12 Tips From a Seasoned RV Traveler
The 12 Tips From a Seasoned RV Traveler
1.Plan Your Trip
There are a number of factors why it’s important to plan your trip. Popular campgrounds fill up quick especially during holidays or for those popular locations. If traveling on a long trip, it’s important to know the distances traveling each day and ensure you have an overnight stop or enjoy a few days off the road to recoup and take in a few sites.
2. Follow the 330 Rule
We learned this rule quickly during our first year of travel. The 330 rule is to stop at the campground at 3:30 in the afternoon or after 330 miles of travel, whichever comes first. Of course there are times this is exceeded, but we try to make these rare occasions. The rule reduces travel fatigue and provides time to arrive at the campground during daylight hours to park and set up the RV.
3. Prepare Your RV and Your Tow Vehicle Before The Trip
When it comes to preparing your RV and tow vehicle before a trip we’ve found it’s a best practice to have a checklist of those important tasks to complete before travel. It’s easy to get busy or distracted and then when arriving at the campground something was forgotten or a task was overlooked. In the video we address some of the more important items to consider before leaving on you next RV adventure.
4. Weather Plans
What to do during rainy days? Preparing things to entertain the kids if a day or two are washed out. No kids traveling with you? Ok, we still need to get out of the small space if nothing more than dining out or a short stop during the day at one of the local shops. And what if the pending weather is sever? A plan B is very important to salvage the trip and ensure everyone’s safety.
5. Postponing Travel
Postponing RV travel happens. It’s unfortunate, but life can get in the way. A health issue rises, a family emergency, there are those events not planned, but require action that can cancel or require the trip to be rescheduled. Before making a reservation, understand the terms and conditions for canceling or postponing the stay. The more popular locations may have a no cancellation policy, or may be have forfeit of deposit, or a fee to rescheduled.
6. Campground Research
Yes, we’ve gotten burnt in our RV travels trusting the campgrounds website and not doing our research. We use Google and TripAdvisor reviews first knowing these are not sponsored by the campground. We use the “9 or of 10 rule” when we read the reviews and consider what was said in the negative comments. We use the campground review apps and websites as well, but compare these along with the other reviews mentions for the best picture.
7. Distractions are a Potential for Disaster
It’s of the most importance that we pay attention to the road as we drive these long and very heavy RVs. We have to remember that it can take several hundred feet to stop and adding a few seconds in response while being distracted can be the difference in safely avoiding a bad situation or a driving into a disaster. Stay off the tech and use your co-pilot. Both will allow you to focus on the road.
8. Travel With Empty Tanks
We should always travel with empty black and gray tanks. There’s no reason to leave a campground with full tanks. And consider traveling with empty water tanks. Water weighs 8.34 lbs per gallon and a full tank impacts gas mileage and adds wear and tear to the RV. Consider using the gallon jug method we discuss in the video. We’ve done this for most of our travel and never had an issue.
9. Managing Your RV Weight
When it comes to managing your RV weight we recommend a vehicle’s tow capacity that exceeds the RV weight by 30% or more. This will ensure there’s both power to climb those long and steep inclines and give added weight and break capacity as the RV pushes the tow vehicle back down the incline. Also, don’t exceed the weight of the RV. It adds up quickly with full propane tanks, food, and all the items brought along for the trip.
10. Sticks and Bricks Chores
Start these chores a week to 10 days before the trip. Waiting till the last minute adds stress and fatigue to the beginning of the trip. In the video we share a number of items and why each are important.
11. One Year Clutter Review
I think it’s part of human nature. We just allow things not used to build up for that “just in case”. The problem is just in case never occurs and we end up with clutter and in some cases, added weight to our RV. We have a rule that if we haven’t used in a year, then we either give away or store at home. This doesn’t apply to emergency items or important tools.
12. Communications
It’s important to share your travel itinerary with a trusted family member or friend. Give them copies, write it down, or in our case we have our travel dates added to a Google Calendar and in the information area we add the campground address and phone number. The calendar also gives us the ability to share with that trusted family member or friend. We also use the locate app on our phones with the same family or friend. They can see where we are in real time in case we haven’t checked in along our travels. There are times when RV travel takes us to locations with no cell coverage. The Garmin InReach Mini 2 is a great device that uses satellite technology giving the ability to message, send SOS with location, and more at a very reasonable monthly price.
I hope you found these 12 tips from a seasoned RV traveler helpful. For more in depth discussion of each, watch the video below as we also share the importance from our RV travel experience. In the video we mention a number of other videos and blogs that you may find helpful on your RV travels. We provided these in the helpful links below.
Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.Purchased use of Digital Juice BackTraxx 1 End User License Agreement for Travelin. The Music may be used, altered, or incorporated according to the guidelines described herein into any production (including but not limited to, broadcast, commercial, industrial, educational, and personal).
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