8 Tips to Survive RV Living

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Making a transition to RV living just like any small space living comes with a number of challenges but here are a few ideas to help you get through the transition to RV living. Whether you are a family, a solo traveler or a couple you’ll definitely find these tips very helpful.

Communicate

The major factor to your survival in an RV is great communication. RV has limited space and it will quickly get even smaller if you’re upset or hostile to your partners. Of course you could go walking, sit outside for some time or go driving, but short-term distance won’t fix the problems. Deficiencies in communication in the first months of your transition to RV living could put pressure and emotional stress on your relationship. Life is a lot more pleasurable, if you figure out and deal with your communication problem.

Know Your RV

All new RV suitcases comes full of user manuals. There are manuals for each and every component in the RV. Hence, It is advisable to thoroughly go through each manual and download the online versions as duplicate copies, this will make searching for a specialized topic more convenient and faster.

Spring Cleaning

Trying to figure out stuffs to carry for full time RV living is usually a challenge for most people. Without thorough and detailed planning you’ll end up with excessively too much stuff in you RV but you can carry out a spring cleaning exercise by re-evaluating every single thing in the RV. You could possibly sell the bicycles you don’t use or donate clothing you no longer need.

Create a Checklist

Just like a pilot’s pre-flight checklist, it’s extremely vital that you have a pre-departure checklist for your RV. Every checklist will likely be different subject to the type of RV as well as the gear. In the Class A RV, check carefully to ensure the antenna is down, the jack pads picked up, and ensure that all cords and hoses are property stowed. The major point is to create an all-inclusive list and always check it whenever you want to leave a place.

Everything Has A Place

Every little thing ought to have a place in your RV. Sometimes when the RV goes down a rough road you might probably have vinegar or other bottles with liquid content that gets loosed and mess the whole place because they were kept in the wrong places. In addition, keeping everything in its own place can make packing up a lot faster and easier as you know where all the things are.

Expect the Unexpected

It does not matter if its extreme weather, a flat tire or a windshield problem, always be well prepared for the unforeseeable. Have an RV repair fund to cover unforeseen situations that might arise. Have a spare just in case there’s a flat tire. Create a contingency plan for those unforeseen circumstances. Have a plan in case of a flash flood and you have flooding river in your camp or medical emergencies where there is no cell phone signal.

Be Flexible

It’s really great to know where to go, what direction to go and the length of time to stay but don’t have a rigid plan, be a bit flexible with your plans. Be prepared to stay a couple of nights or leave early if there is a need. Each town has a new experience that you’ll either love or despise. Hence, having a flexible schedule means you can stay longer in places you enjoy and take off early in places you despise.

Enjoy the Journey

More than anything delights in your journey. There are problems related to RV living, but there are even more pleasures.

RV Must do Trip: The Badlands of South Dakota

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Taking an RV trip to the famous badlands of South Dakota would make you understand why the earlier settlers and American Indians referred to the regions as the badlands. The areas are extremely dry, unbearably hot all through the summer, rough, secluded and hard to get around. However, even as these descriptions make it seem like an unwelcoming destination to have your home, in recent times the Badlands has become a fascinating destination for great RV trips.

The Badlands has a National Park which shields great acres of distinctly eroded hills and peaks in addition to the best diverse grass prairie across the country. There is an unusually rough magnificence in this place similar to none other in The United States. You can find bison; bighorn sheep and prairie dogs in the park, in most instances you’ll find them at shockingly close distance but one must be snake conscious.

The Badlands were obviously a creation of the geologic process of erosion and deposition of sediments which started some 69 million years in the past when the sea stretched across the Impressive Plains. Following the sea retreat the land areas, which include rivers and flood plains, continue to put sediments. While the main period of the deposition ended some 28 million years back, erosion of the Badlands could not start until only half a million years ago. Erosion never stops to carve the Badlands buttes till this day. Ultimately, the Badlands would probably wear away completely one day.

During the Dinosaurs age a low sea shielded the Great Plains including the Badlands this accounts for the reason the Badlands is known as one of the world’s most abundant fossil beds. Because dinosaurs were land beasts, no fossils of them would be seen in the park. Huge sea lizards known as mosasaurs also swam in this centuries-old sea, together with sea turtles and a wide species of fish.

The park is accessible 365 day a year. Heat can sometimes reach unbearable levels in the daytime. So it advisable to plan any hiking and bike riding in the morning hours. The badlands are obviously a photographer’s Ideal destination. The craggy spires and open areas apparently seem like a new site with the rising and the setting of the sun. Sunrises and sunsets in the badlands are amazing. You’ll have to commit up to 3 days and some nights if you want to have a great view of the park.

Reaching the Badlands is not difficult. There are actually three campgrounds to choose from. Two of which are managed by the National Park Service:

Cedar Pass campground has close to a hundred level sites with striking views and sights of the badlands formations. The campground is just a stone throw from the Ben Reifel Visitor Center, The fee per campsite range from $18 for site without electrical hook ups and $30 for site with electrical hook-ups. Water, toilets plus a dump station and picnic tables are provided.

Sage Creek is also a great campground. You might probably see animals that look like extinct species moving about. The campground is situated near the Wilderness Area of the Badlands. You can easily get access through an unpaved road that could be sometimes close especially after the spring rain or winter storms. There are limited turnarounds on this road especially for large RV’s.

