Venturing into new territory can be overwhelming. For new RV owners, the allure of freedom and relaxing road trips can cause you to drive your new RV off the lot and straight towards a campsite. Wait just a second! Before you begin your exciting new RV lifestyle, read about common RV mistakes and how you can avoid them!
Emergency preparedness is an essential part of RVing and travel in general. Whether you’re out on the open road, or parked in one spot, being prepared for any kind of emergency is critical. From storms to accidents, knowing what to do ahead of time can make all the difference. That’s why it’s important to take the time to plan for an emergency before you embark on your RVing journey.
In this blog post, we’ll discuss the steps you can take to ensure that you’re prepared for anything that might come your way. By being prepared for any kind of emergency, you can rest assured that you’ll be safe and secure during your RVing adventures. So read on to learn more!
The first step to emergency preparedness for RVers is to have a plan in place. Some items are universal – things you can set up once and have ready for every RV adventure again without needing to think about it. These would be things like contact lists for when things get dicey. It’s always good to know you have a number on hand in case you lose access to your own phone, since we nobody remembers important phone numbers these days!
Additionally, create a plan for how to handle various emergency scenarios, such as a medical emergency, a fire, a flood, or a natural disaster. Knowing what to do in each situation can give you peace of mind and better help you prepare for any situation.
Your plan should also include guidance for evacuation. Especially for children in your RV, knowing how to get out of the RV fast when it matters can be important. After all, homes can catch fire in the kitchen and there’s always a possibility of that happening in you RV too.
As an RVer, having an emergency kit that is well equipped and ready to go is essential. Your kit should include items such as a flashlight, a set of multi-purpose tools, a fire extinguisher, a first-aid kit, a battery-operated radio, and a maybe even a whistle. These can all be used in various emergency events to make it easier to find help when it’s needed.
Spare parts for your RV and tow vehicle should be considered part of your emergency kit. It’s always a good idea to pack items such as a spare tire, a full tank of fuel, and extra oil. If a flash flood or other incident happens, you may need to detour far away from the pit stop you were planning to make.
Lastly, a good emergency kit in your RV should include a road hazard kit, a blanket, and food and water.
Knowing your route is an important part of emergency preparedness for RVers. Before you take off on a new journey, it’s wise to research the best route to your destination and plan accordingly. Use online resources to find out about local destinations, alternative campgrounds, and you may even pick up some useful local information from RV forums online. Certain areas can be challenging to maneuver with larger RVs, and you can be sure the locals will tell you!
Be aware of any road closures or detours you may encounter. Additionally, make sure to have a map of the area with you so that you can quickly find an alternate route if needed. This can help you get to your destination quickly and safely.
If you’re using a digital map, like the one on your phone, you can download a version of the map before you leave. That way, even if you don’t have any signal, you can reference the map in the app to plan an alternate route. That said, it’s still a good idea to have a paper map in your RV – there’s plenty of place to store one, and you never know when they might come in handy!
Knowing and understanding safety protocols is essential for RVers in the event of an emergency. In addition to having a plan in place for evacuation, store a list of contact information for emergency services relevant to your destination. For instance, traveling along the western forests could put you in wildfire territory. You should have an idea of what to do if you encounter a risk common to the area you plan to visit.
Don’t forget to store important documents, like insurance information, in a waterproof container and have them easily accessible. If something were to happen, it can save you a lot of stress to know you have the resources you need to contact ready and available no matter what.
Familiarizing yourself with safety protocols is the key to being prepared and staying safe in the event of an emergency.
RV emergency preparedness while traveling in an RV starts with knowing who to call! Creating a list of where to turn for assistance on your trip can be a major help if you find yourself in an emergency situation. Find resources for emergency services like police, fire, and medical help in the areas you are visiting.
If your camping trip includes recreation activities that could be unsafe, like rock climbing or other dangerous hobbies, you may want to consider researching places like the nearest hospitals, fire stations, and police departments in the area so you know where to go.
The most important thing to do on any RV trip is to relax and enjoy the trip. While it’s a great idea to be prepared for emergencies, you’re statistically unlikely to encounter them on your trip. Don’t let the idea of preparing for an emergency make you feel like you’re going to experience one. It’s all about being ready for anything!
Taking the time to research and prepare will make sure you can enjoy your RV experience without worrying about the unexpected.
The professionals at RV Wholesale Superstore are ready to help you find your first RV and answer any questions you may have about taking care of one. Visit us in-person at 5080 W. Alexis Road, in Sylvania, OH or call us at 844-601-1171
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Your first RV brought you into the RV lifestyle – and you couldn’t be happier! But over time, you start to wonder what other RVs that might be out there. Is it time for an RV upgrade? It can be hard to tell, but if you’re on the fence, here are some of the most common things that may mean it’s time for an RV upgrade.
