How to Prepare for Your First RV Vacation Like a Pro

Many RVers dream of hitting the open road and traveling across the globe to see all that it has to offer. Many find themselves reluctant to take that initial leap due to lack of experience and fear of the unknowns involved with such a trip. If you have not been RVing before, it can be a little overwhelming to think about going on your first trip. The mere thought may elicit feelings of excitement and fear or maybe somewhere in between. You may wonder. How do you prepare for your first RV vacation like a pro? Here is how.

Secure Your Recreational Vehicles

Secure your bobcat rental as a tip to prepare for your first RV vacation. As with all forms of travel, recreational vehicles require some preparation to have a fun and safe trip. One of the most important things to consider is securing your RV when on the road or in camp. Several options will provide good security for you while you sleep with doors locked at night or go out exploring during the day. The free-standing chains are one option for securing your unit. This stands vertically on its own when it’s not attached to something else. They can be hooked up with an adapter available from any hardware store or sporting goods store for hooking up multiple models together. Some even work with a padlock or combination set for closing peace of mind.

If the unit is anti-theft, it provides no lock on each side to keep it in place and maybe only hooked up with the two inside chains. These come with brackets attached which will need to be installed before use, but this is an inexpensive way to secure your RV without taking away space you will want to enjoy when you are on vacation. When you have a larger vehicle such as a bus, motorhome, or camper van, then you will need something sturdier than just a lockable chain that could get cut through by any thief who has the tools for this type of break-in. Adding a barbed wire or cable system is one way to add extra security for this type of vehicle.

This features either one or two cables with spikes on top that are very difficult to cut through without tools, so it takes extra time and effort, which most thieves will not want to put in. However, they are only as good as the brackets attached, so you will still need something sturdy enough to hold them securely. You have several options that work well together in securing your Kawasaki vehicle, including the steel post with the bracket part elevated above your ground clearance level.

Invest in Good Roadside Assistance

Although roadside assistance service is not something many people think about when planning their trip, you must take the time to look into what roadside assistance is available for your vehicle and research how much it will cost you. Since roadside assistance can save you a great deal of money, most companies offer various roadside services at different price points.

To help with researching what roadside assistance service options are available to you, contact your insurance company or, even better, go through an RV club. Be sure to also check with your credit card company, as sometimes they offer roadside assistance as part of their benefits offerings. When traveling with children or an inexperienced camper, the best thing to call roadside assistance. Before your trip, make sure they know where you will be going and what vehicles you will be using if multiple people in your party need roadside coverage. As you prepare for your first RV vacation, the bottom line is to research what roadside assistance service options are available to you, what they will cost, and how far they go in providing emergency road services for you. If possible, also investigate membership programs with RV clubs, as these types of roadside assistance may end up saving you a great deal over the cost of individual roadside plans.

Key Your Mechanic’s Number Handy

Your family is excited about heading off on a grand RV vacation, but you are nervous. It has been a while since the RV was used. So, you are unsure what to expect from your RV mechanics. Everyone always says that RVing is fun, but you wonder if they have forgotten how much work it can be to prepare for your first RV vacation trip. What could make things easier? How about Key Your Mechanic’s Number Handy, so when something goes wrong on the road, you know who to call? Most RVers have at least one RV mechanic they like and trust to care for their RV. Mechanics appreciate knowing they will see that RV again, and regular business keeps them in line.

The best thing about having your RV mechanic’s number at hand is you can act fast when there is trouble, so they will have the chance to help you right away before it gets worse. If your RV has problems in remote places without easy access to parts, then fixing things will save time in the end, too. RV mechanics are part of the RVing community, no matter where you are. Make sure you take care of them while they take care of your RV.

Protect Your Campground from Pests

Many people are afraid of going camping in the city or a suburban area because they think their campground will be infiltrated by wildlife. Fortunately, you can prevent any animals from causing problems at your campsite with proper protection. It is important to provide wildlife control for your RV before going on your trip. If an animal comes across your path while you are away, there may not be anyone around to scare it off, so it could cause some serious problems for your neighbors or other families who are staying near you.

Animal problems can range from simply being a nuisance to being a serious problem if the animal is aggressive. In most cases, animals are not trying to be mean, but they want food and shelter. If they do not have shelter, they may find yours as an alternative, so you need to ensure that your campsite is protected from them and safe for everyone at your location.

