RV LIFE Podcast
The RV LIFE Podcast, created by one of the premier companies in the RV industry, is for the RV Community with a mission to Educate, Entertain and Explore the RV Lifestyle. The Podcast will explore all things RV Life: living, working, exploring, learning. With hosts Dan & Patti Hunt, full time RVers, content creators, educators and explorers.
RV LIFE Podcast
Test Driving an RV: Your Ultimate Guide to RV Adventure and Key Features to Consider
In this episode of the RV Life Podcast, host Patti Hunt takes listeners on a unique journey while test driving a Panoramic van at the Music City Motorhome Expo in Nashville, Tennessee. Joined by Angie Morell, an award-winning National Sales Director for National Indoor RV Centers and a popular YouTube star, the duo discusses essential tips for test driving RVs and navigating the world of RV ownership.
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Some important things you need to know when test driving an RV. I'm Patti Hunt and you're listening to the RV Life Podcast. What better way to learn about test driving and finding the RV that's right for you than taking that RV out on the open road? The interview you're going to hear is while driving in the panoramic van. This podcast is very different because the interview part was recorded in this panoramic van and my co-pilot was Angie Murrell.
Speaker 1:We were live at the Music City Motorhome Expo near Nashville, Tennessee. The event was created by Brett Davis, the owner of National Indoor RV Centers, and this event had all the top manufacturers of A, B and C class RVs come together in this one place and they brought in many of the 2025 RVs. People attending this event were able to test drive, walk through, sit in these RVs and really truly immerse themselves in the RV to see which one was right for them in the RV to see which one was right for them. Now my guest and co-pilot, Angie Murrell, has transformed from a busy stay-at-home wife and mom of three children to an award-winning national sales director for National Indoor RV Centers, and she is a YouTube superstar. In this interview with Angie, she and I talked about test driving, what to do before you get in your RV, types of RVs, how to find the right dealer for you and why everybody in the RV that can drive should know how to drive that RV.
Speaker 1:But before we dive into the interview, let's go into what you need to know, and that is brought to you by Open Road Resorts, and they now have seven locations two in Montana, one in Idaho, one in Texas, one in Nebraska and their newest location is in New Mexico. It is Santa Fe KOA Journey and it is in Santa Fe, New Mexico. There is so much to do right in the area where this campground is. Plus, this campground has many amenities. It looks beautiful and this sounds like a campground you would want to check out Now what you need to know van campers, class B in 2022, there were about 768 sold.
Speaker 1:In 2023, there were 11,900 sold. That's a huge difference. So these van campers or Class B RVs are really taking off. Can't wait to see what 2024 sales looks like. That's what you need to know and that was brought to you by Open Road Resorts, and you can check out all of their locations by going to openroadresortscom. But now we're going to dive into that interview. Let's listen as Angie and I travel around the streets near Nashville, Tennessee, in this incredible panoramic RV.
Speaker 2:We are ready for our test drive, so tell our listeners a little bit about what we did before we actually sat in a seat.
Speaker 3:So you always, always, no matter what you're driving A, B or C class you've got to have a pre-trip checklist. And you have to have it because you just have to have a pre-trip checklist and it's you have to have it because you just have to have a routine that you check everything. That way you make sure you're on flight. Yes, everyone does it once, um, maybe twice.
Speaker 3:Story for another yeah, yeah yeah, and you know just all your compartments that they're locked. Um, your windows are shut, you know, unless you're wanting those open because those are going to be extra noise when you're going down the road. So if you want a nice quiet ride, you know, just get everything set. You should have a pre-trip checklist for outside and then inside as well. So you're going to make sure your showers are locked, your cabinet doors are locked, um, if you have, a lot of times noise will come from the microwave because you've got that glass plate in there. On that, you know, depends. So you may want to either have like something, a rubber pad that you put in there to eliminate that noise. But so to make the ride enjoyable for everyone, you want to eliminate the noise or the stress of something coming open while you're riding Right.
Speaker 2:And while I've driven full time for three years, this is different, and so you have to go through the checklist for the unit you're in and, as people who have listened to the episode the rv live podcast episode on june 5th we're talking about van life and so we're in a van today.