The White River KOA campground is a great spot in the Badlands positioned in a serene, rural area with lots of huge shade trees at the side of the White River. The campground has a vast dirt road close by which is great for biking. The campground shade is as fascinating as the swimming pool.

RV Towing Tips: 3 Ways To Tow A Car Behind Your Motorhome

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There are actually 3 popular ways of towing vehicles behind an RV. The one that’s ideal for your situation would be determined by a number of factors.

Your first choice is to take the vehicle on a flatbed or closed in trailer.

This trailer is going to support the entire vehicle and will have its own brakes and lighting system, guaranteeing its acceptance by almost all states.

Advantages: You’re not putting in unnecessary mileage to your second vehicle, and you can practically bring along any kind of vehicle you choose.

Disadvantages: Cost. It is absolutely a huge investment that will significantly affect your mileage. The overall combined weight can often be more then the capabilities of the average motorhome. For the average RVer, this isn’t a really practical solution.

A second approach is by using a tow bar, keeping all 4 of the car’s wheels on the road.

This is a usual option to transport a vehicle behind an RV. Again, every state differs as to what is acceptable. Safety cables and the Festiva are wired so that its taillights are activated by the taillights of the motorhome. This set-up works very well for quite a lot of situation.

One great thing about tow bars is the fact that a lot of them fold up, which makes them small for storage when not in use.

The only drawback would be moving in reverse. You cannot back up the RV while you have a car on a tow bar.

If the front wheels of the car turn the wrong way it will drag the car — putting great stress on the steering components.

A good number of motorhomes have an extended overhang to the rear. There are quite a few feet of motorhome beyond the rear wheels this multiplies the stress when trying to turn in reverse. Severe damage can happen to your towed car except if you unhook it from the motorhome when situations arise and you are compelled to back up.

Don’t assume that because a vehicle is a stick transmission it could be towed. Not every car can be towed with 4 wheels on the road. Consult with the manufacturer. Often this is covered in your owner’s manual. A lot of standard transmission cars can be towed, although not all. Some have a transmission lubrication pump that needs the engine to be running. Many automatics could be towed also. Saturn is one manufacture that declares their cars can be towed.

The final way is to make use of a tow dolly.

This is a great compromise. Front wheel drive automatic cars could be towed with their front wheels mounted on the 2-wheel tow dolly.

 

Manufacturers differ in how they make their tow dollies. For instance, Kar Kaddy has a steering system that mimics the natural steering whenever you tow with a tow bar. Other brands make use of a “wagon” method, as the required flexibility in steering is supplied by a center pivot point.

Tow dollies can have surge brakes, or possibly electric brakes — meeting the requirements of many states and enabling you tow a more sizeable car. You will still find it difficult to back up with a tow dolly, but at least you won’t be stressing the steering parts of your car.

Towing a car is a critical issue. Whichever method you choose, ensure you have safety devices in position and fully operational always.

8 Signs you are totally ready to try an RV Adventure

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The best RVers are usually a bit of a contradiction. They’re as well the most wonderful, kind-hearted — and without doubt, slightly whacky people you’ll ever meet. But have you ever wondered if you have the qualities for an RV road trip? Most likely, if you’re this interested in the RV lifestyle, you’re well on the road to taking the plunge.

Here are eight signs you’re really ready to take on those RV trips you’re musing about.

You like meeting new people.

Getting new connections is one of the finest parts of rving — RVers are an amazing group of people. And when you start your journey in your rig, you’re inevitably part of the club; you’ll always get the opportunity to meet new friendly faces, just by virtue of exploring a new destination.

You’re fascinated by cultures that are unlike yours.

Even if you stay right in America, you’re guaranteed to come across some new ways of thinking, including some that might challenge your own. That’s an integral part living in such a big and diverse nation.

So when you stop in Austin, ensure you try the barbecue. And if you’re up in Vancouver, don’t forget the salmon, even if it’s not your best fish. Try talking to someone whose outfits is different from yours or someone who speaks in a different way than you do? You would possibly learn a lot of new things — not just about the other person, but about yourself.

You’re great at organizing and planning…

The most successful travelers have at least a touch of natural planner in them, from routing unique itineraries to working out the number of nights to stay in each destination.

 You don’t freak out when things don’t go just as you’d planned.

It’s essentially the first rule of traveling: Not everything will go as planned. The happiest campers anticipate that and have no problem rolling with the punches — after all, if you needed predictability, you could have just stayed home.

You want to travel at your own pace.

Even though it’s indisputable that a plane can get you to your destination quickly but whenever you travel in an RV, you set the schedule —  you  are not subjected to some airline’s delay or undependable bus schedule. You choose whether you want to stop early for the day. Your bed’s already made up and set! All you need to do is locate a good place to pull off and set up camp.

There are some stuff you just don’t want to part with.

Traveling always suggests surrendering a bit in the way of possessions and creature comforts, and RVing is definitely not an exception. Even a 40 foot diesel pusher has very limited room!

However if you wish to hang onto your books, clothes, or special kitchen equipment while you’re out travelling the world, it’s quite easier to tote along your must-haves in a motorhome than on an airplane.

You’re not scared of getting a bit dirty.

While most people worry about possibly-nasty RVing must-dos like draining the wastewater tanks, it’s actually not that bad. Camping is really about getting closer to nature, and yes, at times you might find yourself with some dirt underneath your nails. So as long as you’re an intrepid enough traveler to deal with that — or bring along a scrub brush — you’re golden.