Things You Should Never Do on an RV Road Trip

Filling Up At Normal Gas Stations

Truck stops are an RVers best friend during a cross-country trek.That’s because they’re specifically designed to handle the size of larger vehicles. The extra space will make backing out and parking a cinch, especially compared to the compact area in a standard gas station. Watch your tail swing.

Driving Through Storms

While you may be able to emerge from a storm unscathed, you’re much better off avoiding storms altogether. Make sure you check weather conditions before setting out for your RV trip. Continue to monitor the weather to make sure you’re avoiding any incoming storms during your drive.

Buying a Day Pass at a National Park

Purchase an annual National Park Pass this way, you can visit all the parks you desire without having to worry about expensive day fees.

Winging It

While you can certainly add spontaneity to your trip, completely winging your trip can get you into a lot of trouble. You might have issues finding gas stations, full hookups, and can even run into expensive tolls. Map out your route in advance of your RV road trip. This way, you can better plan your total drive time, your stops along the way, and your destinations. Feel free to adjust on the fly - but make sure you have a general plan if you want to make the most of your trip.

Driving Too Fast

Slow down. Speed limits may be an afterthought for drivers during their morning commute, but they’re critical to your safety inside an RV. Exceeding the speed limit in your RV is a surefire way to waste fuel and put yourself in danger. RV accidents are often the result of speeding - thanks to their slow brakes and wide turns. Most driving experts recommend you never exceed a 65 mile per hour speed and they even suggest driving under the speed limit. Stay in the right lane, take it slow, and enjoy the sights.

Skipping Reservations

You might think that there is no shortage of camping spots for your RV, from the many national parks to the RV-friendly WalMarts. The truth is, many campgrounds have strict regulations when it comes to RVs. Some campgrounds have restrictions on RV size and age. They may also refuse you if you are RVing with a child. Even worse, many of these spots fill up quickly - especially near popular tourist destinations. The last thing you want to do after a 300-mile drive is scramble for a last-second parking spot.

Parking Solo

Grab a spotter when turning out of camping spots, gas stations, and parks on your trip. Use them to direct you until you get comfortable parking by yourself. Even experienced vets take advantage of backup cameras to help them get out of jams. Swallow your pride and ask for help if you want to enjoy an accident free vacation.

Bringing Too Much Water

Here’s the thing: water is heavy. Stocking up on gallons and gallons of fresh water is a surefire way to weigh down your RV and run out of space. RVers can survive on only a few gallons of water - especially if they’re planning on staying at a campground. Stock up when you reach a campground’s aqua supply and remember to dump your tanks frequently. Your RV - and your nose - will thank you later.

Loading up on Canned Food

Many first time RVers make the mistake of stocking their pantries with canned food. While some is okay, you can definitely survive by only packing a few canned items. The best strategy is to meal prep before your trip. Make a checklist and map out your meals before heading to the grocery store. Don’t overpack. You can always make a last second run to the store when running low on supplies.

Packing Electronics

Things like laptops and tablets are an unnecessary waste of space on an RV, especially when even the finest campgrounds have spotty wi-fi. Yes, you can bring your smartphone. But don’t expect it to get data when you’re deep inside a national park. You can overcome this by pre-downloading things like music, podcasts and directions. Word to the wise: use Google offline maps to download directions straight to your phone.