Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
What really happens after you call RV roadside assistance, and why can help sometimes take so long?
This week, we go behind the scenes with Jerry Aldridge, founder and former president and CEO of Coach-Net. Jerry explains how an RV roadside-assistance call is handled, how providers find technicians capable of working on your particular rig, and what RV owners should realistically expect when they are stranded far from home.
We also share Jennifer's encouraging six-week knee-replacement update and tease the used small motorhome we just bought without giving up our Brinkley fifth wheel.
Plus, Jennifer explains how to stop packing too much food for an RV trip, and Mike discusses the health risks of wildfire smoke and when RVers should change their route or leave a campground.
Complete show notes: RVPodcast.com
The Road To Coach Net book can be found at amzn.to/3SeIfBk
Keep your RV service and repair records organized with the RV Maintenance Tracker:
RVLifestyle.com/Maintenance
00:00 – Introduction: The biggest misconceptions about RV roadside assistance.
01:00 – Welcome to the RV Podcast: Episode 636, Stories from the Road.
01:40 – Jennifer’s Recovery Update: Six weeks post-knee surgery progress.
03:19 – Big News: Mike and Jennifer bought a new RV (but they’re keeping the Brinkley!).
05:54 – Organizing Your RV Life: Introducing the RV Maintenance Tracker.
07:23 – Conversation of the Week: Behind the scenes with CoachNet founder, Jerry Aldridge.
09:15 – The History of CoachNet: From building luxury coaches for movie stars to specialized RV help.
11:03 – The Spark: Why a database of specialized service locations was desperately needed.
13:30 – Overcoming the Odds: Competing with the big names in the early days.
15:30 – Technical Expertise vs. Commodity: What makes specialized RV service different in 2026.
18:52 – Understanding Today’s Dispatch: Why AI and "vanilla" service can lead to long waits.
21:30 – The "Circus Elephant": Why your RV is unique and needs specific towing equipment.
23:44 – The Big Question: Why does specialized RV help take so long to arrive?
26:27 – The Story Behind the Book: The Road to CoachNet.
28:00 – Travel Recommendation: Discovering unique stays with RVOvernights.com.
29:15 – RV Question 1: How to stop overpacking food for your trips.
30:52 – RV Question 2: Is camping in wildfire smoke actually dangerous?
34:06 – Closing Remarks and Happy Trails.
Save 40% on a year of unique RV overnight stays with promo code RVLDEAL:
RVLifestyle.com/RVOvernights
► If you want help planning and organizing your own RV trips, we have put all our guides, tools, RV travel apps and checklists together in one place.
You will find it all rvlifestyle.com/plan
Join our community: rvcommunity.com
Free camping guide: rvlifestyle.com/freecampingguide
PLEASE SUBSCRIBE and click the bell icon to be notified of new videos and our YouTube Live special reports from the cool places we visit on our RV adventures.
Please note this channel is for entertainment purposes only. We are not RV experts and are not simply sharing our opinions and what seems to work for us. You should do your own research and make your own decisions.
What really happens after you call RV roadside assistance, and why can help sometimes take so long?
This week, we go behind the scenes with Jerry Aldridge, founder and former president and CEO of Coach-Net. Jerry explains how an RV roadside-assistance call is handled, how providers find technicians capable of working on your particular rig, and what RV owners should realistically expect when they are stranded far from home.
We also share Jennifer's encouraging six-week knee-replacement update and tease the used small motorhome we just bought without giving up our Brinkley fifth wheel.
Plus, Jennifer explains how to stop packing too much food for an RV trip, and Mike discusses the health risks of wildfire smoke and when RVers should change their route or leave a campground.
Complete show notes: RVPodcast.com
The Road To Coach Net book can be found at amzn.to/3SeIfBk
Keep your RV service and repair records organized with the RV Maintenance Tracker:
RVLifestyle.com/Maintenance
00:00 – Introduction: The biggest misconceptions about RV roadside assistance.
01:00 – Welcome to the RV Podcast: Episode 636, Stories from the Road.
01:40 – Jennifer’s Recovery Update: Six weeks post-knee surgery progress.
03:19 – Big News: Mike and Jennifer bought a new RV (but they’re keeping the Brinkley!).
05:54 – Organizing Your RV Life: Introducing the RV Maintenance Tracker.
07:23 – Conversation of the Week: Behind the scenes with CoachNet founder, Jerry Aldridge.
09:15 – The History of CoachNet: From building luxury coaches for movie stars to specialized RV help.
11:03 – The Spark: Why a database of specialized service locations was desperately needed.
13:30 – Overcoming the Odds: Competing with the big names in the early days.
15:30 – Technical Expertise vs. Commodity: What makes specialized RV service different in 2026.
18:52 – Understanding Today’s Dispatch: Why AI and "vanilla" service can lead to long waits.
21:30 – The "Circus Elephant": Why your RV is unique and needs specific towing equipment.
23:44 – The Big Question: Why does specialized RV help take so long to arrive?
26:27 – The Story Behind the Book: The Road to CoachNet.
28:00 – Travel Recommendation: Discovering unique stays with RVOvernights.com.
29:15 – RV Question 1: How to stop overpacking food for your trips.
30:52 – RV Question 2: Is camping in wildfire smoke actually dangerous?
34:06 – Closing Remarks and Happy Trails.
Save 40% on a year of unique RV overnight stays with promo code RVLDEAL:
RVLifestyle.com/RVOvernights
► If you want help planning and organizing your own RV trips, we have put all our guides, tools, RV travel apps and checklists together in one place.
You will find it all rvlifestyle.com/plan
Join our community: rvcommunity.com
Free camping guide: rvlifestyle.com/freecampingguide
PLEASE SUBSCRIBE and click the bell icon to be notified of new videos and our YouTube Live special reports from the cool places we visit on our RV adventures.
Please note this channel is for entertainment purposes only. We are not RV experts and are not simply sharing our opinions and what seems to work for us. You should do your own research and make your own decisions.
