5 Key Elements When Planning Your First RV Road Trip

Planning your first RV road trip is an exhilarating time. The butterflies in your stomach flutter around as you plan and pack, knowing that you’re about to hit the open road and encounter a multitude of brand new sights and life-affirming experiences.

While many good times await you, there are some crucial elements to consider when planning your first lengthy RV trek to ensure that you have the best time possible. Failing to properly plan can turn the volume down on any adventure, so to help you out, here are a few items to cross off your checklist before you jump in the driver’s seat and hit the road.

Bring the Shade
One thing that catches many inexperienced RVers off-guard is how quickly the sunlight can enter the vehicle and dramatically increase the temperature while inside. To prevent the heat from dampening the comfort of your home-on-wheels, it’s critical to bring your own shade-making devices.

There are many sun-blocking shades available on the markets designed to fit various RV window sizes, but you can also buy RV reflective insulation to keep the sun out when you’re not operating the vehicle.

Blocking the sun isn’t always for the inside either. While all RVers love their motorhomes, most decide to hit the road in hopes of enjoying the beautiful outdoors as well. Because you can’t always guarantee that every RV park you visit will have adequate shade coverage, you should make sure you have a lasting RV awning. Take the awning out for a test run as well--open and close it to make sure it retracts as it’s supposed to and that it is strong enough to withstand winds, as doing this will help ensure your awning will provide you with relief from the sun for the duration of your trip.

Test Out All Appliances and Power Sources
Before you rev up your RV for a long journey, you want to test your power source and appliances to make sure nothing needs to be replaced. The last thing you want is to be located in a desolate area only to have something major malfunction.

If you’re using a generator, turn it on and then test all of the appliances for efficiency. You want to leave the safety of your home knowing that your heat/AC works, your lights turn on, your water runs, and your stove heats up.

If you’re not an expert on these things, always take your RV in for a maintenance checkup, as you want to be absolutely certain that your temporary home is mechanically sound. Simple precautions will help ensure that your trip is a success, not a bust.

Create a List of Emergency Contacts Along Your Route
Wi-Fi availability is hit and miss once you land on the freeway, and creating a list of emergency contacts along your intended route will allow you to know how to get help if something were to happen. Whether it be medical, towing, or mechanical services, mapping out what helpful resources are available along your travel path will put your mind at ease if an urgent matter were to come up during your journey.

Less Is More
For those new to RVing, the spacial luxury that recreational vehicles offer makes it tempting to overdo it.

It’s natural to want to overpack on canned foods, cooking utensils, clothes, shoes, tools, etc. as a way to feel secure just in case something unexpected comes up. That being said, bringing an excess amount of supplies with you not only will quickly clutter up your living conditions, but you’ll also compromise the aerodynamics of your drive and worsen your gas mileage. When it comes to packing your RV, think critically about what you are actually going to end up using.

In other words, just because you can fit more items in an RV doesn’t necessarily mean that doing so is in your best interest. It’s all about balance; bring enough food to last you for your trip, but you don’t need to bring a supply fit for the end of the world.

Remember RV Parks Often Fill Up Quickly
During the spring/summer months especially, popular RV destinations can prove competitive when it comes to landing a spot. As much as you might want to simply go where the winds take you, it would be in your favor to call and reserve a spot ahead of time.

After all, some campgrounds fill up months in advance, and you don’t want to arrive at a location in desperate need of a shower and some sleep only to find that there is no vacancy available. That’s why it’s important to map out your route in detail and call the parks to ensure there are slots available. Spontaneity is a liberating part of traveling, but integrating that with a little bit of practicality and forethought can save you a major headache.

Closing Up
Hopefully this advice gives you a healthy jump-start to planning an RV trip that’s full of enjoyment and wonder instead of obstacles and mishaps. Remember that your first time at anything is a great opportunity for learning, and it won’t be long before you’re just as much a travel guru as any true RVer. That being said, be safe, and have fun quenching your thirst for wanderlust!