Speaker 3:And, yeah, the panororamic RV and this is exciting it's on the Ram chassis. So basically, patty, it's like dragging your car, okay, okay. So it's going to be very similar. You do have a park break. We'll release the park break and then you can put it into drive and we'll get started. And I always just tell all my first time drivers that you know what, just take your time. You know what. We don't care if someone's talking to us from behind or sign language, that's what I call it. Um, you, just you know what. We are in an RV, we're having a good time. Take your time. Bad things happen when we're in a rush and so, especially when we're learning and getting comfortable with something new, just take your time, okay. So go ahead. I'd say, release the park brake if you haven't already and put it in drive, and then we're going to take you a little bit on some easy roads and then we'll get on the highway so you can feel we're getting on the house, ready for that nobody told me about that.
Speaker 3:Listen real life. We gotta do real life real life.
Speaker 2:Okay, all right, I guess I'm ready. Whether I want to be or not, I'm just going to get a feel for the brake and how it senses.
Speaker 3:That's always a good idea too, I you know. Get comfortable with it. Make sure your seat's adjusted, seatbelt's on steering wheel's in the right position. You can see all your gauges. It makes for a better, you know driving experience.
Speaker 2:Really nice big screen.
Speaker 3:Yes, we can throw our navigation up there and it can take the whole screen so maybe it will help us get navigated or we're just going to be going around the fairgrounds. So typically what I tell. Now again, you're in a van, so not everything is the same as when you're in a, you know, a Class C or a Class A. They typically always say that you kind of hug the center of the left lane just because you may have more street signs, road debris, tree branches. You don't want them scratching your, your van, Things to watch out for when you're traveling and things to watch out for when you're traveling, and this is an easy like the steering wheel is very easy to maneuver.
Speaker 3:It should feel like you're driving a van, you know like you should be and I go this way, yeah, so one of the things that you do have to think about is, like drive-thrus, depending on how tall you know, you want to look at the height restriction to make sure.
Speaker 2:And I asked Phillip and he said you could go through a drive-thru. So I figured, if you could go through a drive-thru, you could go through anywhere.
Speaker 3:Car wash drive-thrus. Just double check those you know Right right and we use RV Trip Wizard.
Speaker 2:I'll give them a plug because they will tell me exactly where I can and cannot go, and they're not perfect, so always double check that. Yep. Well, this is so for starters a nice, smooth, easy drive. I have a Jeep Wrangler, a little bit older jeep wrangler. This drive's nicer than the jeep wrangler, it's got all the upgraded features I'm sure.
Speaker 3:Well, the nice thing about van life is you can literally it's versatile it can be your everyday vehicle plus your home or your vacation home, your lake house, your beach house, your mountain home, your lake house, your beach house, your mountain cabin. You got it all right here, your office Right, I mean, it's got great office space in here.
Speaker 2:How about being in, you know, arches National Park and looking out and having this be your office space, and then that beautiful scenery outside Sounds pretty perfect, yes yes, so here's somebody coming in now and it's a huge Class A, dual rear drive and it is a woman driving, so let's talk a little bit about let me just set this up for those people who don't know. Dan and I happened to be in a campground, luckily, when he got ill and I could. I never really drove the Monaco. We had a 40-foot Monaco Diplomat and luckily we weren't in campground, because the big thing is you're on a highway, you're on a road somewhere, how everybody has to know how to get the vehicle to safety.
Speaker 3:They do. I always say, and that's one of the reasons in all my videos that I do drive, typically in heels, because I figure, I'm in a dress and heels and I'm driving a Class A, class C, class B, whatever.
Speaker 3:I hope the message that I'm trying to convey there is that they can do it in you. You know way more comfortable clothing and apparel, um, but really it's so important that both you know your significant other can drive, so you know RV driving schools. They're all across the country. Um, take a day and pay for that, because it's um. Not only is it going to give you peace of mind when you're traveling, but they'll also teach you how to park and that's going to keep you married. Yes, that is so true. My favorite pillow is the one that I found that says I'm sorry for what I said when you were backing up or parking.
