The world has always been strange. There have always been aspects of this place that boggle the mind. Whether its people themselves, or cultures, or landscapes, there’s always something to marvel at. When we take a review of our life, a lot of us come to the same conclusions: should have traveled more, should have taken more chances. Well, one always has time. You can always take that chance and explore the open road. One of the best ways to do that is with an RV. Yes, those same ones you see on driveways across the continental United States.
Here we’ll go through how to maintain them, when to use them, and where the best sites are to get the most out of both nature and your RV.
Maintenance Priorities
People often buy RVs and don’t think about the maintenance that’s involved. Let’s put it this way, it’s like having a car and a studio apartment in one. All of those little details apply. So keep a log of all the things you’ve done. Set up a checklist so you’re not having to scroll through your memory, wondering if you’ve fixed something or another. That’s what the pros do. According to the good folks at Call of The Open Road, the most forgotten pieces are from the septic apparatus. That is an incredibly important mechanism. If at any point in time the septic apparatus or any of its pieces crap out, well, it’s not going to be fun. Prioritize that. You’ll thank yourself later.
Licenses
You probably don’t need a special license for your RV. But if you decide that you want to go big, then some special considerations may need to be put in place. So naturally, when we talk about too many restrictions, California is the poster child. In California, you need a Class B license for vehicles that weigh over 26,000 pounds or are over 40 feet. You need a Class A license if you’re planning on towing anything over 10,000 pounds. In most others, you’re in the clear but be sure to double-check. If you’re planning on crossing borders into either Canada or Mexico, you just need to prove that you’re compliant with your state’s requirements.
What to Bring
Bring everything you need and nothing more. Trashbags, cleaning materials, a skillet, and some towels are a must. But there’s something about a cluttered RV that takes away the charm of the whole trip. That’s not to say you should go bare-minimum. Have food, water, butane, and extra gas on hand. But chances are, you’re not going to need an Xbox or a whole lot of electronics. If you can handle it, leave your smart devices at home. Dare yourself.
Campground Guidelines
Make sure your RV can park at a campground. If you’re entering a national park, be sure to ask the ranger at the post about the maximum size RV allowed. They’ll know. If not, just look for the signs. Campgrounds should have a maximum height sign at the entrance. Let’s say it’s 55 inches. Anything under that is fine.
Kinds of Campgrounds
With an RV, you need to ask yourself what kind of amenities you want out of your stops. If you go to a campsite, do you want there to be wifi and electricity? Are you looking for toilets? Or are you just looking for a plot of land to park out and enjoy the stars? Campsites are listed as either primitive, partial hookup, or full hookup. As you can imagine, primitive doesn’t have anything in terms of amenities. Partial hookup may have running water and some electricity. Full hookup is a city backyard with all the fixings.
What To Do With Your RV While It Sits
So let’s say you get yourself an RV and have the time of your life. You set out to see the west and you did. You conquered the winding roads of the north. You braced against the roaring seas of the east. But nowadays it’s about assignments and sending in excel sheets. If you’re in a bind and you can’t use the RV for a good chunk of time, you might as well make it work for you. There are plenty of services online that let you rent out the RV to people who are looking for their first adventure. You can provide them with guides, tips, and liability contracts. Once that’s set, you can collect the dough and plan for your next big adventure.
There you have it! The ins and outs of camping with an RV are pretty straight forward. All you need to do now is plan, pack, and get on out there. The open road awaits. Your next adventure is calling.
