RV Travel: 7 Tips to Maximize your Experience

If you have been participating in RV travel for any length of time, you’ve probably shaken your head many times.  Some actions of RVers are even beyond understanding.  I remember recently watching a video of a large RV trying to pass through the drive-through of a Dairy Queen.  Not only could we all tell there was no way for him to fit through successfully, but he also continued to push his way through until he destroyed the drive-through area as well as his RV.  Not all RV events are so extreme.  We ourselves have probably taken part in something that may have made other RVers shake their heads too.  Here are seven tips RVers should practice that will at least help us be the best RVer – for ourselves and others.

 TIP 1. PLAN YOUR RV TRAVEL AHEAD OF TIME

A good RVer takes time to plan. You should know your route, the area you will travel through as well as your arrival point.  If you don’t plan, you can wind up taking routes with under-sized overpasses, limited weight bridges or roads under repair.  You also need to know all the requirements/restrictions of the place where you will be camping.   What are the trees like, how is the road on arrival – is there room for you to maneuver into your spot? Always take these things into account when it’s time to plan your RV travel.

TIP 2. JOIN THE RV WORLD

You may only RV occasionally on the weekends, but you should still become a part of the RV community.  You can do this by joining RV Facebook groups, attending RV rallies and there are even RV radio stations.  Immersing yourself in the RV world not only helps you stay informed, but it provides you with support and the benefit of others’ experiences.  This you can adopt for yourself as well as share and pass on best practices.

Make sure to take the time to sit down, and write a plan for your trip.

TIP 3. KNOW YOUR RIG

One day we heard a knock on our RV door.  An elderly gentleman stood there and pointed at his new Mercedes Class C.  He and his wife had just picked it up and left straight away on their RV trip.  Naturally the RV sales department had not told him anything about his rig and he had done no learning or research.  He was standing at our door because he did not know how to get water for his rig.  We helped him and looked up a manual online for his rig so he could start learning about it.  I fear all the other things he didn’t know like height, weight restrictions, emptying poop hoses and so, so much more.

TIP 4. ALWAYS BE LEARNING DURING YOUR RV TRAVEL

Everything changes.  We all know that.  It is no different in the RV world.  Don’t become complacent.  For safe RV travel, you should be up-to-date with laws, tips, requirements and more in the industry.  This includes driving, parking, and backing up your rig too.  Ignorance doesn’t let you get away with anything.  It just makes you a dangerous, inexperienced RVer.

Pack out what you brought in!

TIP 5. LEAVE IT BETTER THAN YOU FOUND IT

I can’t tell you how many times I have nearly or DID step in dog poop.  Or the number of times I find trash in the firepit.  Or cigarette butts all over the site.  Why?  I have watched a gentleman in a wheelchair creatively pick out trash from a fire pit with a grabber.  There is NO excuse to leave behind anything at your campsite that wasn’t there before.  Better yet, pick up what someone else left behind and make the site better for the next guy.  Wouldn’t it be nice if someone had picked up the dog poop so you didn’t have to work around it?

TIP 6. FOLLOW THE RULES

Rules at campsites are not there so someone has a reason to list items on a piece of paper.  If the campground or BLM says, ‘No Campfires’, then DON’T.  Watch the speed limits.  Respect what the campground is trying to accomplish – and that is providing a great place for everyone to enjoy and be safe.  Did you arrive to find what you expected or had someone else not followed the rules? Make sure to always follow these campsite rules.

TIP 7. MAINTAIN YOUR RV DURING YOUR RV TRAVEL

This doesn’t sound like something that will make us a good RVer, but it is critical.  Not maintaining your RV can result in several issues that point to a reckless RV travel.  Here are a few examples:

• Driving down the road with items coming off your RV because they have not been checked, supported or anchored appropriately.  These things can become road hazards.  You may also be losing important items from your rig.
• Check your hoses.  Leaks can cause issues for you, the campground, and your neighbors.
• Maintain your large appliances.  Shorts in fuses, wiring, etc., can cause fires.

Although all these ideas can easily be summed up in one way to be a good RVer…think about others before you do anything.  How will they be affected by your actions?  Will you be destroying their property or yours?  In the end, what you do will always affect others and in turn can come back on you. Use these tips and enjoy your RV travel to the fullest!