Plan Your Meals

It may be challenging to prepare for your first RV vacation if you are unsure what to bring and prepare your food for outdoor life. When planning your meals, one of the biggest questions is whether or not you want to cook every day or every other day. It depends on how good a cook you are and how hungry everyone in your party typically gets.

If everyone is craving a home-cooked meal every night, you may want to plan more elaborate meals. However, if you are a less experienced chef or everyone is looking for a quick bite on the trail, then do not feel obligated to cook as often. Either way, make sure to pack food that is easy to prepare and does not require many ingredients. If you are cooking on a stovetop, you will make dishes with fewer steps than multiple components. In addition, some stoves are better at handling certain types of foods than others so consider this when planning your menu. For example, an electric stove will take much longer than propane or butane to heat ingredients. If you will be driving often or traveling in remote areas, it is recommended to pack meals such as pizza that are easy to clean up because not every campground has a running water source.

Perform Safety Checks

As you prepare for your first RV vacation, many things to do. It is smart to make sure everything in the RV is working correctly before taking off on a long road trip. It would be best to ensure all the appliances are working properly and nothing has broken down. Inspect each appliance one by one, starting with the most important to minimize any potentially dangerous issues during travel. The very first appliance you should look at is the smoke alarm. Fire alarms often have a button to push that tests whether they work properly. However, this checkup is necessary and crucial if yours does not. If your smoke alarm just got installed, it is likely already in good condition, and you can skip this step as you prepare for your first RV vacation.

If your smoke alarm has a battery, remove it and put it back in. Suppose your smoke alarm is electric, then you can test for functionality just like with battery-powered alarms. A new battery should solve any issues if an old one has died. However, if this does not get your alarm working properly, consider replacing it or having someone professional do so before taking off on a long trip.

Clean Our Your RV Thoroughly

As you prepare for your first RV vacation, your priority should be how to keep your home clean and live away. This is especially important if other people will occupy the camper with you. Cleaning your RV thoroughly before your trip can help prevent health problems among those traveling with you.

As much as you love that old RV in your driveway, it can be hard to get excited about taking a vacation when you know the musty odors and moldy surfaces will greet you on your return home. But with some smart planning, mildew removal preparation, and proper care during and after your trip, you can make the journey and its aftermath a whole lot more pleasant. On the day of departure, inspect all surfaces for wetness or dampness. Open all windows and ventilation areas to allow fresh air inside. Use fans to keep air circulating throughout the RV if possible, or use that blower/fan mode on your furnace. Give your RV an exterior wash and if possible, use a power washer or pressure washer to blast away any mold, mildew, or dirt that may be present. This will also help remove any material that could lead to rusting on the metal parts of your RV.

Check Campground Trash Procedures

As you prepare for your first RV vacation trip, check with the campgrounds to see if they provide waste disposal or trash removal services. Most will not pick up waste for sanitation reasons, so make sure to ask about the waste management policy before booking a site. If waste removal is not provided at most campgrounds, you may need to hire waste removal companies to come in and remove waste from your campsite. Make sure that you keep waste materials separate when cleaning up, as recycling is good for the environment and will help cut down on costs associated with waste removal. Iron out the details of trash policies before arriving at your destination so that you can stay environmentally conscious while enjoying yourself.


Asking questions about waste removal before arriving is a helpful way to prepare for your first RV vacation trip. You will ensure that the campgrounds meet all of your waste needs and help keep waste materials separate. The waste management companies do not have to waste time sorting through waste materials at their facilities.

Research Pet Care Facilities

As you prepare for your first RV vacation, animal hospitals and pet care facilities are just as important to you as traditional service stations for your car. You may not need them often, but they can make the difference between an emergency visit and a safe trip home when you do. It is always wise to call animal hospitals on your route ahead of time if possible. Provide your expected arrival time so that they will be expecting you, or at least open for business. If there is no animal hospital on your route, ask campgrounds where their nearest animal medical facility would be located. Even though many veterinary clinics cannot treat exotic pets like birds or ferrets, most general animal hospitals should know these species if needed.


RV travel is a great way to break the monotony of life and experience new places and people. But first, you need to prepare for your first RV trip.RV vacations are becoming more and more popular as people try to save money on their vacation expenses. Not only can you save on your hotel costs, but many RV resorts also provide full hookups with some amenities for free.

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