More and more people are choosing to travel cross-country for extended periods of time, stopping to take in the sights and history of the land. A preferred method of travel for road-trippers is a good old-fashioned RV, or recreational vehicle. These compact trailer vehicles are equipped with a bathroom, a bed, a stove or oven, a microwave, a sink, and more, depending on the model you choose. It has all the essentials of a house, in a convenient and (mostly) easy to drive vehicle.
So how can you survive weeks on end in an RV? Well, a lot of it is patience and knowing basic skills, like how to unclog an RV toilet holding tank, and knowing which possessions will be making the journey along with you. For as much as the RV can be a home, it has a very limited amount of space, and traveling with too many material possessions can become burdensome. Here are just a few tips on living and traveling in an RV.
- If You Have Kids, Short Trips Are Better
Traveling with kids in any capacity can be difficult, depending on the trip and on the children. An RV allows for only a small amount of space, and very little of it is not shared. Everyone needs private or alone time, especially children of a certain age. At some point, traveling with kids is more of a challenge than its worth.
If you are planning a cross-country road trip, consider waiting until your children and grown, or doing it before you ever have kids. Give yourself the chance to relax and enjoy the journey. Short camping trips in your RV with kids can be a delight, but for longer journeys, it might be better as a pair.
- Gas Prices: It’s A Lot
You may think RV travel will be simpler – no hotels, you can cook your own food, etc – but you still need to think long and hard about a budget. RVs will take a lot more gas than the average car, so what you might save on hotels may end up on your gas bills instead. Make sure you have the money or at least a steady income to support the trip and keep the gas flowing.
- Spotty Internet and Phone Service
Sometimes you may find yourself in the middle of nowhere among beautiful scenery lacking phone service or an internet connection. While some modern RV parks have Wi-Fi hotspots, you must remember that you will be out of contact for extended periods of time. Ensure those important in your life know this and prepare for catch-up days when you do have service. Sometimes, its great to simply live in the moment, but it is important to remember regardless.
- Keep Up With The Cleaning
Cleaning your RV will by far be the least entertaining part of the journey, but it is truly a necessary evil. You will not really understand how gross your septic tank is until you clean it for the first time, but if you do not routinely clean it, you will be left in an even worse situation.
You also need to keep your living quarters clean to give yourself a comfortable living area. No one loves living in their own filth, and as easy as it is to let it pile up, you will make your trip far more enjoyable with cleanliness and organization, both within the vehicle and out of it.
Conclusion
Traveling and even living full-time in an RV is a rewarding experience in many ways, but it can also be a difficult journey if you don’t know what to expect. You must be prepared for it all, from the travel to the costs to communicating with loved ones. If you know what you are getting into, you can have the time of your life traveling around the country!