In my newsletter last week (here’s the link to sign up if you aren’t getting my emails), I asked readers who have camped, or do still camp, to give me some helpful hints or suggestions as Gene and I embark on our new camping journey.
Let me tell you, I have amazing readers and received some great tips. So, for ease of sharing them with them and you, here are the helpful hints I’ve received.
1. From my husband (he is in charge of the grey and black tanks) always use Walex Alpine fresh bio-pack natural enzyme and waste digester pods after emptying the black tank. The liquid version of this is great for the grey tank. Both can be purchased as Walmart. This is where your biodegradable toilet paper is as well. We buy the Scott brand in the 8 pack.
2. Invest in a high quality surge protector for your electrical hookup.
3. On the days when you move have a checklist and do everything in the same order every time.
4. Try to limit your daily drive to 4 hours. I plan our travel and I try to stay on US highways instead of interstates as much as possible.
5. If time allows stay longer in many places. Our first year on the road I moved us every 3-4 days. We learned that short stays didn’t allow us the opportunity to truly appreciate the area.
6. There are a few RV travel apps that are worth the subscription fee. RV Life is my main go to when planning our travel. I also have a Rand McNally Road Atlas. I like maps because I want to see a bigger picture of the area. Our motorhome is 13 feet 2 inches tall so I also use the Rand McNally Deluxe Motor Carrier Atlas. There are many bridges and overpasses that are not tall enough for us so I have to design our route around them.
7. Patience and flexibility are essential.
8. Ask the locals for recommendations for sights to see or places to eat.
9. Get some ‘rubberized’ shelf liner stuff to put under and between anything that will rattle as you drive. Otherwise, the noise will drive you insane, especially on gravel roads. I used it under and between nesting pots/pans and between plates. The stuff is similar to some under-padding for scatter rugs. The hardware store guy can help find it. You can use it over and over and even wash it if it gets grubby. Cut to the length you need. https://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/con-tact-grip-excel-non-adhesive-cushioned-shelf-drawer-liner-white-12-in-x-10-ft-0429230p.html
10. Plates/cups/glasses: we only ever used melamine/melmac dishware because it doesn’t break and doesn’t make as much noise when driving as ceramic. Downside is that you can’t put it in the microwave. Corelle might be the way to go for that. We didn’t have a microwave, so it wasn’t an issue. Ceramic or glass is a problem as if it ever falls and breaks you have to be extra, extra careful to get ALL of the pieces as they will be underfoot or even on the upholstery wherever you go in your limited RV space.
11. Have a mesh laundry bag or 2. A hamper is nice, but takes up A LOT of room. You can just hang the bag on the back of the door or shove it in a corner. When it’s laundry time, just take the bag and your detergent to the laundromat in whatever town you’re in – make friends while you wait. Fold laundry and put it back in the same bag. Laundry pucks/tabs are useful as they won’t make a mess like powder of liquid detergent if they container falls over inside your RV.
12. Have a waterproof bucket/tray/container for muddy boots/umbrellas/raincoats. You will be rained on (unless you spend all your time in the desert) and your wet/muddy stuff will make a mess of your living area, especially if it rains for several days. A stiff brush to scrape off mud is also good so you don’t track it inside.
13. Make sure that you have a pair of work gloves that you only use for gross stuff like emptying the holding tanks…don’t use bare hands and don’t use those gloves for anything else!
14. My mother-in-law taught me to cut a pool noodle to fit between the microwave tray and the top of the microwave to keep the glass from bouncing when we pull our RV.
15. Lots of patience is needing when parking (backing it up and getting it where you want it on a site so you can connect everything) and leveling; those signs you read about sorry for what I said while parking are true. Lol
16. Having some extra fuses, length of drinking water hose and electric cord; are helpful even if you don’t use often, there is always that one site. We also use a surge protector plugs into the electric box that we plug our camper into. We use a bicycle chain and lock to “secure” it to the electric post as they are not cheap.
17. These towels are the bomb! They fold up super small but are big enough to wrap around your entire body and they dry super fast- like hang them from anywhere and air dry! We use them on the boat too and even when hubby and I are road tripping we take these and microfiber wancloths so our hosts don’t have the extra laundry! The first time I bought them at a marine show but now they are an Amazon prime offering! This is the best link I found for them. https://www.amazon.com/Microfiber-Beach-Towel-Lightweight-Accessories/dp/B0C38V9T1Y/
18. Keep a stock of baggies and garbage bags with you. They come in handy for so many things. I also use soft baskets in the storage containers to keep things from rolling around or moving in transit. I detest looking for things after we stop.
19. Get a rug or mat to put on the ground before you step into the camper. It’ll keep your camper cleaner. No one wants to clean all the time.
20. Keep a first aid kit in the camper. You never know when you’ll need a bandaid or other. Hopefully you won’t need it, but you’ll have it if you do.
