Mike Scarpignato

Mike Scarpignato is an avid RVer and full-time blogger who loves to RV. He started RVBlogger as a way to share all he has learned about RVing and RV Camping. Mike has written hundreds of articles about RV Types, RV Destinations, RV Rentals, RV How To and DIY, RV Maintenance, RV Gear, Supplies and Accessories, RV Storage Ideas and Organization, and RV Renovations and Remodeling. In addition to writing all about RVing Mike has been RVing, camping, hiking, and fishing throughout Central and North America but he primarily travels throughout the United States and Canada. Mike also makes YouTube videos all about RVing on the RVBlogger YouTube Channel with his partner Susan McDonald. Together they create videos about all aspects of RVing from RV tours and walkthroughs, to DIY RV remodeling projects, and videos about the care and maintenance of your RV. Mike and Susan also recommend RV and camping gear, accessories, and supplies that they use personally. Mike and Susan are committed to sharing the knowledge they have accumulated with others who are interested in RVing from newbies to veteran RVers.

New vs. Used RV — Which Should You Buy?

Should you buy a new or used RV? We have bought both. Here is how price, depreciation, repairs, warranties, inspections, and first-time buyer risk should affect your choice.

Travel Trailers With the Best Resale Value (2026 Study)

We compared 74 five-year-old travel trailers across 22 brands and product lines to see which held their value best. Airstream led by a wide margin, with nuCamp T@B second.

Halloween Camping in October: Why You Need to Book Early

Our Class A RV with the awning out all decorated for Halloween with ghosts on the front of the RV and Halloween lights along the awning

Halloween camping is one of our favorite October RV traditions, but popular weekends fill fast. Here’s what to expect, when to book, what to bring, and why you don’t need to camp on October 31 to enjoy it.

Why RV Cargo Carrying Capacity Matters Before You Buy

2021 Thor challenger towing our red 2 door jeep

RV cargo carrying capacity can make or break the RV you buy. Learn how CCC affects trailers, motorhomes, passengers, gear, towing, and the way you actually camp.

How Much RV Trailer Can My Vehicle Safely Tow?

White truck towing a travel trailer in grass covered hills

Learn how much RV you can really tow using towing capacity, payload, GVWR, GCWR, and tongue weight—not just the advertised tow rating.

5 RV Dump Station Tips for Beginners

How to Find RV Dump Stations Near You Feature

Feeling nervous at the RV dump station? These five beginner-friendly tips will help you dump your black and gray tanks safely, cleanly, and without holding up the line.

Should You Rent an RV Before You Buy One?

Cruise America Small Drivable RV Rental

Should you rent an RV before buying one? We rented a Class C and a fifth wheel first, and both experiences changed what we eventually bought.

Should You Keep Your RV Gray Tank Open or Closed?

sewer hose P-Trap

Should you keep your RV gray tank open or closed? Here is what I recommend, when I do each one, and why it depends on how long you are camping.

12 Biggest RV Buying Mistakes First-Time Buyers Make

mike and susan from rvblogger standing in front of their new Class a rv

Avoid costly RV buying mistakes before you sign. Learn what first-time RV buyers often miss, including towing, inspections, storage, costs, floor plans, and more.

How to Know If You’re Paying the Right Price for an RV

mike and susan from rvblogger standing in front of their new Class a rv

Buying your first RV is exciting, but figuring out whether the price is fair can make your head spin. I know because I’ve been there. When we bought our … Read more

How to Choose an RV Floor Plan You Won’t Regret

2026 Forest River R-Pod Unmapped travel trailer floor plan

Buying your first RV is exciting, but it can also be overwhelming. Every RV looks good when it is clean, staged, plugged in, and sitting on a dealer’s lot. … Read more

Airstream Atlas 25MS Review: A Class B RV With a Slide-Out, Storage, and Huge Dry Bath

Airstream Atlass Review with Mike from RVBlogger standing in front of an Airstream Atlas

We review a lot of RVs, and most Class B motorhomes have the same problem. They are easy to drive, easy to park, and great for traveling, but once … Read more

2 Best Travel Trailers Under 25 Feet for Newbies

mike pointing to two travel trailers with no slides that are under 25 feet long

Buying your first travel trailer can get overwhelming fast. Slides, tank sizes, weights, bed sizes, tow vehicles, storage, bathrooms, setup time — it all starts to run together after … Read more

Best Travel Trailers for a Half-Ton Truck: 2 Smart Travel Trailer Picks

Heartland Prowler 2103MKS in a green field with some trees around and a blue sky

If you’re shopping for the best camper trailers for a 1500 truck, this is where things can get messy fast. A lot of RVs get marketed as “half-ton towable,” … Read more

I Melted My RV Surge Protector (And My Power Cord) Here’s What to Buy Instead

RVBlogger surge protector plugged into an electric pedestal

If you’re searching for the best RV surge protector—whether it’s 30 amp or 50 amp—because something about your campground power doesn’t feel right… read this first. I learned this … Read more

2 Small Class C Motorhomes Under $70K (Thor Pasadena SE19 vs Chateau 19X Review)

2026 white and black thor chateau class c motorhome on the grass in front of a tree

If you’ve been shopping for a Class C motorhome lately, you already know most models are well over $100,000. So when we found two Class C RVs at the … Read more

Best Class A RV Under 26 Feet? Thor Geneva 24VS Full Review + Specs, Pros & Cons

exterior picture of a Thor Geneva 24VS. White RV with blue stripes

If you’re looking for a Class A RV under 26 feet, you’re probably trying to find that sweet spot between drivability and comfort. But here’s the real question… 👉 … Read more

De-Winterize Your RV: 10 Steps + 5 Mistakes to Avoid

If you’re anything like me, the first warm day hits and you start thinking… 👉 “Alright… it’s time to get the RV ready.” But here’s the deal—de-winterizing your RV … Read more

3 Best Small Class C RVs Under 25 Feet

👇👇👇 Click the video below to watch the full video 👇👇👇 Why Small Class C Motorhomes Under 25’ Are So Popular If you want the confidence of a motorhome … Read more

Would You Let Guests Use Your RV Bathroom?