Speaker 3:Yes, and it just happened the other day at National Underarmy Centers. I was doing a video. A couple came in and they had some terse words between each other. They had no idea I was sitting in the driver's seat of the coach next to them and heard the whole exchange. They probably would have been mortified, but I was like you. You know it's communication and you know. You learn how to direct when you're backing someone and how to tell them to stop. You know, and when you get frustrated you just say get out, I'll do it, yeah, and you just always should have a smarter period in the story yeah, and we always use the walkie-ies.
Speaker 2:He liked that better than the phone because you can keep whatever reason. You know you can get on the walkie talkie. That's what we use. We learned how to say driver's side, passenger side, instead of left, right, your left, my right, which one Right, right? It gets very confusing. So there are definitely things to keep you from. We're going to go left up here and get on the freeway. I'll get on the freeway. We're getting on the freeway. People.
Speaker 3:This is no joke and this is like a little tight turn, so you're gonna experience that. But this way, I mean right here, right here. So you've seen how quiet it is in this cab, like it's automobile. That's a good point. It is so quiet. Yeah, it's just like driving your car. Yes, so now we're going to get on the freeway and you can test it the same way, okay see how fast this thing goes.
Speaker 2:So for me I used to say, well, I had somebody that would come drive the rv. They would drop everything and pick us up and drive it at any time I needed it. Not a good plan? No, because, again, if I'm on a highway and I just need to get us to safety, now I did have somebody say, um well, I'm teaching her how to drive, I'm teaching my wife how to drive Not a good idea. My wife how to drive, and then she'll know well, she never does it. You got to do it at least some of the time.
Speaker 3:Yeah, I think you know I learned, um, there's always gotta be the first time. So my first time was, uh, we were at the Dallas RV show and I was like you know what, why don't we have test drive coaches? Like that's such a great idea, just thought this is you know. And they're like, yeah, let's do it, let's go get a coach. So we go back to Louisville and, uh, they go, well, you're driving it back. I'm like, no, I'm not. I've never driven one before. It was a 45th class, a diesel. And I'm like, no, I'm not driving. And they're like, yeah, you are like, how else are you gonna learn? You have to do it. So I white knuckled it down to downtown Dallas. Believe me, so well, not an enjoyable experience just driving a car in downtown.
Speaker 3:Yeah, it's stressed, yeah but you know you have to try. Typically what I do with my customers is I'll take them out to a nearby park and then you know I'll put them in the driver's seat at that point and let them get a sill for the van or the coach, get comfortable driving it when they don't have the pressure of traffic or other cars around them. So I think once they do that, depending on how comfortable I am with their driving ability, then I'll let them drive back to the dealership and so that gives them that opportunity, because I do think it's very important to test drive what you're buying, whether whatever it is, and I have to say so.
Speaker 2:National Endure RV Center has six locations. As I tell my listeners all the time, I love the videos that you do, and sometimes they're an hour and a half to a month. There is not a button, a mark, a something on the RV that you do not cover and then they can do the fly and drive. I was just talking to somebody about this. Can you explain to our listeners so I make sure I have my details?
Speaker 3:right, yeah, so my videos I do try to be very detailed. I want them to be able to shop from their living room. If they can't get to one of our locations Now, then I want them to get to one of our locations to purchase. So we have a slide to buy program where we will fly a purchaser and significant others, so two people in to take delivery of their coach, whether it be a van, class C, class A, because you know, with the internet you can shop anywhere. So we want you to have customers for life. We truly believe in that. When you come and take delivery, we want you to stay on our lot for a couple nights. You know how important that is. There are so many things and during your delivery and your walk through, sort of like drinking from the fire hose. So they do it. And then they. We want them to go sleep in their coach or their van and try everything out, and then wake up the next morning and go okay, I have questions about this, this, this and this.
Speaker 2:Right, and that is incredibly important. Just from my experience, and again, I've been in three or four of these. I've lived in the one, but it could be days later where you say, wait, what was that button? Or how do I turn this on? Or why did that make noise? Noises sometimes that you, I don't know, speaking of yes, we're going to get pictures sometimes Speaking of there's National Lundarvy Centers of Advocacy, this facility, there's something new about it. Right, this facility, it's not a new facility.