21. Test your CO and smoke alarms every six months or more. It takes only a couple of minutes and it’s a good habit to get into.
22. Go to the Dollar Store and by those under-the-bed storage bags. They’re great for keeping extra clean linens and blankets for company clean and tucked away. For only $1.25, they zip close and keeps things clean. Drop a dryer sheet in the bag for extra freshness.
23. Little hooks are great for hanging things on. Keys, hang them on the hook. If you have a pet, that’s a great place to keep dog leashes and collars.
24. We carry a cooler under the camper for extra water and drinks. The refrigerators are small in campers and usually we need that extra room for food. Once we park, the cooler can be brought out and put under the awning for easy access (and it keeps kids and adults from going in and out and getting things dirty or letting bugs in).
I’ll add to this post as I have new things to add. If you have something that should/could be added, please reply and I’ll add it. The more we know, the easier things go!
Apps/Camping Places
Harvest Hosts
Hipcamp
RV Life
Rand McNally Deluxe Motor Carrier Atlas
We freeze water bottles to use as ice in coolers for our drinks so we don’t use the fridge space for this. We’ll rotate them into the freezer when needed or you can drink them as they thaw. We’ll also freeze anything going into the freezer so the little camp freezer doesn’t have to work so hard. Also only pack as many dishes as you need to save on space and weight. Enjoy camping🏕️
Awesome information here. Thank you. My husband and I have 2.5 years before full retirement and we hit the road in an RV.
Have “in case ” tool box. Just the general. Multi tip screwdriver, hammer,wrench,flashlight you know basics. Never know when need it. Keep tucked away under a bed…
Have bungie cords or like baby locks (there are some that have a magnet lock) for when traveling …keeps stuff from finding floor
Have a small tent underneath in a cubby place. Can use for extra storage especially with 7 peoples in camper. Also a tarp with rope and stakes. Can use over a picnic table at a camp site
Remember that your holding tanks are not a septic system. You fill them and dump them. Campgrounds typically have septic systems and they can be damaged by unneeded chemicals you add to your tanks. Tank additives add money to the companies that sell them, and typically don’t do anything else.
Don’t leave your tank dump valves open while at a campground. This is a really bad idea for two reasons. You never want your black tank to sit empty while you are using it. Always start out with some water in the black tank. Second, you have a plumbing vent on top of your RV. If your valves are open and the dump hose is connected to the septic system, those foul odors in the septic system will travel up your dump hose and out your plumbing vent, smelling up your campsite and everybody else’s.
I wouldn’t have a “special pair of gloves” for dirty tasks. That’s better than nothing, but as a scientist I know that what’s on the outside of those gloves will shortly be all over your and everything else. I’d buy a box of disposable nitrile gloves and toss them after every use.
There are what seems like a million folks who either can’t dump their tanks without dumping waste all over the dump site, or don’t even bother to use a hose. They just open up the dump valves on their RV and dump everything on the pad. If you are walking on the pad your shoes are picking up dangerous contaminants. I keep a pair of rubber boots in the compartment where my dumping hoses are kept and wear them while dumping. They never come inside the motorhome.
Every spring when I take the motorhome out of storage, one of the first things I do is to remove the batteries from every device that is battery operated and check and replace them as necessary. It’s amazing how many devices I have that use a replaceable battery. I’m sure I have more than 50 alkaline batteries in my RV.
I live in the Pacific NW, know for its long wet winters. To keep the motorhome dry, mold free and prevent swelling of the woodwork I run an electric oil filled heater inside it all winter long.
Your motorhome looks relatively new. I would check if your owner’s manual states that you can leave the motorhome plugged in continuously to keep the batteries charged. Older battery chargers in RVs would ruin the coach batteries if the RV was left plugged in continuously.
It’s important to inflate the tires to the correct pressure. This is not the maximum pressure as stated on the side of the tires. It’s important to weigh your motorhome at each of the four corners to determine what the weights are. You set the correct tire pressure based on the heaviest weight per axle, not per tire.
Note that most RV tires are speed rated for a maximum of 70 mph. It’s good to check. I run Michelin tires that I special order from Costco. They will mount the tires and balance them but not remove and replace them from the vehicle. You would have to do that yourself. Many RV owners join the Family Motor Coach Association. I don’t think it’s worthwhile myself. Their association has agreements with tire companies for a discount. Costco is cheaper.
Michelin’s tire guide has lots of important information, even if you have another brand. https://cxf-prod.azureedge.net/b2b-experience-production/attachments/clulbuc9z006a01lhd4atxcaj-rv-tires-brochure-e-april2024.pdf
Recommend using the stabilizer bars always – even if you don’t anticipate needing them.
ONE TIME was all it took for a lesson learned.
Plan ahead by checking the weather for wind direction and speeds.
Cross Winds can be deadly.