Would You Let Guests Use Your RV Bathroom? If you’ve spent much time RVing, you’ve probably faced this dilemma at least once. You’re having friends over to your campsite for cocktails, dinner, or a cozy campfire, and someone inevitably asks that awkward question: “Hey, can I use your bathroom?” It sounds simple, right? But among RVers, this is surprisingly controversial. Some people are totally fine with guests using their RV bathroom, while others would rather march them straight to the campground bathhouse. Susan and I have seen both sides—and after one near-flooding incident in our own rig, we understand exactly why opinions are so divided. Our RV Bathroom Experience We’ve owned both a Class A and a Class C motorhome, and we’ve used our RV bathrooms plenty over the years. But one evening, we invited a guest over for dinner and drinks at our campsite, and when she went to use our RV bathroom… well, let’s just say she didn’t understand the “push pedal halfway for water, all the way to flush” rule. She pressed and held the pedal until the bowl was nearly overflowing. We caught it just in time, but it could have turned into a disaster. After that, we learned the importance of explaining how an RV toilet works before letting anyone use it. So when we posed this question—Would you let guests use your RV bathroom?—to our Facebook group, RV Camping for Newbies, which now has more than 250,000 members, the responses were passionate and varied. What Our Community Had to Say We received hundreds of replies, and the results were nearly split down the middle. Some RVers said “Of course!” while others wouldn’t even consider it. Here’s a snapshot of how our community feels: Audra: “Well, if they are in my RV as guests, they’re obviously friends and I would do it in my regular house so yeah, why not?” Eric: “Yes, but I review the rules with every guest—especially on the disposal of toilet paper and other stuff.” Tammy: “Someone that we know and invited to our site, yes. Strangers, no.” Stacie Williams: “I’m on the fence with this one… it would depend on how well I know them.” Barbara: “Never.” Susan: “Yes, but with instructions.” Jennifer: “Only if they promise not to poop in it!” Matt: “My rule is kids, women, and anyone over 50. If you’re male and under 50, walk to the bathhouse.” Rick Beadles: “If I have guests at my sticks-and-bricks home they’re welcome, same for my RV. When nature calls, it calls—no difference.” It’s a perfect example of how personal and situational this question can be. Why Some RVers Say “Absolutely Not” Those who prefer to keep their RV bathroom off-limits have some valid reasons: Limited holding tank capacity. RV black tanks can fill up fast, especially when you’re dry camping or boondocking. Extra flushes mean more frequent—and messier—dumping. Guest “user error.” As we learned firsthand, most people don’t understand RV toilets. One wrong move can mean overflow or damage. Cleaning and odors. Even one guest using the toilet can affect smells and sanitation, especially if they don’t follow the rules. Privacy. For some RVers, their bathroom feels like personal space—especially in smaller rigs like travel trailers or pop-ups. That’s why some people, like our friend who always books a site near the bathhouse, simply steer visitors that way instead. Why Others Say “Sure, No Problem!” On the flip side, many RVers take a “mi casa es su casa” approach. They point out that hospitality doesn’t stop at the campground. If someone is a friend or family member, they see letting them use the RV bathroom as no different than letting them use it in a sticks-and-bricks home. Plus, some guests—especially kids or older adults—might not be comfortable walking to a bathhouse late at night or in bad weather. Several of our members said they simply give a quick tutorial before handing over the flush pedal. As Eric and Susan both said, clear instructions go a long way. The Middle-Ground Approach We’ve found that many RVers take a balanced stance. They’ll let trusted guests use the bathroom but draw the line at strangers or casual visitors. Some even have rules like Jennifer’s “no #2 policy” or Matt’s “age and gender rule.” In our case, if we’re hosting close friends or family, we don’t mind—as long as they get the bathroom briefing first. But if it’s a large gathering or we’re camping near a clean bathhouse, we’ll politely suggest guests use those facilities instead. Tips for Letting Guests Use Your RV Bathroom (Safely) If you do decide to open your bathroom to visitors, a little preparation can prevent problems: Give a quick demo. Explain how to flush and what not to put in the toilet. Post a reminder sign. A simple “To flush: press pedal halfway for water, all the way to flush” note helps avoid confusion. Use RV-safe toilet paper only. And keep it within easy reach so guests don’t grab paper towels by mistake. Crack a window or turn on the vent fan. It keeps moisture and odors under control. Empty your tanks beforehand. Always good practice before hosting guests. Final Thoughts: Courtesy Meets Common Sense Allowing guests to use your RV bathroom comes down to two things—trust and comfort. Some RVers treat their rig like a home and happily welcome guests to use it. Others see it as a delicate ecosystem that only the owner should operate. For Susan and me, we’ve learned to read the situation. If the guest is comfortable, responsible, and understands the rules, we’re happy to share. But we’ll never forget that one near-overflow moment that taught us an important lesson: a two-minute toilet tutorial can save a world of trouble. Whether you’re team “Sure, go ahead!” or team “No way!”—you’re in good company. Just like everything else in RV life, there’s no single right answer—only what works best for you, your rig, and your guests.

If you’ve spent much time RVing, you’ve probably faced this dilemma at least once. You’re having friends over to your campsite for cocktails, dinner, or a cozy campfire, and … Read more