Happy Camper Radio

With the brisk temperatures moving in, now is an excellent time to begin planning your fall camping trips. Nothing beats a warm and relaxing campfire to wind down the evening. As you gather with family and friends to share some treasured moments, safety is first and foremost. In this episode, Skip takes time to review some important tips when it comes to building a campfire, as well as what you can do to keep your kids safe.

Following two devastating hurricanes that wrecked havoc on the southeastern U.S., residents are now picking up the pieces and attempting to rebuild their lives. It's never too late to put together an emergency supply of food and other essentials. Camping equipment can be tremendously useful in these trying times. Listen in, as Daniel explains how he reached out to a familiar friend who was caught up in the wrath of Hurricane Helene in North Carolina.

Camping has long been a way for many of us to escape the hassles of everyday life. It's a breath of fresh air that is so often needed. As election day fast approaches, political discussions are getting more intense, leading to unnecessary stress in our lives. It's the one issue you won't normally find at a campground. In this episode, Skip explains why he avoids the topic among friends and close associates, and keeps his focus on the life he enjoys the most.

Skip just returned from a ten day camping adventure that spanned over six states. While the weather was not in his favor most of the time, he did enjoy camping with family in his home state of Pennsylvania. Listen in as he shares his experience at four separate destinations along his journey.

Skip and Daniel are in the studio on the 4th of July, just hours before Skip heads out to his next camping destination. In this episode, we talk about the importance of firework safety and keeping your pets indoors at this festive time of year. Daniel is back following a tubing adventure on the Chattahoochee River in north Georgia.

Long distant travel comes with many challenges. Nobody wants to arrive at their camping destination completely exhausted after a long day behind the wheel. Many interstate rest areas provide travelers the ability to take a break and relax a bit before getting back on the road. However, is a public rest stop the ideal choice for overnight camping? Skip shares his thoughts on the matter. Daniel drops by the Bald Ridge Creek Campground for a day trip. Wait until you hear what happens when his motorized remote control speed boat dies on Lake Lanier.

Camping offers many great opportunities for those who want to get away from the hassles of everyday life. Whether its a weekend away, or a week long vacation, many folks make the best of their RV living by decorating and adding a personal touch to their camping life. In this episode, Skip and Daniel talk about ways to enhance your both your campsite, and camping experience.

Heavy rain and high winds have a history of destroying not only equipment, but the camping spirit we have grown to love and appreciate. Rather than pulling the plug and breaking camp for good, many people are transitioning to RV life. In this episode, Skip and Daniel discuss the benefits of an RV lifestyle and what potential owners should consider before making that important purchase.

The Happy Camper Radio Show is on the road this week in Brunswick, Georgia. Skip and Daniel are in town for the 2024 Grand Design SEGA Rally. Joining us at camp this week is our good friends Jody and Heidi Bates from Massachusetts. We were honored to have Jody and Heidi on the program last year in Episode 248.

Listen in as Skip and Daniel prepare to hit the road for the upcoming Grand Design SEGA Rally in Brunswick, Georgia. Just back from a recent camping trip on Lake Sidney Lanier, Skip talks about some recent additions to his RV.

Skip is back from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina where he attended his very first Grand Design Rally. Listen in as he describes his stay at Sun Outdoors, where hundreds of Grand Design RV owners gathered for this annual event.

Losing your keys while on a camping trip is a dreaded thought. Unless you rely on a spouse or family member to carry a spare set, the cost of hiring a locksmith can be a serious pain in your wallet. In Episode 278, Skip explains why he keeps an emergency set of keys on hand, and how he gain quick access to his truck and RV in the event the doors are locked.

When traveling to and from a camping destination, one should always expect the unexpected. As an RV owner, we know the importance of checking the air pressure in each of our tires before hitting the road. Just as important, is the messy and time consuming task of re-packing your RV wheel bearings on an annual basis. In this episode, Skip explains why this should be considered a crucial part of your RV maintenance schedule.

In this episode we take a close look at camping memberships. There are many out there, but are they really worth it? Do they save you money, or, do they end up costing you more in the long run. Skip share some of the ways he's been able to save big on camping destinations, and explains why he avoids entering into long term contracts.

In Episode 275, Skip and Daniel are delighted to have former National Park Ranger and book author Rose McHenry back on the show. Listen in as Rose shares more great memories, including a sneak preview of her upcoming book: "Tales of a Rogue Ranger".

For weeks, Skip has talked about wanting to repair some damage to his RV. As opposed to reaching out to the dealership, he decided to take on this project himself, not knowing for sure what he was getting into. In this episode, he shares all the details of his successful repair efforts, along with the inspiration his grandfather gave him many years ago.

To kick of the new year, the Happy Camper Radio Show is now coming to our YouTube channel in high-quality 4K Resolution. During the Christmas break, Skip took the time to retrofit the studio with professional 4K video cameras. In Episode 273 Skip and Daniel talk about the importance of doing your camp inventory to ensure you have all the necessary equipment and supplies for that first camping trip of 2024.

Camping can be both a fun and adventurous experience. However, parking your RV outside your residence when not in use can be problematic when it comes to dealing with local ordinances. Even worse, issues can intensify if your "sticks and bricks" are governed by a local Homeowner’s Association (HOA). In this episode, Daniel shares some unfortunate roadblocks he encountered when creating a designated parking area for his pop-up camper, which prompted Skip to take a second look at where he parks his RV.

Is it safe to run your RV refrigerator while traveling? Some campers say they've been doing it for years with no problem. There are a variety of opinions on this subject. The last thing any of us need is to have our RV refrigerators break down during travel. Skip shares his experience and explains what he does to keeping perishable foods cold on a long distance trip.

In Episode 270, Skip reflects back on his two recent camping trips. After leaving Port St. Joe, Florida, it was off to the cold and brisk temperatures in his hometown of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. As campers, we often times are unaware of our campground connections until we arrive at our site. Will you have enough cables, cords and hoses to make those connections? Listen in as Skip explains the importance of having the necessary equipment to connect to shore power, sewer and water supply.