Speaker 3:No, this is brand new. We built this from ground up, so this is our. Sometimes we'll find an existing building that we can retrofit to work for our purposes. It's really best if we can build from ground up, since we store over 300 pictures of doors plugged into 15 amp service or 30 amp service, whatever they require. So it's nice if we can optimize the space Right.
Speaker 2:So they do storage. I just want to be clear we do, you do storage. You do, obviously, repairs, detailing, paint body sales. And here's the thing that I keep saying just amazing people. When you meet somebody like Brent Davis, the owner, and you feel that he is from the heart and then meeting you, it was an instant connection and, chuck and Ben, I've been in three locations now, three of the locations across the country, and when you walk in, if it's the person sitting behind the desk, they have that same airing or integrity. I hope so.
Speaker 3:Without a doubt, that's definitely the goal of our. You know, I think it starts from the top down with Brad, and I don't think that there's any other owner in the industry that full-time is in his RV. So what that does is that he genuinely knows the um, the hassles that are involved with our game, and that's what we're trying to remove those. So and then he, he knows the experience he wants to have and he wants to provide that to his customers. So that's our goal that he's charged us with um to make sure that it's a. You know, we want customers enjoying the RV lifestyle because it's so amazing.
Speaker 3:You know, I always say it's the fountain of youth. I truly, truly believe that. I see, you know, couples in their 80s out RVing and they've got to plan a trip. They're going, they're having adventures across the country. They are when they get to the campground, they're setting camp, they're washing off their car coach, they're polishing it up. You know like they are moving, active, planning, meeting new people, seeing new things, that pictures, and life hasn't stopped or slowed down. So I that's what I love about this industry.
Speaker 2:Oh, absolutely. And Brent is a big I'm thinking of the word I'm looking for but he speaks for the industry. He stands up for the industry to make it better, and I love that about what he does. He's not afraid to stand up and talk about what's going on and how can we make this better.
Speaker 3:We're a bit of a disruptor in the industry. We're a disruptor. We don't do things the RV industry way. We do it the way that makes sense. It's bringing in what it wants and I feel like we're revolutionizing the RV industry and that's our goal.
Speaker 2:Absolutely and always with the customer in mind, that it's always the most important thing for bread, and again it turns this down to everyone. Well, this event Music City Wonder Boom Expo the first time here, the first of its kind it is absolutely groundbreaking. It has been an absolutely amazing event. All the brand new 2025s, all the major companies 2025s are here. People can get in, really sit in them. We can do a test drive and not worry that somebody else wants to see it, just like this, and really be able to take the time, talk to the different owners CEOs, vice presidents, you know and then go to dinner with them.
Speaker 3:And then you have lunch and you get a new few people and they ask them what they drove today and what were their thoughts. And okay, I just have to point out again we're on the freeway. How fast you going? 53. What's the sound? How do you like? Is anything rattling?
Speaker 2:No, there's no rattling. The only kind of hear a little bit is the air conditioner.
Speaker 3:It's on the AC.
Speaker 2:Yeah, you're always going to have that it is so quiet and the drive is so smooth. It is a smooth drive. Now again, there's no comparison between an ERV and the Monaco Diplomat. It wasn't a diesel question, but it was so noisy we couldn't even talk to each other. Oh, yeah, that bad. Of course, any of the 2020s or before that are not as noisy. They definitely got better with age. But yeah, there's no noise, it is so smooth. I could see driving in this for four or five hours without a problem.
Speaker 3:So can you see yourself living the van life Hi.
Speaker 2:Is this like a?
Speaker 3:I'm losing my voice bring some guests to the dress. I don't have a piece of paper. I'm not going to make you say anything today.
Speaker 2:It's interesting and, as people know, it's a very big change in life right now. I don't have a piece of paper. I'm not going to make you say anything today. It's interesting and, as people know, it's a very big change in life right now. And while we were in the 40-foot, I used the sunset. Those are what I really love about travel. We were coming here. We were actually headed to Nashville. We stopped in a little town called Bonon Point, tennessee. People who are from Tennessee, I don't think, know the name. My cameraman is from Tennessee and he doesn't know where that is.
