Secrets To Being A Good RVer

If you’re wanting to join the world of RVing, you might be wondering what can make you a good RVer. What do you need to do to fit into the community, and how can you ensure you’re as safe as possible while on the road? What do you need to know before you hit the road in order to make your trips are fun and stress-free as possible?

Fortunately, many have gone before you, and because RVers are a friendly bunch, it isn’t hard to find info on how to be a good RVer. In fact, this article is an excellent starting place! Below, we’ve compiled a list of key things to know before you start RVing. Keep these things in mind and you’re sure to have an amazing time exploring in your trailer or motorhome.

Having fun and creating memories is what RVing is all about.

Be Open-Minded, Flexible, and a Good Problem-Solver

The most important thing to always remember as an RVer is to be open-minded and flexible. Things happen out on the road, and being able to take things as they come is a key skill that can get you through just about any crisis.

Arrive at a campground only to find they don’t have sites available? Being open-minded and flexible will help you stay calm and collected as you figure something else out. Return to a broken A/C after a long, hot day of hiking? Using your problem-solving skills will allow you to find a temporary solution to keep everyone comfortable while a repair is made.

Have a Good Attitude

When things go wrong while we’re out trying to have a good time, it can be tempting to let our moods be affected. Those who have the ability to roll with the punches and keep a smile on their face will have more fun than those who let a single issue sour the whole trip.

Do your best to enjoy the ride even when it doesn’t go as planned. You might just find that those mishaps lead to an even more amazing adventure than the one you had planned.

Be Friendly

As mentioned above, RVers are a friendly bunch. If you want to be a part of the community, you should definitely try to do the same. Fortunately, this goes hand-in-hand with having a good attitude, so if you can exhibit either one of these skills, you should be able to implement the other one without much trouble.

Be Willing to Help

One super friendly thing you can do that is sure to make some RVing friends? Always be ready and willing to help. We said earlier that things can go wrong when out RVing. Having help from a neighbor can make the problem-solving process go a whole lot smoother.

As an added bonus, those who help their neighbors are more likely to get help in return when they need it.

Respect Your Neighbors

Depending on the campgrounds you visit, you might end up parking pretty close to your neighbors. Additionally, you’ll almost certainly be sharing some common areas with others. Be respectful of other campers by keeping your noise levels down, keeping your campsite neat, cleaning up after yourself in the campground bathrooms, etc.

Leave No Trace

Another great way to show respect for other campers (and the environment)? Be sure to practice “leave no trace.” This just means you leave your campsite or boondocking site better than you found it by packing out whatever you pack in and picking up any litter that may have been left by past campers.

This can also be practiced on hiking trails and in other natural areas so that the visitors after you can have an enjoyable experience.

Being quiet during the posted hours is just one way to show respect. Picking up after yourself and leaving your campsite better than when you found it can go a long way too. 

It’s always good to know your RV and it’s limitations. You should also have a plan in place just in case you need it. 

Know Your RV

It’s important that you know your RV inside and out. This comes in handy in a variety of situations.

Knowing your height and weight might save you from disasters on the road when you come to a low-clearance overpass or a weight-restricted bridge. Meanwhile, knowing what your motorhome sounds like while driving could make it easier to recognize a problem if one happens to pop up.

Knowing how your RV’s plumbing and electrical systems work can make repairing problems with the RV a bit easier, and knowing where leaks tend to pop up means you can reseal them more effectively.

Invest in Roadside Assistance

Another thing you will want to be sure to invest in? Good RV-specific roadside assistance. This is a great tool to have in your arsenal when something goes wrong with your RV while out on a trip. Most roadside assistance programs offer towing, battery jump starts, lockout assistance, emergency tire changes, and more.

We recommend checking out Coach-Net or Good Sam Roadside Assistance.

Keep Lists for Everything

RVing requires you to remember a lot of things. You have to remember what to pack each time you want to hit the road. You need to know what steps to take when setting up and breaking camp. Finally, you must keep track of what RV maintenance tasks need to be done and when. For this reason, we recommend keeping a collection of RV-related lists.

At the very least, every RVer should have:

• A packing list for summer
• A packing list for winter
• A campsite setup list
• A campsite breakdown list
• A winterization to-do list
• An RV maintenance to-do-list

Invest in Good RV Insurance

Of course, you will want to protect yourself and your RV investment. This is where RV insurance comes into play. That said, you don’t want to count on any old insurance policy to protect you. Instead, we recommend investing in a solid insurance policy from a reputable company that you know has your back.

American Adventure Insurance is an excellent pick!

Play It Safe

Besides insurance and roadside assistance, there are other things you can do to ensure you’re safe while traveling in your RV.

Keeping up with RV maintenance is extremely helpful. Knowing where to go if severe weather kits and having a “bug-out” bag with a hand-crank radio, flashlight, first aid kit, water, and other supplies is another good idea.

An emergency kit in the car is also important, and letting people know where you’re going (and when) should always be on your to-do list.

Have a Sense of Adventure

Yes, you want to stay safe, but you also want to have fun. One of the biggest benefits of RVing is the ability to live in comfort literally anywhere you might land. This allows you to be more adventurous than you might have been otherwise. Try pushing yourself a little bit outside of your comfort zone every time you head out in your RV. You’ll likely find new hobbies, incredible places, and some amazing memories while you’re at it.