saving Tips 19:40 Drive Slower Save More 23:54 Cruise And Idling 28:05 Coasting Not Braking 29:11 Stoplight Strategy 32:49 Fuel Savings Math 34:37 Campground Boom Bust 41:54 New Route Planner App 43:58 Daylight Saving Rant 47:09 Piecemeal Debate 49:31 Interrupting Comments 52:18 Wrap Up And Thanks

Fuel prices are spiking fast — diesel up more than a dollar in a month — as tensions in the Middle East disrupt global oil supplies. We’ll break down what it could mean for RV travel, why RV stocks are tumbling, a new rule at Buc-ee’s pumps, and a nationwide RV travel challenge celebrating America’s 250th birthday. Get Liquified at https://liquifiedrv.com ****************************** Connect with RV Miles:  RV Miles Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/rvmiles Shop the RV Miles Amazon Store: https://www.amazon.com/shop/rvmiles RV Miles Mailing List: https://rvmiles.com/mailinglist Mile Marker Membership: https://rvmiles.com/milemarkers 00:00 Intro 00:31 Why Gas and Diesel Jumped 03:04 RV Industry Stock Slump 04:05 2026 RV Shipment Forecast 04:55 Sponsor Liquified Tank Treatment 05:42 Buc-ees Pay at Pump Rule 06:30 Gen-Y Theft and Weather Gear 07:08 RV 250 Travel Passport Challenge 07:57 Outdoor Recreation Hits $1.3T 08:32 Eddie Bauer Stores Closing 08:57 Alliance RV 30000 Milestone 09:09 Wrap Up

In episode 400 of the RV Miles podcast, we celebrate nearly nine years of the show, and reflect on how the show and our RV life have evolved since 2017. To mark the milestone, we're offering up five RV trip ideas based only on places we've visited: a first-time RV trip to the Black Hills/Badlands, a spring wildlife-focused Yellowstone trip, scenic drives with Durango as a base including the Million Dollar Highway and Mesa Verde, a national parks power trip linking Grand Teton, Yellowstone, Devils Tower, Badlands and Wind Cave (plus options like Glacier or Theodore Roosevelt), and a slow-travel route from Astoria, Oregon to Seattle via Olympic National Park.  *Support independent RV journalism and unlock great perks by becoming a Mile Marker 👉 https://rvmiles.com/milemarkers *Get your FREE weekly Road Signs Newsletter at https://rvmiles.com/mailinglist/ Support our Sponsors: *Check out all Blue Ox has to offer at https://BlueOx.com *Find all the RV parts and gear you need at etrailer: https://www.etrailer.com/vehicle-finder.aspx?etam=p0001 *Get 30% off your next RV Mattress at https://rvmattress.com/rvmiles with code RVMILES at checkout! *Find Liquified at https://liquifiedrv.com/ Track SSTK_MUSIC_ID  437726– Monetization ID MONETIZATION_ID AMXDXB4BX5FLHUYE 00:00 Episode 400 Kickoff 11:41 Homecoming Rally Details 14:27 Etrailer Sponsor 15:13 Trip Ideas Setup 16:41 THE FIRST-TIME RVER TRIP 23:53 THE WILDLIFE TRIP 28:35 THE SCENIC DRIVES TRIP 34:48 THE NATIONAL PARKS POWER TRIP  41:15 THE SLOW TRAVEL TRIP 47:22 Black Tank Fuel Prices 52:38 Fresh Tank: Laundry Detergent Debate 58:06 Black Tank: Protein Pressure Rant 01:02:01 Fresh Tank: Alliance RV Milestone 01:03:30 Episode 400 Farewell

Thor Industries — the world’s largest RV manufacturer — just announced a major corporate restructuring, grouping brands like Jayco, Tiffin, Keystone, Dutchmen, and others under new leadership structures. We break down what this means for the industry… and why it comes as RV stocks continue to tumble. Several major recalls that could impact RVers: • 4.3 million Ford trucks and SUVs recalled for trailer module issues • 15,000 Ford Transit vans recalled for potential brake failure • 3.2 million Weber grill brushes recalled due to ingestion hazards • Nearly 20,000 Trek electric bikes recalled over rear wheel separation risk Plus, 19 Washington state park campgrounds could close or see reduced services due to budget cuts, while Texas opens its first new North Texas state park in nearly 25 years — Palo Pinto Mountains State Park. Get free shipping on orders over $99 at Etrailer: https://www.etrailer.com/vehicle-finder.aspx?etam=p0001 ****************************** Connect with RV Miles:  RV Miles Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/rvmiles Shop the RV Miles Amazon Store: https://www.amazon.com/shop/rvmiles RV Miles Mailing List: https://rvmiles.com/mailinglist Mile Marker Membership: https://rvmiles.com/milemarkers 00:00 Intro 00:42 Thor Restructures Brands 02:18 Stocks Slide and Camping World 03:01 Sponsor Etrailer 03:48 Ford Truck Recall 05:25 Transit Brake Failure Recall 05:52 Weber Brush and Trek Recalls 07:41 Washington Parks Budget Cuts 08:57 Texas New State Park Opens 10:15 Wrap Up  

This week we dig into a viral RVTravel.com poll asking: How well built is your RV? The results surprised us—and they raise a bigger question: if so many RVers say their rigs are “well built,” why does the industry’s quality reputation feel so rough… and why can’t buyers easily choose truly better-built options? Then we’re joined by Geneva Long, founder and CEO of Bowlus to talk about reviving a nearly-forgotten 1930s aviation-inspired aluminum travel trailer and turning it into one of the most interesting luxury RV brands on the road today. We get into what “built like an airplane” really means, why lightweight doesn’t have to mean flimsy, and why Bowlus may be uniquely positioned for the future of EV towing. Plus: Abby’s “black tank” story about everyday kindness (and a parking lot door ding), and Jason’s take on the way people talk about travel safety in Mexico—especially Baja. *Support independent RV journalism and unlock great perks by becoming a Mile Marker 👉 https://rvmiles.com/milemarkers *Get your FREE weekly Road Signs Newsletter at https://rvmiles.com/mailinglist/ Vote for us as the People’s Choice for Best Podcast at the 2026 Outdoor Media Summit Awards: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18EbvKNRa8/?mibextid=wwXIfr Support our Sponsors: *Check out all Blue Ox has to offer at https://BlueOx.com *Find all the RV parts and gear you need at etrailer: https://www.etrailer.com/vehicle-finder.aspx?etam=p0001 *Get 30% off your next RV Mattress at https://rvmattress.com/rvmiles with code RVMILES at checkout! *Find Liquified at https://liquifiedrv.com/ 00:00 Intro 00:31 Poll RV Build Quality 07:56 Sponsors 09:29 Bowlus Interview 10:27 Bolus Origin Story 18:00 EV Towing Future 22:38 Pricing and Ideal Buyer 23:59 Direct Sales and Growth 29:30 Mexico Travel Safety 36:07 Outdoorsy Event Boom 38:11 Parking Lot Door Ding 44:31 Book Club Pick 47:29 Episode Wrap Up