Speaker 2:It was just an amazing place, and to be able to pull up and just be in a band, I could see it. I gotta tell this story. My grandson just turned five on Tuesday oh five. And I said what do you want for your birthday? Because now, when it comes to guests for the kids, it is all about what experience we do. I don't just want to buy another toy. So I said, well, what do you want for your birthday? Like, let's do something. And he said I want to go camping. Oh, I love that. I do too. My daughter now is rolling her eyes because she does not want to do that. He said, yeah, you know we could attend and we could have s'mores. And I said I'm only going to pay a corn army.
Speaker 3:Yeah Well, you know what, those memories, that that, especially now, with cell phones and everything else that can disrupt our lives and not have us engage with people, like getting out to nature and doing things like that it's. You know, we're going to need more and more of that, absolutely, and those are the things they'll remember, and not the gifts you gave them. That's the adventure you need.
Speaker 2:Exactly they said it'd be way more memorable. Yes, without a doubt.
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Speaker 2:What do you love about this van? I like that there is a bed in the back, and then. I like that there is a bed in the back. And then Philip said so the mattress comes up. If you want to take something big bikes or whatever it'll come up, it'll hook in place so you can take, move somebody or take a bunch of stuff if you want to. I like personal, I like that there's options. So yeah, that, the fact that even that which I wouldn't even have thought of but that's a great feature I love the table.
Speaker 3:I do. I love the table. You can turn around the chairs. You can move the table easily.
Speaker 2:You extend it out. I love how he showed us it could go as a connection to the kitchen. So if I do decide I want to cook because I should cook for her, I have that. So you have a lot of options. Even though this is rather small, there's so much storage. I love this storage and the bed is high so you have the storage underneath and I love that he has the little step, the little step up, I know, isn't that the greatest?
Speaker 3:It is.
Speaker 2:and of course, the step, then has storage. Yep, like he's thought of everything. Also, one of my favorite parts of this is the panoramic windows, because that's the whole idea. Idea is to pull up to the lake, to the mountain and have that time.
Speaker 3:Just look at this. Like it's gorgeous, you know.
Speaker 2:And if you're right in the back, you have full view of all this as well, which is nice yes, yes, these are all, and it is great to do expos like this, to come into NIRBC really touch and feel look at the different models what I find, having been on the road full time for three years. I talk to everybody whatever class RV you're in to, really you don't know what you don't know. So to get into an RV and know what you don't know, so to get into an RV and say, oh, I didn't even think about that, but I like this, and so it really is important to take the test drives, to plan time if people are gonna come into an RV, see, take your time. What you think you want may not be. I've talked to a lot of people here that are well, we were thinking about this, we looked at this right. This has been the greatest opportunity for me to really look at different types of units.
Speaker 3:Yeah, that's what I was talking to. A gentleman and I actually met him down in the V-VAN section and we talked on the phone and I was like I knew he was looking at a class safety somebody's. Like you know what. I'm here and I want to consider everything. So this is my time to like, investigate and check out the vans and make sure this isn't what we want. You know, because this makes this is easy. This is jumping quicken, go. You know you fill up, just like you do your car, everything. I mean. You know it's just a little bit simpler and easy because it's smaller right now. Is this diesel or gas? This is gas. It is gas, okay, so you think that this is on the ground chassis is going to be gas, and then your sprinter chassis is for Mercedes as well, okay, and that's kind of the other type of while we're talking about the V-Vans just to educate.
Speaker 2:that's kind of the other type of what we're talking about Major type right. The other thing about this Like the truth that you put your Stinky slinky and and so it's got a place for for it, so you're not trying to pile it into one of your compartments.
Speaker 3:So, like you're getting, you disinfect everything. Yes, exactly, that's important.
Speaker 2:A home-specific space, yes, and again, something I don't know that I would have thought of before being in an RV checking them out. Before being in an RV checking them out, what else would you suggest when people are looking for, you know, driving? First of all, drivability, obviously. Everybody of age that could drive probably needs to learn how to drive. A lot of people are driving, or their adult children are coming along. They should all drive. I am gonna hammer that.
Speaker 3:And one of the things I think that's an easy time to drive to is when you're on the freeway like this. So once you get out, I mean we're still really close to a heavily populated city, but there's a lot of driving across interstates where there's not much. So pull over, let them drive. There's not a lot of pressure on the road out there. It's usually a straight road. They can see how they fit in the lane. Get comfortable with it so that in the case of an emergency or an accident or something happens, you can get yourself home.
