If you’re RVing for the first time, what you feel could be a mix of excitement and worry. You may have the notion that you’re too inexperienced to make the camping journey a success. However, with careful planning and preparations, you can make your first experience full of joy. Here are camping tips for first time RVers.
1. Make a Plan of the Journey
Planning is crucial, especially if its the first time to be RVing. It saves you the stress of encountering surprises that bring problems in your journey. Such problems include being turned away when trying to enter restricted places or encountering places that are difficult to drive your RV in.
Study the places you want to visit and get to know how they look like. Are there enough roadways to drive on? Are there parks or campsites that are open to campers? Make calls, too, to reserve space for your RV vehicle. If you’re crossing states, take time to understand the local camping laws to avoid running into trouble.
2. Test Drive Your RV
It’s going to be the first time you’re driving a wide and long vehicle. You need to do it right, and the only way to do so would be to practice ahead. Whether you’re buying or renting the RV, find time to practice maneuvering it through challenging situations.
Test drive it around your town. Try it in the countryside, and get a feel of what the camping ground you will drive it to is. Connect and disconnect it from your vehicle until you’re sure you can do it comfortably. Practicing how to operate your RV beforehand brings the confidence needed to make the RVing adventure a success.
3. Create a Checklist
A checklist ensures you’ve packed everything you will need. There are so many things you will need to carry in your RV. Most of them are too important to forget. Surprisingly, many first time campers tend to leave them behind, only to find out later when they’re already on their way or already at their campsite.
To avoid this, create a checklist of the items to bring along. Divide the list into categories. You could have a category for foodstuffs, another one for first aid stuff, and so on. That way, you will not likely leave out some necessary items.
4. Don’t Forget the Essentials
Essentials you shouldn’t forget to pack include the contents of a first aid kit. Also a source of electricity to power your gadgets and lights. Because you may not have access to the grid, ensure you bring with you an RV solar panel kit. Being your first time to go out camping, you may forget to put these essentials in the RV. The best way to ensure they’re there is to pack them first.
5. Avoid Crowded Roadways and Mountainous Places
Crowded roadways can be challenging to drive on, especially when you have no experience towing an RV. It can delay your journey or even bring you trouble from other road users. To avoid feeling awkward, avoid roads that have too many motorists. Do it, even if it means using a longer route. Driving in less crowded roads saves you time. It’s also unlikely that you will get into awkward situations that may result in an accident and cut short your RVing journey.
Avoid roads that wind up and down mountains, too, if possible. You’re towing an RV behind you, and such ways can be difficult to drive on. It’s advisable to use such roadways only after you’ve become experienced enough. That’s after you’ve made several RVing trips.
6. Start With Nearby Places
Being your first time, choosing far off places to go RVing will only complicate your journey. You’re not yet used to manoeuvering the long vehicle over long distances, and it can leave you exhausted and not dull. It could take away the excitement and joy the experience is supposed to bring in you.
Start with shorter distances that will not challenge or tire you much. It will help you to gain experience before you can tackle the longer trips. It also allows you to become confident enough you to try out more challenging routes and campgrounds in the future.
Going out on an RVing journey can be a challenge if doing it as a beginner. With these tips, you can make it not only easy but also less stressful. From driving, finding the right campground, to having everything you need with you, the tips will help you find happiness on the go.