Tips for Summer RV Camping

Summer is in full swing, the campgrounds are open, and the open road beckons! If you’re an RV enthusiast who loves to spend the summer months camping and exploring all that the warm weather has to offer, keep reading for some tips on how to stay comfortable and keep your rig safe.

1. Before even starting out on your camping trips, know your RV’s dimensions. This may seem like a no brainer, but if you plan on visiting a lot of campgrounds it’s extremely important to know where you will and won’t be able to maneuver. Getting stuck on a road without the clearance to back up or do a u-turn can be a nightmare.
2. Know the weight of your RV when it is fully loaded. One of the biggest mistakes that RVers make during the summer months (when they are able to take extended trips that may list weeks or months) is overloading their rigs with everything they’ll need for a camping season. Overloaded RVs are extremely dangerous. Not only can it cause the components of your rig to wear out prematurely (not to mention fuel inefficiency), but it can also lead to tire blowouts, malfunctioning breaks, and overheated transmissions.
3. Make sure to secure your RV when camping. If you plan on leaving your RV at the campground while you go hiking, have overnight camping excursions, or do other activities, make sure that your rig is properly locked up. Have a checklist handy that you review every time you leave your rig. In addition to locking windows and doors, consider getting a pad lock or cylinder lock that goes around the king pin. You can also get a boot for the RV. Motion detecting lights are a great, relatively inexpensive way to help prevent RV theft.
4. Keep your rig cool. When traveling in the summer, it’s easy for your RV to get overheated. In order to stay comfortable, be sure to close all window shades before leaving the rig and extend awnings to help cut down on the heat from the sun. If possible, park your rig in a shady area. Always clean the AC filters thoroughly so that your system is functioning as efficiently as possible. Finally, when at a campground and hooked up to shore power, be sure to monitor the voltage carefully. If it drops below 105 or goes above 130, you should turn off appliances and electrical equipment until the voltage returns to the normal range.
5. If you’ll be visiting multiple campgrounds throughout the summer, be sure to plan ahead so that you can make reservations in time. During the summer months, these places fill up quickly and you don’t want to be stuck on the road with nowhere to set up camp. When you reserve your camping spots, confirm that the site can accommodate your type of rig (many campgrounds were built prior to the introduction of Class A motorhomes). Joining a campground membership club can also help you save money if you plan on visiting more than a few campgrounds.

Any questions? Be sure to contact us!