My husband and I have been RVing since 2021 and we’ve learned plenty of lessons along the way. And we want to pass them on to you!
We did a TON of research prior to our first RV season. We wanted to make sure we were well prepared and knew as much as possible.
What You Should Know About RVing
#1 Popular Campgrounds Fill Up Quickly
But there are always other options.
I was really concerned when we first started that we’d need to make reservations way ahead of time for every campground and we found that really wasn’t necessary.
However, some campgrounds DO fill up quickly. This year we wanted to grab an oceanfront campsite at Bar Harbor / Oceanside KOA. When I went to book this campground in January, there was only one more oceanfront site, for the entire summer left. We found certain state parks and national parks also fill up incredibly quickly. It’s important to have a general idea of where you want to go, knowing you might not always get your #1 choice.
#2 You Travel Slower in an RV
When you’re planning a roadtrip, you’ll typically use google maps to determine the distances between destinations. But if you have an RV it’s best to add a few hours. It’s best to go slower and take your time.
On long drive days we make sure to stop every 150 miles or so to stretch our legs, use the bathroom, and let the dogs run around.
#3 Start Small and Local to Gain Confidence
We were a bit nervous for our first trip. We weren’t sure if we would know what we were doing (hint, we didn’t!). Plus, in case we didn’t hook up the RV right or had something go wrong on the road, we wanted to be closer to home.
#4 Make Sure You Have a Good Travel Partner
Great communication is key to a good RV trip.
Before we arrive at the campground we make a game plan. It’s important to know who is going to do what.
We use walkie talkies when backing up the RV.
We make sure to talk about our budget for each trip ahead of time so we’re on the same page.
Find a travel partner who enjoys the same type of trip as you.
Do you want to wake up early to catch the sunrise?
Are you planning to spend time with friends late into the night?
Do you like to visit cities or state parks?
#5 You Save a lot of Money Making Your Own Meals
Our favorite RV breakfast ideas: Overnight oats, oatmeal, smoothies, breakfast sandwiches.
Our favorite RV lunch ideas: Classic PB and J, chicken and hummus wraps, tuna melts, BLTs.
Our favorite RV dinner ideas: Local favorites (steak in South Dakota, Maine lobsters, etc).
Plus, any meal tastes 10x better when you eat it outside!
#6 Track Your Expenses
We created an excel spreadsheet to help track our rv season planning. During the trip we use a simple notebook to track daily spending including gas, food, activities, and any souvenirs.
#7 There’s an RVing Style for Everyone
When you look around a campground, you’ll see every sort of RV you can imagine. And not only that, but you’ll also see a wide variety of people that RV. This is great news for you because you are found to meet interesting people wherever you go!
- Luxury RVers
- Full time RVing families
- Solo female van lifers
- Retirees
- Young couples
#8 Plan for the Worst and Hope for the Best
- You may get sick. We spent 2 days exploring Nova Scotia before we both got Covid.
- Things will break. On our trip to South Dakota a window broke, our sewer hose got disconnected, and our dining table kept coming loose.
- You’ll get lost. Bring a paper map as a backup.
- The weather won’t be good
- Your neighbors might be noisy, bring a noise machine! Trust us. When we stopped at a Cracker Barrel in New York, I swear we were right next to a racetrack. Since that night, we have never slept without our sound machine!
#9 You Need to Be Prepared
- Always have a first aid kit. I would also bring your preferred choice for common illnesses like headaches, upset stomachs, heartburn, etc.
- Have enough tools to fix your RV, even if you don’t know how to, you can usually find someone at your campground who does.
- Wrenches, sockets, screwdrivers, the correct drill bits for various RVs
Roadside assistance packages (make sure it includes a trailer)
#10 Research Your RV Specifically
There are a lot you can fix on your own with basic knowledge and the right tools. Then if needed you can follow up with a professional shop. We did this when our window broke in South Dakota.
What tends to fail on your RV?
What should you know about?
We wanted to know everything there was to know about our Forest River RPOD 192.
#11 Know Your Towing Vehicle’s Abilities
We had a lot to learn about towing our RV with at the time our Toyota Tacoma.
Here’s a few questions and modifications we made to make towing a breeze!
- What is your vehicle’s towing capacity, payload capacity?
- Do you need to modify your vehicle to make it better at towing? We only had a Toyota Tacoma so we made a few adjustments including a trailer brake controller, an upgraded transmission cooler and a digital readout. for transmission temperature, and rear airbag suspension.
- We also added a weight distribution hitch with sway control.
- Purchase a road map that includes mountain grades. We love this one.
- Know the correct tire pressure for your unit.
#12 You’ll Have Fun No Matter the Destination
Don’t worry about planning the perfect trip, just get on the road!
#13 Have a Plan But Stay Flexible
Leave lots of room for exploring but know the top things you want to do to make the most of your time.
I use Google Maps to save ideas of places I want to go.
When it comes to planning day to day itineraries, I like to have a few things each day we could do but I try to keep things flexible.
For example, I may have a few hikes picked out, but I won’t hold us to a certain day just in case something else pops up.
#14 If You Want to Make Friends, Bring Your Dog
People love dogs.
#15 You’ll Quickly Get into a Rhythm and Routine
We found things work best when Ben sets up the outside parts of camp and I set up the inside of the RV. Same goes for tearing down camp and getting ready to hit the road.
This also applies for trip planning. We find things work best when I find things to do and Ben book’s the campground and plans the route.
#16 Have Two of All of Your Essentials
This made packing so much easier. I made sure that everything we needed in the RV was already in there. For example, buy a second set of toiletries, make up, clothes, kitchen utensils, etc.
#17 You’ll Quickly Learn Your Preferences
- How long do you like to drive in between destinations?
- Are you budget conscious travelers or can you splurge?
- What kind of campgrounds do you like?
- Who do you like to travel with?
- What activities do you like to do while RVing?
- Do you like cities or rural settings?
- Do you like shorter getaways or longer trips?
Final Thoughts
If this is your first year RVing, get ready to have a blast! I hope these tips will help you feel more prepared and confident for your adventures ahead. Enjoy!
