Traveling in an RV can be an incredible way to vacation. It offers flexibility and freedom that cannot be found with traditional “airfare and hotel” vacations. It truly can be a home-on-wheels that allows you to enjoy a multi destination trip without packing and unpacking several times. You get the opportunity to spend more time in the outdoors without losing the comforts of hot showers, comfortable beds, and fully stocked kitchens. Large families can enjoy the convenience of not needing to book multiple hotel rooms for their group. You can even travel easily with your pets. Whatever your reason, here are 5 helpful hints when planning your first RV trip.
Should I rent or buy?
One of the first considerations when planning an RV trip is deciding whether to rent or buy.
If you are planning one short trip and won’t be covering too many miles, then you are better off renting. However, be aware that renting an RV does not give you the full RV experience. When renting an RV you generally can’t tow a car which will leave you feeling restricted with your ability to get around. You also are limited in what you can bring and store, and an RV trip just isn’t the same if you can’t load up your bikes and kayaks to explore.
Buying an RV makes sense if you are planning to travel multiple times, want to take an extended RV trip (several weeks or more) and want to experience all that an RV trip can offer. It also allows you time to get accustomed to driving and setting up your rig. It can take a few trips to really get comfortable with your RV.
Tip for getting the best priced RV: Open your search parameters and be willing to travel hundreds (or even thousands) of miles to pick it up. When we purchased our new rig, my husband flew to a dealership halfway across the country that had an oversupply of the model we wanted. He was able to save tens of thousands of dollars, by simply being willing to travel and pick it up.
Understand the costs
Many people underestimate the costs of RV travel. In addition to the cost of buying or renting the RV, you have to factor in the following costs:
Gas: Many RV’s only get 8-12 miles per gallon, so gas costs add up quickly.
RV parks: These can range from $15 for state parks all the way up to $180+ for luxury Rv parks. You can save money by boondocking (staying in free locations such as a Walmart parking lot, or on BLM land) but this only works for a few days at a time, as you will need a place to charge your batteries, dump your gray and black water, and refill your water and gas tanks.
Accessories to outfit your RV: Outfitting your RV requires some specialty items that may add to the cost. From wall mounted toilet brushes to tiny dish drying racks and inflatable kayaks, traveling in RV style can get expensive, but can really add to the joy and convenience of your travels!
Tolls: These are more expensive in an RV and can be way more expensive if you are also towing your car!
Food: Grocery shopping and cooking your own food is another cost to account for. This is a great place to save money by not eating in restaurants.
Be your own handyman
An unfortunate park of RV travel is that EVERYTHING breaks! I’m not talking about the engine breaking down. I’m talking about trim pieces falling off, bunk bed motors burning out, curtain rods falling down, and refrigerators not cooling. The better-quality RV you have, the less you will worry about this, but it is still a fact of RV life. There are so many components on an RV that the chances are a few things will break during your trip. It is notoriously difficult to get a mobile RV mechanic in some areas, so be prepared to pull out your owner’s manual and do a little handyman work yourself! YouTube and the internet is a great resource for figuring out how to fix something!
Have a checklist
There are so many steps that you need to take when setting up or taking down your RV campsite. Having a written checklist can help you not forget any essential steps. While traveling through the Canadian Rockies years ago, my husband started to drive the RV away from our campsite before putting the awning down. You may wonder how this is possible when the awning is so big and sticks out so far. Well, when your kids are being noisy, it’s easy to get distracted and forget something like this. As he pulled away, the awning caught on a tree branch and part of the awning frame broke. Through some miracle we were able to find a mobile welder nearby who could come and help get the awning repaired so we could drive back home.
In order to save yourself from this expensive and annoying situation, use the checklist! This checklist should include leveling the RV, hooking up electric, water, sewer and cable, putting slideouts out, opening roof vents, and opening up the awning. The list below can also be helpful!
Keep your plans flexible
One of the joys of RV travel is having the flexibility to change plans at the last minute. Most RV parks have very generous cancellation policies, which means that they often have last minute availability. Try and keep your plans flexible for those times when you fall in love with a destination and want to stay a few days longer. Other times, you may want to hit the road earlier if you are eager to get onto your next destination.
There are a few exceptions to this recommendation. If you are trying to book a spot in a very busy RV park or inside a crowded national park, then you must book in advance. Popular National Parks open up their booking window 6 months early and those spots get snatched up within a few days.
If you are willing to have some flexibility in which RV parks you use and are ok staying in lesser-known areas, then keep an open mind and open schedule when you hit the road.
My favorite RV trip that we took was a 9-week trip that took us from our home in Virginia, to Texas and then up along the California coast. We left on this trip without booking a single night in advance. We were able to boondock or find same day RV park availability everywhere we went. This even included private RV parks near the hugely popular Seqouia and Yosemite National Parks. The site listed below allows you to make reservations for camping, and timed entry at all National Parks:
Recreation.gov – Camping, Cabins, RVs, Permits, Passes & More
Happy Travels!
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