The next installment in a series of articles offering information for folks just starting their RV journey.
By Steve Froese, F276276
June 2024
Last month, I launched a series of articles geared toward beginning RV owners. The first topic was the pretrip inspection process. This month, I will cover trip planning and preparation.
Before you set out on your first journey, you will want to equip your RV. This can be almost as exciting as purchasing the RV itself. Choose new linens, silverware, cookware, toiletries, etc. Fully outfit the RV and make it your own, as it will become your home away from home. First make a list of all the basics you will need. This will include obvious things like bedding, but also remember to purchase items such as spare fuses, camping equipment (chairs, lantern, etc.), and fun things like awning lights. You might even want to include a tent on your list if you have teenage children who would enjoy sleeping under the stars in good weather.
Carefully evaluate your RV’s amenities, floor plan, and so on to determine everything you think you might need and where you will put it. Don’t worry if you forget something during your first outing, as there will be lots of opportunities to make additional purchases. Keep a running list as you think of things you need or want to have on board. Also keep in mind that you don’t have to buy “the good stuff” for outfitting an RV, so you can equip it quite inexpensively.
If your RV doesn’t already have solar panels, you might consider having some installed, especially if you enjoy camping off-grid. Solar power can provide a good boost to your 12-volt system; however, note that the amount of current provided by the panels varies greatly depending on the weather, location, air temperature, and other factors.
Once your RV is ready for your first road trip, you need to decide whether you are going to “go where the wind takes you” or plan the excursion. Both options are available to the RVer. The former definitely brings a level of excitement, but for your first few outings, I recommend planning. The benefit to planning is that you can choose in advance where you will spend each night and secure reservations, and you can even preview routing along specific highways and roads. The latter is especially important if you are new to towing a trailer and/or driving a large vehicle. Staying on major roads is of utmost importance to prevent trouble. Try to research bridge, tunnel, and road clearances along your route to avoid putting your RV in sticky situations.
On a related note, GPS devices can be very handy during an RV trip (or any road trip), but there are a few things I want to mention about them. First, I opt to use a stand-alone GPS unit rather than my phone app — mostly because of the larger screen of the GPS unit and built-in features specific to travel, such as points of interest, fuel stops, etc. However, this ultimately comes down to your personal preference. Some people use both a phone app and a stand-alone GPS unit to compare routings to the same location. In that case, though, you will have to decide which unit is giving better information.
Some manufacturers, most notably Garmin, offer RV-specific GPS units. I highly recommend investing in one, as you can enter your vehicle length, height, weight, etc., and the unit will route you to avoid clearance hazards . . . sometimes. The GPS can only calculate these values when it has the highway data to support it. For some roads, including major ones, no data is available to the GPS unit. So, exercise caution even when using an RV-specific GPS.
If you don’t have routing information that includes clearances and limitations all along your route, sticking to major highways, especially those used by drivers of heavy trucks, should keep you safe. You will have to exit these routes at some point, though, and that is where it really becomes important to know where you are going. If you are heading to an RV park or some other specific destination, don’t simply trust your GPS unit. Contact the destination or RV park to ask for directions suited to those traveling in an RV, as there may be a more logical and/or safer route for larger vehicles. Too often I have seen RVs in trouble because of bad routing decisions, or even unexpected road conditions.
While organizing your trip, think about the time of year and plan accordingly. For instance, if you are booking RV parks, make reservations as far in advance as possible. Many parks fill up in the summer, and even on long weekends. Some close during the off-season. So, do your homework when searching for RV parks, and know the travel time between each one.
A quick internet search will provide ratings for each park. Use your best judgment when deciding which places to visit, but don’t believe everything you read. We have stayed at many RV parks where some reviewers opted to provide negative feedback based on very narrow criteria. While we take note of these comments, they rarely cause us to decide not to stay there, unless a definite common thread surfaces.
Choose each campground based on the distance you want to travel and the amenities you need. Options range from full-featured RV resorts to rustic camping with no hookups. In the case of the latter, ensure you have plenty of fresh water and propane on board and that your batteries are well charged. Monitor how quickly your gray- and black-water holding tanks are filling up so you’ll know from experience what to expect in the future. You will have to dump your tanks when they become full, so if you don’t have campsite sewer hookups, this is an important consideration. Full-hookup RV sites alleviate power and water conservation concerns.
Next month we will continue our RV journey and expand the discussion to include laws, etiquette, setting up camp, and other important camping tips.
Send your troubleshooting questions to Steve Froese at techtalk@fmca.com. The volume of correspondence may preclude personal replies. Not all responses will apply in every instance. Some situations may require a visual inspection and hands-on testing. If you choose to follow any procedures outlined in this column, first satisfy yourself that neither personal nor product safety will be jeopardized. If you feel uncomfortable about a procedure, stop and make an appointment with an RV service facility.
You may also want to consult the FMCA Forums (https://community.fmca.com) to see whether your question has already been addressed or, if not, to post it.
Recalls
Looking for the latest RV-related recall information? Visit FamilyRVingmag.com for a list of the most recent recalls issued by RV and component manufacturers. Or, to search for recalls, investigations, and complaints by vehicle year, make, model, and VIN, visit nhtsa.gov/recalls. NHTSA’s Vehicle Safety Hotline is (888) 327-4236.