Plan the Best RV Road Trip With These Prepping Tips
Road trips offer a sense of adventure, making them the perfect vacation. RVs enhance the experience by providing comfort and convenience in the most rugged areas. Of course, to enjoy your trip to the fullest, you need to prepare. The following tips from RVReady can keep you, your vehicle, and your home safe while you're away.
Plan Your Route
Knowing your route is one of the most important steps to a fun, stress-free road trip. Don't just plug your destination into a GPS — sit down and consider all the places you want to visit along the way. Your timeline is also essential, as you'll have to make stops for the following:
- Emptying the RV's tanks
- Sleeping
- Getting gas
Make sure you know the distance and time between each stop so you're never stuck on the road when you should be doing one of the above.
One benefit of traveling in an RV is having a bed handy no matter where you are. However, you still need to park — preferably for free. Recent surveys indicate over 16,000 campgrounds allow RVs, making them a popular choice. State and national parks are excellent for outdoor lovers but usually require a reservation. You can generally make one online, where you can also look up campground rules.
Get a Tune-Up
To prevent mechanical mishaps during your journey, get a tune-up the week prior. The following should all get checked:
- Air filters
- Oil filters
- Oil levels
- Brake lines, pads, and fluid
- Tire surface and pressure
- Coolant levels
Check Your Insurance
Unfortunately, there's always the chance of a collision or breaking down. Having the right insurance ensures you don't have to pay for repairs out of pocket. As you shop for policies, remember that several factors impact price:
- Insured's age
- Vehicle's age
- Vehicle's make and model
- Vehicle's value
You should also look into roadside assistance, which offers towing, tire changing, and other on-site services. If your insurance company doesn't have such a policy, you can check out a third-party provider.
Monitor the Weather
If one thing that can throw a wrench into a road trip, it's bad weather. When planning your vacation, look at the forecast for each area you intend to drive through. Many regions have rainy, dry or even tornado seasons; researching the best time of year to travel will help you avoid the most dangerous weather.
Once you're on the road, you can track daily forecasts with mobile apps. Pack according to the predicted weather, and don't forget to load your emergency kit with these essentials:
- Flares
- Multipurpose tool
- Blankets
- Food
- First aid kit
- Fire extinguisher
- Flashlight
Keep Your Home Safe
You should take steps to secure your property and valuables whenever you leave home for an extended period. Camera doorbells and security systems are excellent investments; today's smart technology even allows you to monitor activity through your mobile device. Additionally, adding these features can boost your home's value. To record these changes, take photos before installation and after.
Security systems deter would-be burglars during a break-in, but you can prevent this scenario by avoiding mistakes that make your home a target:
- Cars sitting in the driveway
- Posts about the trip on social media
- Packages and mail piling up
Planning a road trip takes a lot of work, but the proper preparation beforehand means less worry. So take the time to plan your route carefully. Get your RV tuned up and review your insurance policy to ensure you have enough coverage. Monitor the weather, and secure your home before hitting the road. Once you've crossed everything off your checklist, you can enjoy the journey freely.