Speaker 2:Yes, so, so important. That's my plan. Thank goodness it worked out and it worked and we're in the campground. And I had two weeks in the campground and I went and said I can't, we can't move. And they're like, well, we can see if we can extend you. What if they could? So there's, there's, there are also some other companies.
Speaker 3:There's SkyMed that's something that we've promoted National Indoor RV Centers they're usually in all of our rallies and that's you know. That's not only helps you if you have a medical emergency, but they will get you to a hospital. They need to, you know. Look after you and they'll do that. They'll do whatever they need to, and then they'll also give a coach home.
Speaker 2:So that's a backup, but I still you had to drive. Yes, yes, absolutely, and I was speaking with them. What I loved, he said the gentleman I was speaking to at skyman said if you have somebody that you say, hey, I want my son to drive it back. He said we'll pay their airfare, we'll pay the guests for them to do it.
Speaker 3:Yeah, they're not comfortable with another driver, they don't have someone they know or driving. It's an amazing service.
Speaker 2:So, yes, skymed has a lot of great opportunities, because I've talked to a lot of people do you have an exit plan? Do Do you have a plan, not just if somebody gets sick. What's your plan? And a lot of people haven't thought of these things.
Speaker 3:Well, it's little things. We have a major life event, like it was for you, unfortunately, but we had a gal at one of our rallies who walked him back to our coach and I rolled her ankle and just broken, you know, like just really bad break. Luckily we had some doctors that were at the rally that just said Don't move her, let's get the ambulance here, let's get her. And she was at the hospital for two weeks there.
Speaker 2:There's a natural endorphin here. The newest, most beautiful facility. I'm going to try, while I'm here, to do something of a tour of it. Lots of coaches, lots of concept coaches, and then you have places for people to be plugged in and stay there.
Speaker 3:Right, so if you come for service, you can either drop off your coach or, if you're let's say, you're full-time in your coach, that's your home, so we'll let you stay in your coach as long as they'll repair us, and then we can do where we can come get the coach from you in the morning and then get it back to you at night oh, that's awesome. So you can stay on property with us and then, when you buy a coach from us, like I said, you're going to spend we're talking about your coach, your van and then we really want you to stay a couple nights with us. So we just feel like your whole experience is gonna be better if, when you pull off our property, you are comfortable with how your vehicle, your coach works and you're not guessing as you're going down the road, because there's nothing more comfortable, especially when you just spent a lot of money money, because these are a lot of money, you know and I can't tell you how many times we've been in the camera.
Speaker 2:We had somebody that was in a travel trailer. Brendan just brought it in. I don't know exactly what was wrong with it. There was something with the electric and they could get the air on. And they called and the company I don't know what the company was said oh, we'll bring somebody else up that's in, and whatever. He said, there's seriously something wrong here. And he said I would tell them to come pick this up. And so you drive off the lot without any knowledge at all. And we've seen it many, many times in campgrounds.
Speaker 3:Most people just go and pick them up and drive everybody. Actually, I have a funny experience. I had a couple that called me and they thanked me for my video on their. It was an email, because they said that literally the dealer tossed in the keys and they said what about our walks or in our delivery? And they said we'll send you a video. And they sent them my video. So, yeah, so they're like, we appreciate you because you taught us about okay, thank you, bye for us, so don't do that?
Speaker 2:yeah, don't do that, and that's a big thing. That's why dan and I have always promoted you know when irbc? Because again, the quality, the important things number number one. You care about the customer. It's not about the sale, it's about the customer and them having the absolute knowledge that they need to be safe on the road to have an RV that's going to have quality.
Speaker 3:And we want to sell them honestly. We want to sell them a coach at a fair price because we don't want them to be locked into that coach for life. We want them to be able to trade in three, four, two, whatever it is their timeline, because life changes, situations change. You may want something different, and so if we give them a fair price when they buy their first coach, they're going to come back to us. They're going to be able to their first coach. They're going to come back to us. They're going to be able to train yes, they're going to be able to get work done. They're going to be able to make a trade up or down, whatever way they want to go, depending on what their needs are then. So it's just we really, like you said, we truly want customers for life. Do everything you can to get the customer right.
