Welcome to the world of RVing! The RV lifestyle is nothing short of exciting–full of adventure and discovery. Whether you’re a solo traveler seeking an off-the-beaten-path adventure or a family wanting to bond over a shared camping trip, RVing offers a unique way to travel and experience the great outdoors.
Ready to hit the road with confidence? Let’s dive into the world of RV for beginners!
Things You’ll Need to Embrace About RV Life
Whether you’re thinking of living in an RV full-time or are looking forward to some epic road trips with your family, there are some things about RVing that you need to embrace.
Setting expectations upfront – with yourself and your family – helps you fully enjoy your time together. So get ready to embrace…
#1: The Outdoors
Chances are, you’re already onboard with the whole spend time in nature thing – that’s why you chose an RV, after all. But if you’re camping with kids, then make sure they understand that if they stay inside the entire day, living spaces will start to feel cramped, no matter how big your camper is.
Use the indoors for shelter, meals, and light entertainment in the evenings, and encourage your little ones to take play outside.
#2: The Unknown
A lot of times, when you’re traveling, something unexpected happens. A tire blows out. A fully booked campground at 10:00 pm when you and your kids are dead tired and need sleep. Accommodations that don’t live up to your expectations. A freak storm that washes out the drive at the campground – yes, that’s happened. You get the idea.
Learn to accept there are factors outside your control…and have backup plans.
#3: The Maintenance
Part of owning an RV is doing regular maintenance to keep your family safe and make sure your RV lasts for years to come. RV maintenance costs anywhere from $1,000-$2,000/year.
Before you neglect routine maintenance, remember that the average RV repair due to improper storage costs anywhere from $500- $3,500. So, if you DON’T do the maintenance, then you’re just throwing away money and creating headaches for yourself.
#4: The Minimalist Lifestyle
RVing means you have less space for stuff. It’s a great opportunity for you to sort out what you need from what you want. Not that you can’t have some comforts as a full-time RVer. But you only want to bring those things that make your life easier. So leave the cappuccino machine and air fryer at home. Ditch the outdoor entertainment center. And bring only your favorite pair of shoes – seriously, there’s no one out here to impress.
#5: The Neighbors
When you’re camping, there’s no fences. So you may as well be a good neighbor for the short time you’re camped together. Say, “Hi”. Respect the space you share. Enjoy a campfire together. Swap stories. You’ll meet a lot of cool people.
Be Sure to Choose an RV That Fits Your Lifestyle Needs
Choosing an RV that fits your needs, lifestyle, and budget makes your road trips that much more enjoyable. Not only is your RV transporting you from one adventure to another, but it’s also your home. So, take time to think about what you need from your RV.
Are you living in it full-time? Then you’ll need plenty of storage space and a full kitchen.
Are you a weekend camper? A 3-am-hit-the-slopes skier? If so, all you’ll need is a basic sleeping setup and room for your gear.
A family road tripper? Make sure there are enough seatbelts for your kiddos and space to spread out.
When you think you know what you want, try it before you buy it. Take a weekend and rent that style RV for a short trip. You can assess if it meets your needs and expectations, and if it doesn’t, well then, you just saved yourself from a bad investment.
You can find some awesome RV rentals at Outdoorsy.
Embrace Flexibility in Your RV Trip Plans
It’s so energizing to research your next vacation spot. You get to peruse all the attractions close to your final destination. Lost in the buzz of new adventures ahead, you might choose to plan out each day (or at least draft up a rough list of spots you want to visit and stops you want to make).
But before you plan your route and get your hopes up too high, remember that plans can change.
If you have all your stops planned out to the hour, then it feels stressful when you arrive “late”. So any slight setback in traffic or in extra stops builds stress instead of ease.
Instead, have a plan. But don’t make it a detailed itinerary that requires weather and traffic to go perfectly. Have an idea of what’s around, but don’t make plans until you know.
It’s a balance of hope for the best; and plan for the worst. And remember, the joy of RV travel lies in its flexibility.
You can park almost anywhere: a Flying J, a Cracker Barrel, a Cabela’s, and most Walmarts. You can stop when you want. You can choose to take an extra day or drive through the night.
So, don’t be afraid to change your plans or take a detour to explore a scenic route or a charming small town. After all, the most memorable moments often come from unexpected adventures.
