The freedom of the open road and the deep breath of not being held down beckons to more and more people every year. The RV life truly is a life like no other. Before they first get on the road, most people dream of the beauty of it all. They look at photos, follow social media pages of RVers, and imagine waking up in the mountains with no neighbors except the wildlife and the trees.
However, before setting out in the RV, there are multiple things to prepare and be aware of. While life on the road is always a marvelous adventure, it’s also a lot of work, especially in the beginning. Knowing what to expect beforehand can mean the difference between multiple false starts and issues or a flawless beginning to RV life.
Whether you’re going on the road full-time or you’re setting out as a weekend warrior, you want to be as prepared as possible. Here are some quick tips to help you as you get started living the RV life.
There are many things you’ll want to consider when picking out an RV. Before anything else, you’ll need to decide if you’re going to rent or buy your RV. If you’re planning on going full-time or you’ll be regularly camping in your RV, you’ll want to purchase an RV of your own. However, if you’re simply planning to take one RV trip or you’re just looking to try out a bit of RV life, finding a rental could be a good choice.
Once you decide whether to buy or rent your RV, you’ll need to choose the type that will best suit your needs. You’ll need to decide whether you want a motorhome, a fifth wheel, or some sort of travel trailer. There are multiple high-quality RV manufacturers out there, sold at RV Wholesalers.
If you’re looking for a fifth wheel, travel trailer, or pop-up, Rockwood RVs have a wide variety for you to choose from.
Forest River RV offers Class A and Class C motorhomes, as well as a number of fifth wheels and travel trailers. Whatever you’re looking for in an RV, you can find it from Forest River.
Puma XLE makes luxurious travel trailers and toy haulers. They are designed to offer top comforts to the RV lifestyle at an affordable price.
Cherokee RVs are comfortable and stylish travel trailers and fifth wheels. They come in a variety of floor plans, so you can find the one that best fits your needs.
Don’t rush into things once you’ve purchased your RV. Take the time to get to know your new home on wheels so that you are comfortable, confident, and knowledgeable when you take it out. This is especially important for beginning RVers who aren’t used to driving and living in an RV.
While getting to know your RV, you’ll want to learn about where things are and how things work. That way, you’ll be able to take care of any hiccups that may occur when you’re on the road.
Even if you buy or rent a brand new or well-cared-for RV, you can’t count on things working perfectly. It’s inevitable that eventually, something will break or go out on your RV, and the last thing you want is to be caught without the proper tools and spare parts to get things back in working order.
You’ll want to stock up on parts such as fuses and light bulbs. You will also want to have a bunch of tools, including nuts, bolts, and jumper cables. Make sure that you have the tools and parts needed for your RV so that you can take care of anything that comes your way.
Don’t wait for your inaugural camping trip to drive your rig. Take it out on at least one practice drive before your first trip. Choose a practice road that has terrain similar to the one you’re planning on driving during your trip.
This will help you to understand what it’s going to be like to drive the RV when you’re on your trip. It will make you aware of how to stop, park, switch lanes, move around your living space, and more. By understanding what it’s like to drive and live in your RV, you’ll be able to make any needed changes before your trip. You’ll also have an awareness of the feel of the drive, so you’re prepared to go.
You don’t want to leave everything to chance when you first head out in the RV. Prepare for your trip by planning things out ahead of time. You will want to plan multiple details, including your route, where you’re going to stay, your budget, your menu plan, and the places you want to visit when you’re on the trip.
You can make a checklist to help you prepare for the trip and another checklist for what you need to do when you get to or leave an RV park.
Your arrivals and departures are just another essential components that you need to be ready for. It’s easy to forget things that you need to do if you don’t have it all planned out ahead of time. Make sure everyone knows their tasks and how to perform in order to have a flawless campground setup or teardown.
What you pack depends on where you’re going, the time of year it is, what you’ll be doing on your trip, and how long you’ll be gone. You want to take enough stuff, but you don’t want to overdo it, especially because every space in an RV is valuable.
Remember to pack some little things that make your RV feel like home. Don’t only pack your clothes. You’ll need kitchen gadgets, books, games, tools, and spare parts, toiletries, blankets, a bit of decor, toys for the kids, and goodies for any pets you might be taking along. Then, in each category, find the things that are essential.
You don’t need to bring everything with you. Make a list of the things you want to take in all of your categories and then narrow them down until you determine those that are the most important. If you still have too much stuff on your list, narrow them down again.
Another tip about packing is to not leave it to the last minute. Figuring out the essentials in a variety of categories is going to take time. If you’re going to do it right, you need to be intentional and have plenty of time to narrow things down.
Before you hit the road, make sure your RV is ready to go. You’ll want to complete these tasks before your initial departure, and again every time you’re leaving a campground. When you make your arrival/departure checklist, you’ll want to make sure these things are on it:
Your life will change immensely once you get an RV and set out as a full-timer, a weekend warrior, or a once-in-a-while camper. It may be tricky at first, but as you figure things out, you’ll experience a freedom and joy that nothing compares to. Simplify your send-off by following these quick tips for beginners. You’ll be an old RVing pro in no time.
Also, consider getting an RV extended warranty and RV Insurance. Then, you will have peace of mind of knowing your RV is covered.
At RV Wholesalers, we have numerous RVs for you to choose from. We’ll get you started on your RVing journey.
We are not just looking for a quick sale. We want a long-term relationship with ALL of our customers built on trust, integrity, fairness, service and support.
