I’d like to welcome a guest writer to the blog today! Welcome Aurora James!
Camping via recreational vehicles opens up a world of opportunities and enticing adventures. You can pack up the RV and hit the road for a variety of destinations, but if this type of camping is new to you, there are some tips you should be aware of before you begin. Get to know your vehicle and plan ahead of time so you have a safe and fun trip.
Work With Your RV Before Your Trip Begins
Get to know your RV before heading out on your first trip. An RV can be intimidating to drive if you are not used to them, and you don’t want to ruin a scheduled vacation with troubles on the road due to inexperience.
Your RV will be bigger than what you are accustomed to driving, and you will find blind spots that you need to work around. Find an open spot to do some practice driving and be aware of height clearances and other potential pitfalls.
In addition to driving practice, you should spend time doing a set-up run through. As RV Share points out, you don’t want to be at the campsite setting up for the first time and realize you don’t know what to do or don’t have everything you need. Do a test run in your driveway from start to finish so you build a comfort level for doing it away from home.
Pre-Planning Sets the Stage for a Smooth Trip
Whether this is the first time all year you’ve cranked up the RV or you’ve been using it every other weekend, it is important to prep your RV before each use. Develop a checklist to go through before your trip begins. Do a walk-around inspection to ensure that all of the lights are functioning, that the tire pressure is at the appropriate level, and that all items are properly stowed and secured. In addition, take a few minutes to check antennas, awnings, and other items that could easily break if forgotten.
Another key pre-trip planning component with RV camping is to thoroughly plan your route before your departure. Outdoorsy notes that you will want to avoid rush hour through big cities in a vehicle like this, for example, and look ahead for mountainous roads that would be difficult to navigate in a large RV.
Plan your departure time for early in the day if you can. You want to allow time for unexpected stops or routing changes, and setting everything up in the dark can get complicated. Know the campground’s policies about arrival times so you don’t run into issues, as some have quiet hours in the evening and may even lock the gates.
Survey Campground Specifics as You Get Things in Place
Once you arrive, find your camping spot and look for obstacles on the ground or for tree branches above that could cause issues. Find the water, sewage, and electrical hookups, then level the RV and chock the wheels. Get everything connected to the campsite hookups and prepare to relax and begin to enjoy your vacation.
Campgrounds are typically quite safe, but KOA details that you should lock your RV whenever you leave the area, and keep windows and exterior storage compartments secured. In addition, you may want to ask parks about what security measures they employ. Do they have patrols at night? Can unregistered guests come and go easily?
RV camping is a great way to travel once you learn some basics. Invest time before your first trip getting to know your vehicle and get in the habit of doing a pre-trip inspection for every outing. Plan your route to avoid problematic areas during your drive and then once you are set up and secure you’ll have everything safely in place so you can enjoy the wonders around you.
Aurora James: Aurora believes there are no bad dogs. She created DogEtiquette.info to share her dog training tips and advice to dog owners everywhere.
Freeway Gypsy 