The most common reason for an RV upgrade is an upgrade to your family! Whether you started out as a single camper, a pair, or with room for your first child, the addition of new members to your family can mean your old RV just doesn’t have the space you need. RVs can have sleeping capacity for a massive range – from just a few to 10 or more people!
It’s not always just about getting more space for sleeping, either. You may be able to find ways to give your growing family places to rest, but that doesn’t mean your original choice in RV still makes sense today. RV floorplans and sizes vary dramatically, and a new RV with a more open design could reduce some of the constant shoulder-to-shoulder feel of trying to move four people through an RV built for two.
On top of that, storage space is at a premium when it comes to RVs. The more people you bring along, the more you need to pack. Clothes and toys are one thing, but you’ll also have to consider the increase in food you need to keep everyone full and happy for even a short weekend trip.
Upgrading an RV for more space is easily one of the most likely reasons to sell your old RV and start fresh. It’s an investment that’s worth it, too. Those family trip experiences are things that will stay with your kids forever, and it helps keep your family close in an age where it’s easy for everyone to go to their corner of the home and plug into a phone or TV!
How long ago did you buy your RV? Was it a few years ago or a decade? The person you are today doesn’t necessarily reflect the preferences you had when you first dove headfirst into the wonderful world of RVing!
One of the biggest things that may change from when you start RVing to when you’re an experienced camper is how often you prefer to be away from the hustle and bustle that can take place at popular RV campsites. Sure, the hookups are nice and there’s always a friendly face nearby, but when you’ve seen it all, you may be comfortable going off-the-grid and enjoying some peace and quiet!
Of course, the RV you purchased a few years ago may not be the ideal dry camping RV. Maybe it lacks the battery capacity you need, or you’re looking for a newer model that’s ready for solar power.
Alternative, if you started off camping to get away from it all, but discovered a love for living on the road with your gadgets and gizmos perpetually powered, your boondock-ready RV might not have everything you wanted to enjoy your trip. If that’s the case, your shifting RV preferences may lead you to our next common RV upgrade cause…
RVs can accommodate all kinds of campers. From those who just need a retreat after a long day in the sun, to those who want to travel but don’t want to lose the comfort of “home” amenities. And if your RV doesn’t reflect your desires, you may not be enjoying it as much as you could!
Like cars, the more modern your RV, the more features you’re going to have access to. Newer RVs come with all sorts of things that may not have been available when you first purchased your RV. Or maybe you’re just tired of sleeping on a smaller RV bed and want a luxurious residential-style king mattress in your RV retreat.
No matter the reason, shopping for an RV upgrade can be just the thing to revitalize your love of RV travel. New spaces, new gadgets, and new features are all great reasons to find enjoyment in replacing your dated RV with a new (or new to you) RV.
An RV is really a home – and every home comes with maintenance. No matter what that maintenance is, it costs time and money to stay current on. Over the years, maintenance for an RV can become more frequent, more costly and more frustrating. While this isn’t always true (and good RV maintenance can extend the lifespan of an RV by plenty of years) it’s something that some RV owners experience.
Especially if it was your first RV, you may have realized down the road that you were skipping critical parts of maintenance and now you’re paying the price. Whatever the reason is, if maintenance hassles or costs are starting to turn your dream RV into a bit of an unwanted expense, an RV upgrade could offer you a chance to start fresh.
It’s easy to think bigger RV means better. For many campers, that’s simply not the case. An RV upgrade can be more than, well, getting more. Small RVs offer several benefits that can easily outweigh the smaller space for living:
For RVers who just need a retreat after a long day of enjoying their destination, a smaller RV can be smart upgrade from a larger model with space you just aren’t using!
If you’re planning to upgrade your RV, chances are you’re doing it for a reason. But with all the new RVs out there, it’s easy to get lost in the excitement! When you’re making your plans to upgrade your RV, you should really focus on what’s changing from your old RV to your new one.
Like a home, the best RV is one that feels right to you. Now that you have some time RVing under your belt, you’ll better understand what you want (and don’t want) out of an RV. So when you hit the lot, you can make a much more informed decisions.
You should make sure it really fulfills your goals for the upgrade. There’s nothing more frustrating than making the switch to a new RV only to realize it’s still lacking. Fortunately, good planning and consideration can make sure you avoid this problem.
It’s easy to have eyes for an RV that are a bit bigger than your tow vehicle can handle. When you expand your RV to fit more family members or just to enjoy a more spacious interior, you need to make sure your tow vehicle can still pull its weight.
You can usually find your vehicle’s gross towing capacity pretty easily from the manufacturer. This number is critical to know when you’re shopping, so write it down. Keep in mind that an empty RV isn’t going to weigh as much as one loaded with all your travel supplies!
The professionals at RV Wholesale Superstore are ready to help you find the perfect RV for you and your family. Visit us in-person at 5080 W. Alexis Road, in Sylvania, OH or call us at (419) 786-1126
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