Last week our campfire group talked about the worst RV advice they’d ever received. This week while sitting around the campfire, we considered the opposite as we discussed the best RV advice ever received. See what folks had to say and then chime in with your own response.
Travel day advice
Marci suggested, “I never would have thought to bungee-fasten drawers and doors for travel days. I had no idea that the enclosures could pop open while driving down the road.”
Ron added, “I was advised to travel below the posted speed limit. Taking my time lets me enjoy the ride and helps keep my rig in good shape, too.”
Set-up advice
J.D. said, “I always check my assigned site before attempting to park the RV. I check the slides’ clearance and look for potential hazards on the ground or overhead. The advice has served me very well over the years.”
Ron suggested, “I was told to use a surge protector on the electrical hookups. I think it’s great advice.”
General RVing
Other advice shared by the RVers gathered around the campfire included:
- Follow the 3-3-3 rule. Travel no more than 300 miles each day. Stop traveling by 3 o’clock in the afternoon. (To allow time for set-up well before dark.) Stay in a campsite for at least 3 days. (This allows you time to rest, recharge, and explore the area before moving on.)
- Always use a list—for packing, setting up/taking down, maintenance, etc.
- When emptying tanks, empty the black tank first followed by the gray tank.
- Prepare menus/meals ahead of time for less stress.
What about you?
What’s the best advice you’ve been given regarding RVing? Tell us in the comments, please. You may see your comment in a future story…
##RVT1151
Like many, we have a check off list inside and out of the rv – we created one on the computer and update it as needed. Also, we have created a calendar that lets family know where we’re going to be while traveling. Sure, they can keep track of us on phones and such but what was really cool was that my daughter, seeing we were in a certain area of the country months ahead of time, made plans with her family to meet us there and we had a blast!
the checklist is very important. maybe multiples. the “Ocean” checklist is different than the “Mountain” checklist
If you’re staying in a campground that requires you to hang a display from your mirror, showing your campground name and site number, remove it when you’re site seeing/hiking, etc. It’s an open invitation to criminals that let’s them know you’re not at the site.
have been doing this for a long time. makes real good sense
I made a stick that is the depth of my slide-out, plus one inch, when extended. Now, I can measure for clearance before I extend the slide. It’s come in handy more than a few times in tight places.
Make sure you check your tires and brakes before heading down the road, plus make sure you unplug your unit and stow your cord away.
learn by doing. If you make a mistake (you will) remember what you did and how to make it better next time. Stop reading about RVing and get out there and do it.
My advice if you can, don’t travel on a Sunday. If you break down you might not get help till Monday if you are far away from a bigger city. Happened to us with a blown tire on our motorhome.
When leaving home on the first day of a big trip, I’ve learned not to overdo it. Traveling with a family, we’re lucky to leave our driveway by noon. Rather than fight it and stress, I’ve learned to pick a point only 1-2 hundred miles to tie up for the first night. This has greatly reduced the stress on the first day out and made things much more enjoyable.
This is known as the Hudson Man approach which was followed by Lewis and Clark and was the practice of the Hudson Bay Company to leave late in the day so if you forgot something important when setting camp that night you could still go back to get it. Think your medications.
After some of the advice in your article, the best advice we’ve gotten after 3 years in, is about hooking/ unhooking our Jeep from our motorhome when flat towing. To prepare the transmission, it requires the transfer case to be shifted into neutral (plus other steps as stated in the owners manual). If you’ve released the levers on the Blue Ox tow bar (highly recommended) and the shifter won’t move, safely release the brake and rock the Jeep a bit. The shifter will then easily move. We learned this after my husband pushed so hard on the shifter that it broke off! Live and learn! Keep on RVing.
I read your newsletter on a daily basis. It’s fantastic! I’ll find you no matter what.
Thank you for that great tip, MB, and for your kind words. We appreciate that you “find” us no matter what and read our newsletter daily, and we appreciate YOU! Have a great day. 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
I have an aged Tow-Matic II……I found out you have to be level when attempting to unhook, the hard way.
Have Fun!
First, measure the overhead and side clearances with any slideouts in. Then put a lable with both in front of the steering wheel. Then you KNOW how wide a clearance you have at any construction areas with reduced or no shoulders as well as low briges if you have to detour.
Second, practice driving, turning and backing your RV at an empty parking lot. Put cones out to mimic driving lanes, 90 dedgree intersections, and narrow RV sites.
Last, if driving a motorhome, put colorfull markers on both sides of your coach AT the rear turning point. Then you know where to start your right/left hand turn without jumping the curb. We use doorknob wall protectors painted flourescent orange.
Would those markers also help with backing into a campsite?
When unhitching a Blue Ox towbar from your toad, turn your toad’s steering wheel to loosen any binding. You can unhook from any situation you’re in.
