There’s a moment when the forecast changes.

Not the casual “might dip below freezing” kind of cold, but the kind where weather apps start using words like teens, hard freeze, and winter storm. That’s when RV life gets very honest.

In this episode of Wandering Gypsy RV Life, I walk through how I think about cold-weather RV planning when temperatures drop into the teens and twenties. This isn’t about panic or worst-case scenarios. It’s about staying ahead of the weather instead of chasing it.

We talk through:

• Why do different RV types handle cold very differently
• How water systems become the first point of failure in freezing weather
• Why living off your fresh tank can be a sign of preparedness, not inconvenience
• How to layer heat safely without overloading electrical systems
• The importance of planning for nighttime before temperatures bottom out
• Why calm, comfort, and safety are built long before 3 a.m.

Cold weather RVing is as much mental as it is mechanical. When you wake up warm, stocked, and calm while the temperature outside is in the teens, that isn’t luck. It’s preparation doing exactly what it was meant to do.

🔗 Full cold weather planning write-up: https://wanderinggypsyrvlife.com/2026/01/23/cold-weather-rv-planning/

🔗 Helpful Links

• 🌐 Wandering Gypsy RV Life: https://wanderinggypsyrvlife.com
• 📘 Rolling Smooth Series: https://wanderinggypsyrvlife.com/rollingsmooth
• 🛠️ RV Gear & Support (affiliate): https://technorv.com?Click=12127
• 🎙️ Beyond the Chutes Podcast: https://beyondthechutes.show
• ❤️ Support the journey on Patreon: https://patreon.com/wanderinggypsyrvlife

Stay warm. Stay curious. And keep rolling smooth.

Two kinds of people truly understand the road: RVers and cowboys.

Both live by weather windows, fuel stops, and a deep respect for momentum and margin. And both know that when things go wrong out there, they don’t do it politely or on schedule.

In this episode of the Wandering Gypsy RV Life Podcast, I sit down with Chick Wilfong for a grounded, experience-driven conversation at the crossroads of RV life and cowboy culture.

Chick has spent decades hauling horses and living out of everything from campers and living-quarters trailers to buses, semis, and toterhomes. This isn’t a gear or brand conversation. It’s about what actually keeps people and animals safe when you’re moving heavy rigs down imperfect roads.

We talk about why “have enough truck” is rule number one, why maintenance is the difference between a story and a disaster, and how tire blowouts can get Western in a hurry when you’re hauling serious weight. We dig into TPMS and monitoring systems, air and hub temperature warnings, weighing your rig, and why hope is not a tactic when your family or horses are onboard.

We also cover defensive driving, stopping distances, speed discipline, always knowing your out, and why slowing down is often the smartest move you can make. Along the way, we compare how RVers and cowboys approach the same challenges from different angles and what each group can learn from the other.

If you tow, haul, full-time, part-time, or just want to do this lifestyle safer and smarter, this episode delivers hard-earned wisdom from miles, mistakes, and maintenance.

CHAPTERS

00:00 Cold open: momentum & margin

01:18 Show welcome + Chick intro

04:03 Life on the road (every kind of rig)

05:30 Blowouts, tire realities, and the true cost

07:06 “Have enough truck” + why it matters

08:11 Maintenance, leaks, and rolling earthquakes

14:15 Protecting the rig: TPMS, air, temp warnings

21:53 Weight, scales, and staying legal

34:08 Defensive driving, speed, and stopping distance

39:13 Checklists, slowing down, and staying safe

45:26 Where to find Chick + devotionals

49:20 Wrap-up + shout-outs

Find Chick Wilfong

• Facebook: Chick Wilfong / Wild West with Chick Wilfong
• YouTube, Instagram, TikTok: Chick Wilfong

More from Wandering Gypsy RV Life

• Website: https://wanderinggypsyrvlife.com
• Rolling Smooth: Real Lessons from the Road Book Series: https://wanderinggypsyrvlife.com/rollingsmooth
• TechnoRV (affiliate): https://technorv.com?Click=12127
• Beyond the Chutes Podcast: https://beyondthechutes.show
• Patreon: Join the Campfire Circle for bonus content and behind-the-scenes episodes

Outro music: Brother Highway by Ned LeDoux (used with permission)

Until next time, keep your rig Rolling Smooth, keep your coffee hot, and remember: not all who wander are lost.

There’s a sound that signals the start of RV show season. Not engines. Not generators. It’s the low hum of wanderers comparing notes, pointing at rigs, and quietly rethinking their setups. Every January, that sound gets loud in Tampa.

In this episode of the Wandering Gypsy RV Life Podcast, Stan previews the Tampa RV Super Show, running January 14–18, 2026, at the Florida State Fairgrounds, and explains why this rally is about far more than shiny rigs and new gadgets.

Stan shares why education sits at the core of the Rolling Smooth mindset and how seminars on water systems, tanks, propane, inverters, converters, and power management can be the difference between confident travel and campground stress. He also talks about being on-site representing TechnoRV, answering real-world questions about power, connectivity, and RV systems, plus bringing copies of the Rolling Smooth: Real Lessons from the Road book series for face-to-face conversations.

You’ll hear why clean, protected power matters, including a look at the Hughes Autoformers 50-Amp Power Center installed on Bertie Bea, and why preventative upgrades align with a systems-first RV philosophy. Stan also dives into one of the most overlooked benefits of rallies: direct access to manufacturers, engineers, and technicians from companies like Micro-Air and Shade Pro, often with on-site installation available.

From solving lingering RV issues while you’re already surrounded by experts to using the Florida RV Trade Association mobile app to plan your days, this episode is your grounded, experience-driven guide to getting real value out of the Tampa RV Super Show.

If you’re heading to Tampa, make education the priority, stop by the TechnoRV booth, ask questions, attend seminars, and leave with more than brochures. Leave with confidence.

👉 Learn more at wanderinggypsyrvlife.com.

Until next time, keep it rolling smooth, and maybe I’ll see you down the road… or in Tampa. 📍