Speaker 2:But this is fun. This is, oh my gosh, this is so fun.
Speaker 3:The nice thing about the Vans are versatile. Oh, keep going straight If you. You know it's easy. You don't have to be in a park. You know, you literally could be at a baseball field and you could put the blinds up.
Speaker 2:Have the AC on Parking at my kid's house. Yeah, exactly. Well, that's kind of the bonus too you have your own space and parking at my kids house, I'll be next to them Exactly.
Speaker 3:Well, that's kind of the bonus too you have your own space.
Speaker 2:So you go visit family, you don't invade.
Speaker 3:And you know, it's the same like keep going straight and then we'll turn in at the main. Turn in here.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it's funny because we had our RV, we boot, we bootstock, which, for people who don't know, that's when you go, just stay on somebody's property and you boot shop with them. Yeah, um, and the people take. Oh, if you want to come in and stay, I have plenty of room. We were thinking, but I want to be in my own bed, yeah, and that becomes very important, yeah's really when you're on the road Well, and.
Speaker 3:I think, for like a van, like I always recommend pack your RV with, have a second set so you have your second set of makeup and your clothes and your yes, and then you'll go left so that you can get in and go. You don't have to pack a suitcase. All you have to do is like the food items you know you don't want to keep food in your. You have to do is like the food items you know you don't want to keep food in your van when you're not in it using it. Um, because you don't want rodents or anything else you know trying to find that kind of stuff in your van or coach, but basically, other than that, leave it kind of set up and then you can go on a moment's notice, which is great that is great, because and that's just how you know I always travel.
Speaker 2:Again, we're full-time and this might look very different, but our travel would be. We make plans. They would always change. Yep, so it became. It's a current thought, because that current thought could easily quickly change. And that's what it'd be, because if somebody said hey, come here for the week.
Speaker 3:So we're just gonna take you down. You can see a little bit of the expo here.
Speaker 2:Okay, all right down the center and we'll just watch out for pedestrians and our customers yes, we deal with a brand of customers and this is so nice the individual attention and event like this that people can get the one-on-one birthday. This is actually over here speaking with customers. Nobody's bothering him. He could talk as long as he wants.
Speaker 3:It's really. It's actually been so nice for RV lifestyle specialists. We can spend time with the customer. They get to spend time in the coaches. The manufacturers have been phenomenal and we couldn't have done it without them. They've been just so incredibly helpful and they brought their product designers and their engineers and so we can get all the questions asked and answered like on the spot, which is amazing. So really great partnership and it's just so fun to see that shopping experience that we provide for our guests.
Speaker 2:And as a content creator, this would be awesome. I could have a cameraman back there as I drive the van through. I couldn't, I wouldn't drive a 40 foot through here. Well, they wouldn't even allow it yeah, no and over here on the left is Freightliner custom chassis and yeah, it's. This has been amazing.
Speaker 3:Yeah, I feel like a family with our manufacturer friends and it's just been such a different vibe and energy at this show and not a panicky thing like oh my gosh, how am I going to find the real people. We know that everyone that's here in attendance is they're really interested in shopping and finding the right, the right thing for them, and this is just the beginning of this show they're going to.
Speaker 2:Brett's vision is to do this every year. Yeah, it will just get better.
Speaker 3:We're going to learn a lot from our first year, and then we'll just improve, so next year will be even better.
Speaker 2:Absolutely. And, as Brett said, this fairground is. When I say humongous, I mean literally humongous. It could expand to triple the size.
Speaker 3:Are you ready to back her in, or let's see?
Speaker 2:jump out. I'm gonna try it Okay.
Speaker 3:Well, I don't know, should I be your guide?
Speaker 1:Okay, I'll let you go.
Speaker 3:Tell me, phil, will you be her spotter and back her in?
Speaker 2:So you should as much as you can be her spotter.
Speaker 3:I just got talking and I was like we missed the exit like a long time ago.
Speaker 2:So we've been around for 40 minutes. I'm sure that you probably just did the 100 meter and you were already like this is easy.
