Questions about how to begin recreational vehicle travel are a common source of inquiry for us. We’ve compiled a list of our top ten recommendations for new and prospective RVers.
You can save yourself time and money by taking these simple precautions before renting an RV.
Prepare properly (and have fun doing it!) so you can take advantage of this wonderful lifestyle. Anyone thinking about making an RV their permanent residence will benefit greatly from the advice presented here.
Get some RV travel reading in. There are many books available to aid you in your RV search. Read books written by people who have lived the fulltime RV lifestyle if that is something you’re interested in. This was one of the first things we did when we first began fantasising about the lifestyle, and it has paid off in spades.
Invest the time in visiting RV dealerships and expos, as well as testing out a wide range of RV models and makes. We sat in the rigs for long periods of time, going through the motions of daily life in our heads, chatting with passers-by, and taking in the sights and sounds around us while hearing the thoughts and observations of those who came before us. In addition to helping you become a more educated shopper, it’s a lot of fun.For more information visit greetingsus .
Get out and try recreational vehicle camping. Experience RVing is a must before making a large RV purchase or committing to full-time RVing. Some RVers have been doing it for years before upgrading or going fulltime. If you aren’t able to do so permanently, like we aren’t, you can still get a taste of what it would be like to live in an RV by renting one or purchasing a used one for a trip, weekend getaway, or extended vacation.
Sign up for some RV clubs and peruse their publications (there’s Good Sam, FMCA, and Escapees, to name a few). While you may not be an RVer at the moment, you can still benefit from the knowledge, community, and ideas offered by these groups and the publications they produce. We keep learning from the magazines, and we also take advantage of the numerous opportunities presented by the clubs and their local chapters for networking and professional development.
When shopping for a recreational vehicle, it pays to do your research. Everything from the construction quality to the amount of storage space available to the maximum allowable towing capacity to the efficiency of the plumbing, electricity, air conditioning, and heating systems is crucial. You should prioritise your needs based on how you plan to use the RV on a daily basis. Having some familiarity with RV operation is helpful prior to making a purchase. How often do we hear someone say, “if I had only known about…” Feeling like you have no idea what you don’t know? Well, educate yourself; RV Education DVDs and videos are a great resource.
Make a plan for how much money you will need and how you will spend it by writing it down. Budgeting these activities alongside costs for insurance, emergencies, and routine upkeep is essential. Working while travelling is something to think about if you want to make the nomadic lifestyle your permanent one.
Think about what you want and why you want it. Spend a few minutes thinking about why you want to go on an RV trip. This is a great way to get started, and it’s also useful as a follow-up after completing the preceding steps. Once you’ve begun educating yourself about RVing through books, videos, shows, and experiences, it’s important to revisit your original goals for RVing. One possibility is that your first assumptions are correct. Another possibility is that your ideal RV vacation turns out to be somewhat different from what you expected.
All in on the dream. Make your spouse/family/friends/etc. a part of the RV trip planning and education process. Talk about what you hope to achieve. Think about making concessions. If you have to spend time in close quarters with other people, it goes more smoothly if you’re all pulling in the same direction.
Think about the links. Depending on your circumstances, this might include keeping in contact with family and friends while RVing, having internet access, cell phone connectivity in different geographic areas and use of email. This may be of little importance on a brief holiday. For those who live on the road permanently or who spend extended periods away from home, this is a major factor.
Enjoy the journey. And we don’t just mean the RV journey once you are on the road. Also enjoy the “getting ready”, the learning phase. Take your time and enjoy yourself as you learn all there is to know about living in an RV.
In addition to her work here, Jill also maintains a blog at www.your-rv-lifestyle.com, where you can read more of her helpful advice on how to select, finance, and make the most of your RV.