RV travel has always been popular with different demographics across the country, but in recent years, it has had a resurgence in popularity, and more people than ever are finding joy in traveling in RVs.
But if you’re new to this lifestyle, it can be quite a process to adjust and a huge learning curve, especially for your first trip out on the road. There are plenty of mistakes you can make, and people do make, but these tips can help you avoid some of the more common ones.
Get Familiar Before You Leave
An RV is not a car, and if you’re driving one for the first time in an unfamiliar location, then this isn’t going to be a great introduction. The best thing to do here is to get familiar with your RV before you leave. Check out all of the features, controls, and get comfortable with how it handles and how it feels to drive before you have no choice.
Pay attention to how to connect and disconnect hookups, how the water system works, how to operate the generator if you have one, and where everything is. If you’re at home learning this, it will save a lot of frustration on the road.
Plan Your Route But Leave Room to Roam
One of the best things about RV travel is the flexibility it gives you. And if you end up overplanning, this can ruin this aspect entirely. Sure, have a general route with a few fixed points mapped out, but don’t overplan and end up with something so rigid that you can’t take a detour when something worth stopping for falls into your path.
The best way to think of your route is more like a loose framework rather than a schedule. Know roughly where you’re heading each day, but allow enough breathing room that the trip can develop on its own terms.
Book Stops in Advance
Hand in hand with the above point is knowing where you’re stopping and having the right campsites booked in advance. This can form part of your loose framework. The reason you need to book in advance is due to the better spots, especially sites with full hookups, booking up faster earlier in the season.
Take your time to research the best RV Park on your route with the hookups you want or need, which has the space for your vehicle, and gives you the support you need for a relaxing stay.
Pack for the Road, Not a Hotel
Storage in an RV is actually more limited than it looks, and each rig will have a maximum load weight, too. Everything you pack needs to have a place, and if it doesn’t have one, it simply becomes clutter.
Top tips include packing versatile clothing, practical kitchen supplies, and avoiding falling into the “just in case” trap, which results in you overpacking for every eventuality. It’s also a good idea to practise packing your RV before you hit the road to make sure it’s all evenly balanced, safe, and secure to avoid any incidents when driving.
