It’s hard to think of how a road trip could be better than spending it in a luxurious or well-kept RV. These vehicles have been carefully curated to give you every convenience, to make sure that you can take your accommodation with you, and to give you more wriggle room when making our plans.
Yet it’s also true that considering a few essential tips before you set off (especially if you’re thinking of overdoing it after lockdown ends) can help you avoid being left high and dry with a contingency you hadn’t planned.
Of course, it’s important to keep on top of the standard necessities, such as contacting RV insurance agents to identify the best possible deal, or making sure that you clean the RV before you set off. From there, however, and after you’ve fuelled this large vehicle, it’s essential to consider a few tips and plans that can help you remain confident and enthusiastic on your journey.
With that in mind, let’s consider a few essential tips:
Plan Your Route
It’s a great idea to plan your route before you set off and enjoy your road trip. After all, your RV won’t be able to fit on all roads, and this is especially true if visiting other countries, like those in the middle of Europe.
For this reason, RV-accessible routes, making sure you have room for regular pit stops when necessary, and understanding where you can go if experiencing vehicular difficulties can be a tremendous use of planning time. Not only this, but planning your routes will allow you to understand exactly where you may wish to stop off from time to time, be that in refueling, getting a good night’s sleep, or where to stop for a bite to eat.
While you don’t have to perfectly match the route you’ve set up, jotting down a broad guideline and a couple of backup options could be helpful. This way, you can enjoy smooth sailing from start to finish, leaving just the right amount of discovery and safety planning to make for a fun and engaged trip.
Consider Utilities & Your Plans
It’s always healthy to consider what else you may wish to bring with you on your trip. For instance, you might wish to pack grilling equipment so that you can enjoy barbecue food in the campsite you might choose to park in for a while. That might also include an awning or other exterior utilities you can use to spend some time in the sun during those warm evenings, rather than sitting cooped up in the RV the entire time.
Of course, you may even decide on packing other equipment that can help you make your own way in the local environment, like hiking boots, fishing rods and bait you can use for enjoying a lazy time next to the river you have picked up a license for ahead of time. While it does seem that an RV has everything to offer, and it regularly does, it’s nice to make sure that everything is in place and that you have options should you wish to choose a new or varied pastime each day. Be sure to know the difference between hiking boots vs work boots.
Reading The Manua
If this is the first time driving an RV over a relatively far distance, or if you’re driving a new rented or purchased model, it’s a great idea to read the manual and figure out its operational tips before you need them in the field.
This might be as simple as figuring out how to remove and replace the septic tank within the toilet area, or how to empty it as appropriate. This may also include what to do in the event of a punctured tyre, and of course, what the lights on the dashboard mean. You may already know how to do all of this, but refreshing your memory and picking up on those minor tips you may have forgotten can help you feel confident and comfortable behind the wheel.
Practice Driving
It’s a great idea to practice driving your RV a little before taking it on the roads, particularly if bringing it to another country where the road rules may be slightly altered (such as driving on the opposite side of the road entirely). RVs are heavy vehicles that take time to turn and have quite a weight momentum to them, and so it’s essential to make sure that you’re competent at reading the wing mirrors, and reversing, and parking where necessary.
This can help you avoid difficult situations in road traffic environments, as bad driving or unsure practice there can quite literally put other road users at risk thanks to the bulk of your vehicle.
Fire Safety Implements
It’s very important to consider checking up on your fire safety situation before you get started. Ensuring you have new fire extinguishers in the RV, and that your decorations, packing and internal utilities don’t contribute to an overly crowded space can be important. Also, making sure that ventilation is well established can help with this. While it might seem simple, it’s also a good idea to go over your fire safety plan with your family. This will include how to exit the vehicle, or how to use the utility tool to smash windows in the need for evacuation. The more that everyone knows the protocol, the safer you can be should a difficult situation come to pass.
Have Your RV Serviced
RVs are specialist vehicles that go beyond the general knowledge of those who work on their cars at home. For that reason, it’s crucial to have your RV serviced before you commit to your full road trip, just to make sure that any repairs are made in advance or that the vehicle is properly approved for this kind of experience going forward. This can make a massive difference in terms of the likelihood of issues you could encounter on the road.
With this advice, we hope you can enjoy the best RV road trip possible, no matter where and when you hope to go.
