The Most Common RV Mistakes – And How To Avoid Them

Get in gear

The best laid plans may often go awry, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t make them, especially when you’re taking your home/bed/hotel on the road for an adventure. Avoid some common RV mistakes with these top tips, and make sure that all you need to worry about is what hike to take and whether to opt for a lake or forest view.

Click through this gallery to see the classic RV mistakes everyone should avoid...

Create a checklist

Create a checklist of steps before you start your journey – this should make everything run a little smoother (in theory, anyway). As well as ticking off the steps we’ve outlined, remember to turn off the water pump and heater, and check your indicator signals and brakes before you set off. You can download checklists online to guarantee you’ve packed everything you need, right down to the last knife and fork.

Schedule a pre-trip check

It’s obviously a good idea to set off on a trip with the peace of mind that your vehicle is in good shape, but it’s also easy to ignore, especially with all the other planning and (hopefully) excitement of finally getting on the road. It's even easier to dismiss if your van is usually reliable. But make it a priority to get it checked over and serviced by a mechanic a week or so before setting off, allowing time for any necessary work.

Check your tires as you go

Just because the tires have been checked and pumped up before you leave home doesn’t mean they’ll stay that way on the road, especially if you’re driving in remote areas and over dusty, gravelly, or stone-strewn surfaces. Take a minute to check over your RV’s tires before each journey, even if it’s just a half-hour drive to the beach or the next campsite. It’s worth it to avoid being stranded.

Defrost your freezer

This might sound like a small task – but then, most of the freezers you find aboard RVs are small too. Teeny-tiny, in many cases, so imagine trying to shoehorn a pizza, pack of sausages, or bottle of wine into a tiny freezer that’s already half-full of crystallized ice. Check it before you travel and, if needed, defrost just as you would a normal freezer – empty it, turn it off, and lay paper down to soak up water as the ice melts.

Have an onboard bathroom

This might be impossible if you already own a tiny camper van. But, if you’re considering renting an RV, choose one with a toilet, sink, and (ideally) shower on board as some campgrounds have minimal facilities. If you have a larger RV with shower and toilet facilities, check they’re in full working order before leaving – to avoid any nasty surprises.

Ditch the hard-shell suitcase

Tough, hard-shelled suitcases are great for minimizing the risk of damage when traveling by train or plane, but they’re not so hot when it comes to getting back to nature. Dragging a wheelie case over dirt paths and gravel is frustrating, and somehow just doesn’t feel right. A soft weekend-style bag takes up less space, is easier to shove behind a seat (and fold away when empty), and won’t look out of place even in the most rustic setting.

Remember your RV’s luggage

You’ve thrown shorts, T-shirts, and a warm cardigan (just in case) in a bag. Now you need to sort out your camper van’s luggage. Think of every worst-case scenario and pack the tools you need to help you avoid – or cope with – it. This means bringing extra fuel, a spare wheel, water, windscreen wiper fluid, and – depending on your route – extreme weather gear like snow chains.

Get it clean (or cleaned)

Give your RV a thorough clean before hitting the road to ensure it’s fully disinfected and ready for the journey ahead. This will be even more important if you’re renting, as you can bring it up to your own standards and keep your travel companions safe. You might want to consider taking your own crockery, cutlery, pots, and pans too.

Take at least a day’s worth of food

Yes, there’s usually a supermarket or at least a gas station somewhere nearby when you need to stock up on supplies, but traffic can put paid to the best-laid plans and the last thing you want after a long drive is to start scrabbling around for the nearest shop. Take the pressure off by taking at least enough for the first dinner and breakfast. It’ll be so nice to pull into that perfect camp spot knowing you have nowhere to be.

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Don’t neglect the nibbles

We’ve all done it: packed enough tinned tomatoes, sausages, and pasta to last a dozen trips, but forgotten to stow a packet of potato chips for on-the-road nibbles. Gas station snacks can be limited at times, so it makes sense to prepare before you hit the road each day, boxing up some crunchy veg sticks, pieces of cheese, nuts – whatever you might want to keep you going, so long as it’s easy to eat and mess-free.

Have some recipes ready

Having a few ideas for what to cook at camp, or just for lunch at the beach, will help ensure your road trip meals are more of a joy than a chore, and also help prevent over-shopping. It doesn’t need to be anything fancy. Adapt your go-to recipes for the camping stove or barbecue, or find inspiration online.

Pack stuff to pack it up

Pack a cool box or bag and throw in a few storage containers that you can keep leftovers in. Not only will all of these things help ensure your supplies don’t spoil (or smell), they'll make it much easier to follow the ‘leave no trace’ principle of parks and campgrounds. Speaking of which, take plenty of bags you can use for trash as there might not always be somewhere to put it while traveling or staying overnight.

Go for double-duty gear

If your RV is on the smaller side, don’t make the mistake of throwing in everything – you’ll regret it when things start to lose their place and you’re having to wade through piles of clothes, bags, pots, and pans day and night. Instead, think about items that can have multiple uses and earn their place. A large cool box can work as a bench, for example, while a linen or cotton towel doubles as a blanket or tablecloth.

