RV Camping Tips
The RV lifestyle has a lot of appealing aspects. You get all the amenities and comforts of modern living with the benefit of taking them on the road with you. All you have to do is step outside your trailer to witness the splendor and glory of nature. However, RV camping isn’t a completely automated experience. There’s still a lot involved in the preparation, travel, and actual camping. We know that not everyone is an expert, so we’ve put together a short list of tips for camping in your RV.
Planning
Having an RV might tempt you to take a spontaneous vacation without considering things like budget, food, route, rest stops, and where to actually camp. However, the more effort you put into preparation, the more time you’ll have to enjoy your adventure. For newer RVers, it’s recommended to plan destinations, book campsites, and stage your travel load ahead of the trip.
Create a checklist for RV maintenance and trip prep. Start with basic packing necessities like food and clothes as well as the RV components you want to examine before leaving. Consider creating personalized checklists for each person coming along and something separate for your pre-drive check. It takes some work to get a checklist in order, but you’ll save time in the long run when you start reusing or modifying your list for future trips.
Towing
Towing can be intimidating if you’re not used to it. Beyond hitching and loading, on-the-road towing presents a lot of challenges. You’ll have to develop a new set of skills for turning, changing lanes, and even braking.
Avoid stress by taking a couple of practice runs of hooking up your trailer and driving slowly around a low-traffic area, like an empty parking lot. Once you get a feel for what’s different from your commuter vehicle, hit the streets and practice the basics. You’ll feel much more comfortable and confident on the actual trip if you’ve got a grasp on how your RV moves and handles.
At the Campsite
You’ve prepared and practiced your way through the packing and traveling to finally arrive at your campground destination, but there are still a few things to do before getting down to the real relaxing parts. Proper packing leads to easy unpacking, so hopefully, you’ll have any gear you need readily available to unload.
A few items for the campground setup section of your checklist: Hook up electricity, water, and sewer lines. Secure RV with chocks and stabilizing jacks (for leveling, if necessary). Switch from onboard power to the outside power source. Roll out the awning and have a good time!
If you’re still searching for the right RV, head over to Mountaineer RV & Outdoor in Jane Lew, WV. We welcome all our patrons visiting us from West Virginia, including those coming from Morgantown.