Practice Driving and Parking
One of the main concerns for RV beginners is driving something big. And sure, that can be intimidating, but the only way you get over it is to practice.
If you’re nervous about driving it on the open road, then find an RV buddy to go driving with you. Take it to a deserted parking lot and practice. Bring along some traffic cones to simulate vehicles or a tight campsite.
With the practical knowledge from your experienced friend and practice, you can learn how your RV handles and feel confident about your upcoming RV vacation.
When in doubt, take it slow and remember the size of your RV. This will prevent costly mistakes and ensure a smooth and safe journey.
What Is the Easiest RV for Beginners to Drive?
The easiest RV for beginners to drive is a class B RV – also known as a camper van. Travel trailers are awkward to back up. Class C RVs are longer and harder to see around. But Class Bs are not much longer than a pickup truck and easily maneuver into parking spaces and gas stations.
If you’re super nervous about driving something long, the class B camper is a great place to start.
Make Your Campsite Home – but Don’t Get Too Comfy
RV beginners often make the mistake of overcomplicating their camp setup. Set up should be as easy as disconnecting your travel trailer, leveling your camper, and hooking up your water and electricity.
Instead, they focus on setting up an entire outdoor entertainment center – complete with a huge TV, surround sound, and excessive strings of LED lights that blind anyone who passes by…
Yes, you want to be comfortable, but be considerate of your neighbors. Keep the entertainment inside, so others can enjoy the outdoors.
Remember, every camper was once a beginner, and everyone makes mistakes. But here are some things that you can do to make your campsite home…
- An outdoor all-weather rug: Define a cozy outdoor seating space and wipe off the day’s dirt from your feet before you get inside. It also stores easily in the pass-through storage of your RV while traveling.
- An outdoor RV kitchen: Nobody likes to be left out. And since most socializing happens outside when you’re camping, adding a pull-out gas grill or a full outdoor kitchen (complete with a sink and cabinets) will ensure your days and nights aren’t spent secluded in your interior kitchen.
- Outdoor lighting: Instead of installing glaring LED lights that blind you (and your neighbors) at night, consider a warm incandescent string of lights.
- Citronella candles: If you’re staying where there are mosquitos, these candles mitigate the annoyance.
Don’t Neglect RV Maintenance and Proper Storage
Routine RV maintenance is critical, whether you’re a full-time RVer or an RV beginner looking for a seasonal RV adventure. It doesn’t matter if you plan to spend weeks (or months) at a time in your RV–just like it doesn’t matter if you own a travel trailer, toy hauler, Class A or Class C motorhome. Maintenance is just a part of RV life. You’ve got to maintain and store it properly if you want it to last.
Here’s a quick checklist of regular maintenance that your RV needs…
- Check and clean the seals to prevent leaky bump-outs
- Clean out tanks
- Winterization/de-winterization
- Traditional vehicle maintenance
- Thorough cleaning
- Sewage treatments to prevent growing a grub population.
- Spray for bugs
- Rodent control
The last three to-dos may have you raising your eyebrows. But yes, you read that right. RVs are easy targets for bugs and rodents, as it’s easier for pests to infiltrate an RV than a traditional, insulated home–especially if you don’t store your RV properly.
Here’s what you need to store your RV right and prevent unholy infestations…
- Properly store or remove ALL food sources.
- Use preventative bug/rodent sprays BEFORE you put it in storage.
- Store under a cover
If you’d like to find a place to store your RV nearby at a good price, you can find some at Neighbor.
Remember, it’s always better to spot a problem during a routine check than on the road.
General RV Tips for Your Family
There’s one piece of advice that every parent needs to hear before you take your kids camping – or living – in an RV.
Don’t pass YOUR anxieties onto your kids.
As parents, we want what’s best for our kids. So you may be worried about…
- Is there enough space?
- What if they don’t like it?
- What if they get bored?
- Are the bugs scaring them?
But, chances are, they’re not that worried about those things. So while, yes, these are things you need to think about and defend against or – in the case of boredom – allow, don’t make it a problem until it’s a problem.
Summary
RVing is a great way to bond with your family members. But The best part of a good RV road trip is the people that you meet along the way. From solo travelers to seasoned RVers, you’re going to meet some of the coolest people.
So find the right RV and get ready for some awesome RV camping.