Rather than advice from another camper, this is information I learned through years of camping but two great rules are: 1) use a surge protector and 2) use a water filter. I was lucky and only tripped my own breakers, but I had a friend that had to completely replace his entire breaker panel that was “fried” by an RV hook-up that was way, way, way too hot. I’ve always used surge protectors and never had an issue. I also use a water filter because one never knows the quality of the water at a given campground. Back in the 70’s I’ve hooked up to campground water that was assumed to be good only to find it muddy. Many times I had campground water that smelled or tasted very bad.
call me fuddy duddy but i never drink campground water. i have no problem carrying bottled water in gallon jugs and single servings. i do connect a filter to the water tho cuz altho i wont drink it, i dont mind doing a short shower in it….with a filter
Before leaving a campsite for another location, do a complete 360 degree walkaround of your rig looking for open windows, lowered steps, jacks not raised, cords still connected, flat tires, etc. And use your vehicle’s remote key fob to check brake/turn signal lights.
Thank you, Gail! 🙂 We have gotten lots of great advice. Possibly the best was to attend the Maintenance Session sponsored by the Ramblin’ Pushers (https://www.ramblinpushers.org/). It is an annual rally focused on maintaining the various components of a motorhome. The location is Goshen, Indiana because so many component manufacturers are located within 50 miles of there and willingly send representatives to give seminars. DW attended some sessions and I attended others, covering as many sessions as we could. We also met and exchanged notes with others with the same rig as we had. The amount of knowledge we gained that week was considerable. Thanks again, and safe and sunny travels! 🙂
Fill the tow vehicle when the tank is half full. You’ll have time to find a convenient gas station and it’s usually a good time to take a break.
Great advice no matter what you are traveling in.
1.)When dumping pull the gray water FIRST, for a few seconds, to make sure connections are tight.
2.) Don’t engage in conversation when someone is setting up or breaking camp. Distraction leads to mistakes.
3.) Do a walk around your rig twice looking for potential issues. Once at eye level and below, then at eye level and above.
4.) Invest in a TPMS (Tire Pressure Maintenance System) and a quality Electrical Management System (EMS).
5.) Don’t drink the water at an RV park that has the word “Sulpher” in it.
2!
New at RVing
A lot of suggestions for holding tanks. Saying Don’t put drop in because your turning it into a septic tank and not a holding tank
What is everyone else’s opinion on this?
There is no best answer because everyone uses their RV differently. However, if you have sewage or waste odors inside the first place to look is the plumbing vents. If you are using the toilet on a daily basis and dumping when full, you probably don’t need any chemicals. The key is keeping enough oxygen in the water to keep the non-smelly bacteria happy.
You’re kidding right? That’s what they’re designed to do! What is the purpose of the ‘holding tank’ then, to hold air??? jus’ sayin’.
The DW and I each do a walk around before blast off to make sure all boxes are checked, and it works. We’ve both cought each other’s oversights. Also, we nearly ALWAYS follow the 3-3-3 rule mentioned above.
Great advice, everyone! Keep the suggestions coming!
The members had a lot of great ideas.
Ours? Well, I strongly suggest using a spotter with walkie-talkies when backing up. Moving a 60,000-pound object is challenging. Go easy on yourself and let the last 100 feet of your journey be as pleasant as the first 300 miles.
Great tips! Best all time advice ever applies to many aspects of life.. “Direction is more important than speed.”
Have a great week!
I like that a lot! Thanks, Sandi.👍 I hope you have a good night and a great week also! 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
GOAL
Get Out And Look
Excellent advice from my neighbor. Get a better idea about where that rock or post or log actually is when you GOAL.
Owning an RV will cost you less in the long run than buying a boat…..If you have both, have deep pockets or the kiddos will have to earn their own retirement funds.
Don’t buy New. I have had almost every type of RV in 25 years and the 1st one I bought was used and well maintained. It was a class A no slides because it was a 1989. Bought it with 17,000 miles and a hurricane took it from us with 98,000. Then we bought a used 35 ft travel trailer with 1 slide also well maintained. Storm dropped a tree on that one. All I had to do with used rigs, is just regular maintenance. Now we bought a brand new 2023 travel trailer and something breaks every time. Just got back from 6 weeks in the south and it’s going in for warranty work again.
I’ve had two TT since retiring, both used. Both were from someone who was getting out of camping so both came with all of the necessary tools and equipment. That saved me a lot of money and hassle. One even included a generator/inverter.
I almost bought new and then settled on my 2018 Passport Ultra Lite. One prior owner and well maintained. My daughter bought a new trailer and have had issues. Seems anything after 2020 is not well built.
Don’t sweat the small stuff, it’s all small stuff.
The most important rule is to roll up all windows and close all doors when at the dump station. The largest, meanest and nastiest flies live there. And always carry one fly swatter per person.
Great tip, Uncle Swags! I’ve never heard that one before, but it sure makes sense.👍 Have a great day. 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
Take a deep breath. As we all know when RVing, things can happen. If you just stop, take a deep breath, you can figure out what to do andnotgetmadatsomeone. Remember, it is all part of the experience.
Safe travels to all.
we haul a travel trailer so its very important to me to know where i have all my weight. i try not to load a lot of weight in the back of the TT. (sway). put most in front and but try to distribute equally. and dont overload back of truck