5 Useful Tips and Travel Hacks for Your First RV Camping Trip

Going on an RV camping trip is one of the most liberating and enjoyable travel experiences, providing you with complete freedom to go wherever you wish at your own pace, while also giving you a wonderful opportunity to connect with your friends and family in your little home away from home. But as with most first times, there is also a learning curve with RV travel, as campervans often present some unique challenges of their own. To that end, here are some of the most useful travel tips for beginner RVers, which will ensure a more relaxing and pleasurable camping trip:

Get familiar with your RV

If you don’t have any prior experience with RV camping, the most important thing you can do is get acquainted with your vehicle. Start by locating and familiarizing yourself with the major RV systems, such as knowing where your fresh, grey, and black water tanks and valves are, locating the propane tank, finding the fuse box and fire extinguisher, and even establishing where the emergency exits are.

Once you’ve located all the essential RV systems, it would also be wise to learn how to hook them up to the stations that will be available on campsites. Among the most important aspects will be knowing how to empty your black and grey tanks, as they hold your bathroom and shower/kitchen waste, respectfully.

Practice your driving skills

Regardless of your current driving skills, you need to keep in mind that navigating an RV is an entirely different experience. Campervans are large and bulky vehicles that are quite difficult to maneuver, which is why it might be best to go on a few practice drives around town before you finally head out on your trip, in an effort to improve your navigational skills and overall road safety.

It could also be a good idea to watch some educational videos online that will teach you more about navigating your RV, not only when it comes to driving and parking, but also other aspects you might not have encountered before, like RV generators and batteries, as well as water, electrical, and sewage hookups.

Invest in useful equipment

While simply maneuvering an RV might be a challenging task, there is truly nothing worse than driving in the freezing cold or trying to fall asleep in the scorching heat. To that end, one of the best things you could do before your first trip is to equip your vehicle with a quality RV air conditioner that will help you maintain the ideal temperature no matter the season, and create a more pleasant and comfortable atmosphere.

Depending on the current setup of your RV, you might also want to consider updating the appliances for a more enjoyable camping experience, or even invest in a good security system if safety is one of your main concerns.

Redesign your campervan

As RVs are intended for longer journeys, chances are you’ll spend most of the trip in your vehicle, whether you’re driving, sleeping, or even cooking. For that reason, it might be a good idea to glam up your RV and make it as pleasant and functional as possible.

If your vehicle isn’t already equipped with these gadgets, make it a point to include a TV, a good sound system, as well as good Wi-Fi in the RV, in order to have plenty of entertainment options to keep you occupied during those long trips. Don’t forget to invest in a cozy bed and a comfortable seating area either, along with some additional items like throw blankets, decorative pillows, or even wall hangings, which will make your RV feel more like home.

Know where to park your RV

Although smaller motorhomes might give you an opportunity to park in most parking lots, you won’t be quite as lucky when driving a larger RV. You will most likely need to find specific truck-friendly stations, rest areas, and other stops along the way that have specific parking spaces for larger vehicles.

Similarly, your nights should preferably be spent in RV campsites, not only due to space and the availability of connection and dumping sites, but also for your own safety. For these reasons, your preferred road trip route should be planned carefully in advance, to accommodate RV-suitable stops and parks, and make for the most enjoyable camping experience.

While going on an RV road trip for the first time might seem a bit overwhelming, the useful tips mentioned above will help to keep you prepared, and ensure the best and most enjoyable camping experience possible.