Book your campground in advance

This is a sensible move as pulling up to that awesome campground you read about, only to be turned away, is miserable after a long drive. It’s important to have a firm plan and (where possible) a reservation, at least for your first night. Check online to see whether you can book before you go – some places, including national parks, now require advance reservations.

Choose your spot carefully

So you’ve arrived at the perfect private RV resort or the most picturesque park and there are several campsites available. So, which one? It’s easy to rush this decision, especially when you’re excited or tired after a long journey, but try to consider the practical as well as the pretty.

Yes, the lake view is spectacular. But if the ground is a little uneven, you might wake up with a squashed face and a dizzy head. Drive around until you’re sure. Better still, see if the campground has any pitch pictures you can check out before you go.

Load up on wipes

If you remember one thing (apart from your camper van, that is), make it biodegradable wipes. And not just one packet: take wipes for skin, wipes for hair, wipes for cleaning down cooking areas, wipes for sticky ice cream hands... all the wipes you can get your (non-sticky) hands on. Apart from comfort and cleanliness, it means you’ll be less restricted by a lack of campground facilities.

Download maps in advance

Load your phone or tablet with maps before you head off, or pack the old-fashioned paper kind. Or simply scribble out some (reliable) directions. Basically, don’t rely on using GPS on the go.

It’s likely you’ll lose service at times during your trip, especially if you’re seeking out solitary serenity in nature. You can download offline maps, which will be handy if you’re following a set route. Having a backup that isn’t on your phone is a good idea too, though, to allow for drained batteries and spontaneous detours.

Keep your schedule loose

It’s a common mistake even for seasoned RV-ers: you’re so excited to hit the road, see everything, and do everything that you overestimate how tiring traveling can be and forget to allow time to relax and enjoy. Even if you need to book campgrounds in advance, try to include some stays that are two nights or more – and don’t choose consecutive spots that are a 12-hour drive apart.

Have a dirt box on board

Take a box or bag (or several bags) where you can dump your ‘dirty’ stuff, like muddy hiking boots, wet waterproofs, dusty clothes, and so on. Or designate a space where you can keep grubby gear away from everything else, especially your cooking and sleeping areas. Being organized will help keep your RV clean, tidy, and a lot more pleasant to be in.

Don’t take away the music

Planning a playlist might be the last thing on your mind before a big trip, but you won’t regret it. You may, however, regret having a five-hour drive stretching ahead of you with no option to bellow along to your favorite tunes – especially if all you can find on the radio is a faint crackle. Save some offline playlists via a streaming service, like Spotify or Apple Music, so you’ll always have some uplifting tunes on the road and by the campfire (if campground regulations allow).

Do sweat the small stuff

That is, sweat the small stuff before you leave – so you don’t have to sweat about not having the small stuff while on your trip. How many times have you been stranded without a corkscrew, or only realized how important a flashlight is when you wake up in a pitch-dark campground, desperate for the bathroom? Not to mention a pack of playing cards and a spare pillow... 

Grab a gazebo

Of all the things worth making a little extra room for, we reckon this comes high on the list. A gazebo will be your best friend if it rains or is too hot, and it gives you that extra bit of space in which to cook or simply relax. You can get pop-up ones that are lightweight and attach to the side of an RV, so there’s no need to heft heavy weights around (an awning works too).

Bear the bugs in mind

Depending on the location and time of year, bugs can creep up on you and become your biggest bugbear. They can honestly ruin an otherwise perfect trip, so pack an insect repellent spray and think about stuff you can set up around your campsite. Large citronella candles or oil-burning lanterns will work hard to deter insects like mosquitoes and midges while also providing soft, pretty light.

Invest in a back-up camera

Even experienced RV drivers may struggle at times without an interior mirror, especially when reversing in tight spaces at campgrounds and gas stations. Nervous and newbie RV drivers will be especially glad they invested in a back-up or reverse camera. They’re pretty easy to install, not particularly costly – and priceless if they can help to prevent an accident.

Plan your pit stops

However distracting the scenery and however focused you are on trying not to take a wrong turn, don’t forget to check the fuel gauge regularly. Breaking down in the middle of nowhere is no fun and neither is paying over the odds for gas at a station that knows it’s your only option for hundreds of miles. Both are easily avoidable – look up stops on your route, if you can, and top up well before the red light kicks in.

Take a walk about

You might be pretty sure you tucked away the awning properly, tightly secured the pop-up roof, and closed every latch and drawer inside the van. But it only takes one thing to spring open while on the road to – at best – distract you and cause a mess. In a worst-case scenario it could cause an accident, so make it a habit to have a walk around inside and out every time you’re about to get back on the road. 

Stay close to home

You don’t always have to travel far to find adventure – a healthy dose of curiosity is all you need. If you’re tight on time, park up at a local campsite and spend a couple of nights discovering a new side to your hometown. This can also be a good idea if you want to get to grips with your RV before the open road beckons for a longer adventure.

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