7 Tips To Prepare You For Long RV Adventures
Making memories on road trips can be momentous. The open road, with green-laced valleys or palm trees waving through the window all add to the fun. Yet being prepared adds to the joy too. Don’t get blindsided by the unexpected on the road. Tips for long road trips go a long way. Be aware of road-trip snags and suggestions to help you navigate the open road, while embarking on your RV adventure.
1. Arrive at your campground before dark
Sometimes it’s inevitable that you fall behind in your RV scheduling and can’t make it to your campground on time. Many parks and recreation centers require that you check-in before a certain hour.
Trying to arrive before dark makes camping more enjoyable because you’ll be able to scope out your surroundings. When you know what the environment looks like in the light, it helps you feel safer once it’s dark out. You’ll also be able to find bathroom facilities, if there are any and locate any hookups to make your evening more comfortable.
If you fall behind, don’t sweat it.
- Call ahead and confirm your reservation.
- Let the campground host or check-in know that you’ll arrive past check-in.
- Ask for specific directions to navigate to your campsite, if nightfall arrives before you do.
No one wants to disturb their fellow campers, but everyone understands that circumstances beyond our control can occur. Having backup resources to turn to will make your campground evening better, even if time isn’t on your side.
2. Get your mail on the go
If you’re leaving behind an apartment or home, don’t forget about your mail. If you have a house-sitter checking your plants and your mail, then you already have it covered. If not, here are some tips for being gone for a while.
Reduce your mail
Tell your friends and family that you’ve been away from the mailbox for a while and that you can’t accept mail. Staying in contact through email, phone calls, and texts can help greatly reduce physical pieces of communication. You can also contact any billing services and make all due bills online.
Forward it
When you move to a new address or you’re staying in your RV for prolonged periods, you can forward your mail to a specific address of your choosing for 12 months with USPS. Pick a person you can trust and they’ll intercept your mail for you at no cost.
3. Don’t overpack clothing
Depending on the length of your RV road trip, whether it be a couple weeks or several months, be wary of overpacking clothing.
If the seasons are going to change during your travels, ensure you have enough warm weather clothes and or light clothing to keep you comfortable. The desert can skyrocket to sweltering temperatures in summer and glaciers can easily drop below freezing in autumn and winter. Keeping your gear aligned with the seasons is the best way to go.
Depending on your space, you may be able to accommodate up to a week or two worth of clothing. Be aware you may buy more clothing on the road or collect souvenirs, so saving space for your adventures is a necessity.
4. Bring enough cookware and cutlery
It’s important not to overpack on your RV road trip, but bringing enough cutlery is a must. Ensure you bring enough for you and your RV occupants to last a single day or two days, tops. Washing forks and knives throughout the day can be draining and detract from the day’s activities.
Who wants to go hiking through Niagara Falls, then come back to wash dishes before dinner? Not having enough cutlery or pans might encourage you to buy more meals out, when you would have otherwise stayed in.
5. Plan for simple meals & bring enough water
One of the most inconvenient things that can happen on the road is overshopping on groceries. Stuffing your RV-sized cabinets and fridge full of food can make easy meals become a nightmare. Shop for 2 to 3 day increments, instead of for a full week. Moving your food and reorganizing it constantly, because of space issues, is more inconvenient than popping into the grocery store every 3 days.
Plan for simple meals, such as spaghetti, sandwiches, chili, etc., which will leave more time for you to enjoy your trip, instead of intense meal prep. It will also reduce any labor spent on doing dishes and cleaning up.
Have enough water!
Ensure you have enough water for the amount of days that you have food. Water goes quickly on the road. Cleaning dishes, taking showers, and drinking water all contribute to losing water much more quickly than expected.
Have at least 6 gallons per day on hand, or more if you’re new to traveling. As you adjust, your water usage for showering and dish-doing will decrease.
6. Bring a toolkit
Any unfortunate incident can occur on the road. Ensure you have a well-stocked toolkit in case you have any mechanical difficulties. Taping a gasket or loose wires until you can get it fixed can assist you a lot on the road. If your cabinetry gets a loose screw or you need to fix an appliance, tools can save the day. A helpful tool might include an extra tank of gas, in case a gas station isn’t around for a prolonged period of time.
7. Prepare for the unexpected
Facing the unexpected on the road can be one of the most exciting parts of traveling. Seeing a saguaro cactus for the first time or stumbling upon a juniper tree in full-bloom makes traveling worthwhile and beautiful. But sometimes unexpected difficulties arise too. But there’s no need to fret!
Be prepared for:
- Flat tires
Ensure you have a plug kit, fix-a-flat, and a portable air compressor. Gravel roads and mountain roads can be rough on your tires. Despite having all-terrain tires or doing your best to avoid treacherous roads, a flat can still occur. Keep these tools on hand and replace the plug kit every 6 months because the cement sealant can dry out.
- Unfriendly campers or wildlife
Keep a canister of human-grade pepper spray and bear pepper spray on you while traveling. Bear pepper spray is actually less powerful, but has a long range to accommodate distance for large mammals. Keeping you and your family safe on the road is a priority and being prepared for anything will help.
- Battery issues
Bring jumper cables in case of emergencies. Having them on hand will help you assist with any stranded drivers you want to help out too. Getting stuck down a dirt road without internet can be scary. But having the right supplies on hand will make any unfortunate situation much easier.
Travel till the end of time
Once the travel bug bites you, it’s hard to shake it. Make sure you’re well-prepared for any obstacles that come your way. Taking a long RV road trip is incredibly rewarding. Relaxing in nature, seeing unbelievable landscapes, and engaging with wildlife is an unbelievable experience. Escape in style with Escape Trailers.
To receive our newsletter by e-mail, please click the “Subscribe” button in the footer below.
