2020 has been a great year to join the community of RVers! While the pandemic shut much of the country down, there have still been plenty of places for RVers to vacation and enjoy while still social distancing. If you are one of the many people that decided to become an RVer this year, here are some things that you need to know to make your experience even more enjoyable.
1. Take some time to practice driving
Yes, you’ve probably had your driver’s license for years but driving or towing an RV is different. If you are going to be towing your RV, you may need practice on how to turn without hitting the curb or coming a little too close to other cars. Same goes for if you’re going to be driving an RV and towing a vehicle behind you.
It’s also a good idea to practice backing up. Not all RV campsites allow you to pull straight through. The last thing you want is to be stressed out blocking the entire road at the campground while you try to figure out how to back in on the spot.
If you’re used to driving regular sized vehicles, any type of RV can come with a steep learning curve. Don’t be afraid to go to an empty parking lot and practice until you feel confident.
2. Explore inside and outside of your RV
RV manufacturers are great at hiding storage spaces away to meet the needs of RVers. Make sure you take the time to explore your RV and learn where all the storage spaces are. Check under furniture including the bed, overhead throughout the RV, and on the exterior of your RV. Take time to get familiar with where things are located.
This may seem like a silly tip, but it’s not uncommon for RVers to miss some of the storage places that are in their RV.
If you find that you still feel short on storage, explore space saving tips that you can use.
3. Think about set-up and tear-down when traveling
Yes, it can be easier and more enjoyable to set-up and tear-down camp when you have an RV instead of a tent but that doesn’t mean it’s always a breeze either. It can be time consuming to get into your campsite, make sure everything is level, hook-up to things like water, sewer, and electricity, and then unpack and setup what you need in your camper. When you’re new to RVing, the entire process can feel overwhelming.
Don’t be afraid to make a checklist of each step that you need to do for the first few trips so you make sure that you don’t forget anything during the process.
You may also want to carefully plan for what time of day you plan on arriving or leaving your campsite. Some times are busier than others, like Friday evening. If you aren’t really comfortable backing up and setting up your RV, you may want to arrive before the crowd does.
4. Don’t be afraid to look for changes you can make in your RV
Just because your RV comes a certain way doesn’t mean you need to continue to use it like that. For example, you may have a dining table and chairs in your RV that you don’t really want. If you like to eat outside when traveling or you would rather sit on the couch during your meals even when you’re inside, have the table removed so you can open up space for something that you will use instead.
5. Don’t neglect your RV maintenance
RVs need to be maintained the same way your daily driver and house do. And just like both of them, if you neglect to do the regular maintenance that your RV needs on a regular basis, it can add up to some costly repairs. It’s much easier and more cost effective to stay on top of the routine maintenance.
There are resources you can use like Maintain My RV to help you keep track of what needs to be done at what time.
6. Ask for help when you need it
If you have questions about your RV, the best destinations to visit, what roads to avoid or just about anything else regarding RVing, don’t be afraid to ask. RVers are a community that likes to come together and help one another. Don’t be afraid to ask for a hand if you need it, but make sure you do the same for others as well.
There are plenty of RVing groups online that you can join to learn more RVing tips and tricks.
Are you already interested in upgrading?
If you started your RVing adventure with a used RV and have already realized that you’re ready for an upgrade, Sky River RV can help. Right now we are offering a Cash for Campers program. You can take advantage of this prime opportunity to trade in your existing RV and upgrade while there are historically low interest rates making for affordable monthly payments.