Speaker 3:Oh yeah, before we got out of here, it was hilarious also and I was like I do not know where we are. She kept it very quiet she was very cool over here.
Speaker 2:She never said it.
Speaker 1:You don't need to back it up. If you want to, you can. I mean, there's a 360 degree camera.
Speaker 2:Okay, let's check out the 360 degree camera, because there are going to be times I'm going to be by myself at a campground and those 360 cameras are amazing. Let's check out the 360 camera.
Speaker 2:Philip's not worried because this coach, this fan, is owned by an irbc, so as soon as you go into reverse, you're going to get that camera popping up okay, check out that camera, look at that now, between your mirrors and the camera and Phil and then, as you do this more and more, it gets easier, because driving in a van, I would imagine sometimes you Phil's got a look on his face. There should be a cameraman out there.
Speaker 3:I'm sure this becomes second nature yes, so now you can see right here what is that right there?
Speaker 2:well, that's probably a flag, okay we don't want to get near it, so do I have to move.
Speaker 3:It looks like he's telling you to still come straight.
Speaker 2:He's just standing there with his hands in his pockets. I'm gonna get real, you're fine. You see that okay. Now it's learning about these backup cameras, because the monaco certainly did not have one and then still use your mirrors.
Speaker 3:I think you know I always rely on my mirrors as well, until you get really comfortable with your camera. Yeah, and even then you should always always double check with mirrors, yep and he's just sitting there.
Speaker 2:He's like this Yep, and he's just sitting there. He's like this belongs in IRBC. It's all good. Okay, give me a thumbs up. That's awesome. Okay, now we want to put the parking brake on.
Speaker 3:Yeah, so you put it in the park.
Speaker 2:Hold the parking brake. We're good to go. Well, that was awesome, awesome. Thank you so much. This was an incredible ride. Thank you, we got extra time with the issue.
Speaker 3:People are probably blowing up her phone looking for her. Well, it's like I thought, just double check my nails yeah, thank you so so much.
Speaker 2:Thank you so so much, you're welcome.
Speaker 1:That was incredible. The panoramic RV definitely a van I would consider when I walked into this van, the windows in there, the skylight, but the way that the table moves and reconfigures this van has it all. Everything has been thought out. I did do some video while I was there and that video will be coming out soon on my YouTube channel, exploring Through Our Lens. I want to take a few minutes here to talk about some of my incredible sponsors.
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Speaker 1:It's now time for the featured campground of the week and that is brought to you by RV Life. This week's featured campground is Thousand Trails Diamond Caverns RV and Golf Resort and that is located in Park City, kentucky. This campground has 68 sites. Thousand Trails Diamond Caverns RV and Golf Resort offers full hookups, pull-through sites, tent sites, a dog park and 18-hole golf course, which looks incredible. It is a family friendly campground and has so much to offer, with a solid 7.5 rating on the RV Life campgrounds with 171 reviews. Now if you want to check out this campground, go to campgroundsrvlifecom, type in Thousand Trails Diamond Caverns and you will see all the information about this campground and the best part is right there from campgroundsrvlifecom there is a book now button. Campgroundsrvlifecom there is a book now button so you could book your stay at this campground. You could also see many photos, tips, a full list of their amenities. Rv Life Campgrounds is part of the RV Life Pro Suite of products and it is the most comprehensive source of RV parks, campgrounds and resorts, as well as city states, national parks, corps of Engineers, property and so much more. You just have to visit campgroundsrvlifecom to check it out.
Speaker 1:Now I want to thank Angie Murrell and I want to thank Brett Davis for having me at the Music City Motorhome Expo. I want to thank my friend, jen, who came with me and helped me record, and Jacob, who is also doing video for me and will be editing this podcast. This podcast does not happen without the help and support of a lot of people, so I want to thank everyone and I want to ask my listeners to put a comment wherever you're listening to the podcast. Put a comment in the review section, ask questions, tell me what you think of traveling in a van. I answer every single one of them. If you don't want to put a comment here on the podcast page. You could also go to my social media at RV Life Podcast on Instagram and Facebook. You have been listening to the RV Life Podcast. I'm Patty Hunt, wishing you a great rest of today and an even better day tomorrow.